GDG- Ranging, Trajectories, and Sights

[Batrinque at aol.com]

In a message dated 10/23/06 5:38:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
mnugent at maine.rr.com writes:

> I'd respectfully disagree with your conclusion that "... an average ACW 
> grunt couldn't have hit a horse better than on shot in ten at a range of 200 
> yards ..."  As you point out, the low muzzle velocity of CW era firearms results 
> in quite an arching trajectory for long distance shots, but my own 
> experience is that with the sights properly set, these guns are capable of good 
> accuracy at considerable distances. 

That "sights properly set" thing is the tricky bit.  First, you have to 
accurately judge the distance to the target (underestimating or overestimating the 
distance will send the arching projectile either high or low) and then set the 
sights to that distance.  And remember to adjust the sights if the range 
changed (like when an enemy advances).  If this could be accurately done, thenyou 
could effectively fight with rifle-muskets even at several hundred yards.  
But, the difficulties in properly estimating distances and fiddling with the 
sights meant that in most case firefights were kept down to a couple hundred yards 
or so.

Bruce Trinque
Amston, CT