GDG- Weapon Trajectory

[Batrinque at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/22/2007 1:12:29 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
cameron2 at optonline.net writes:

Adding  more powder would increase the muzzle velocity, but beyond a 
relatively  narrow range, only at the expense of accuracy.  An additional 
concern  was recoil.  All things being equal, a heavier projectile will 
"kick"  harder than a lighter one.  Combine a heavy minie ball with a larger  
powder charge, and you risk a weapon with too much recoil for the average  
soldier to fire effectively.




In an March, 1854, report, Benjamin Huger of the US Army wrote that the  
amount of recoil experienced with the rifled version of a .69 caliber musket  
limited the powder charge to only one-eleventh of the weight of the  bullet.  With 
smaller caliber rifle-muskets, a charge equal to one-eight of  the bullet 
weight proved "the most efficient".  

Bruce  Trinque
Amston, CT




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