Quote:
Originally Posted by gizamo
Rifles are not slow to reload....where is that information coming from. It is as erroneous today as it was when G. Washington was fed it, back in the day...
Total HorsePucky...
Rifleman had speedloaders, same as today... Some will answer prove me just in the assertion, others will just nod and say it makes sense.....
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You have to look at BATTLE conditions, and prepare for ANY contingency-
Have you ever fired your rifle for 6 hours, maybe longer? How many shots would that be?
Plus, you just got WHUPPED, and need to retreat. So now, you're boogeying thru the woods with a REAL dirty rifle, and it is dark, and it starts to RAIN, and you are tired and hungry. Wanna stop, and clean Ol' Betsy? Probably a good idea, but it gets worse- the enemy had fresh Infantry and Light Dragoons arrive at the battle's end. The infantry is chasing you, the dragoons outdistance you and set up a blocking force.
You now have an army that needs to be skillful at stick fighting, unless your enemy waits for you to clean your rifles. Had you equipped them with muskets and bayonets, you might have pulled it off......
Banzai!!