How Many Rounds did They Shoot?

[rebel727]

I never read any of those books but I've heard of tap loading in battle before just can't remember where.

 

[Gary]

I read about tap loading, but like rebel727 I can't recall which book. Now, as to the other issue of urinating to clean out the fouling (and yes, it's foul), I've read that in one Civil War book but like tap loading, I can't recall which. Fading mind, grey hair and failing eyes. What gives next? No, spare me. I don't want to know.

 

[musketman]

if both sides were shooting their ramrods couldnt a fellow pick up the ramrod that just landed beside him and use it to load or just shoot it back hoping the enemy sends his back likewise????

Assuming it didn't get bent while in flight and would fit down the muzzle, sure...

Imaging getting stuck with a ramrod, it would be like a big lawn dart... :shocked2:

 

[Slamfire]

I read somewhere that the second volley at first Manassas was "like a flight of arrows" so many ramrods were shot ....and the third volley was only a half as loud as the first two, as guys without ramrods couldn't reload...the heat of battle ...Hank

I have a new theory about why cartridge guns replaced muzzleloaders. First, there were labor problems with the ramrod makers guild. They withheld delivery, hoping to drive up the price of ramrods so as to make the gun useless. This infuriated the government. Second, the tree huggers were angry because the trees were hurt and lobbied Congress for the adoption of breechloaders. Finally, the military itself wanted newer breechloaders since the shirkers couldn't deliberately fire off their ramrods and then retreat claiming that their gun was useless. This is Revisionist Hystery at its finest and you read it here first at TheMuzzleLoadingForum. :hatsoff:

Sounds a lot more plausable than some of the stuff I hear politicians say, the next day! :bull:

 

[hack]

A freind of mine shot his ramrod out of a zouve one time, he was shooting off cross sticks at 50 yards. the recoil was unreal, the ramrod went through the target backer sideways and we searched for over an hour and never found it.
probably slid under the sod like an arrow does.
he had a bruse that ran from his bicep to his neck in about two hours. he was about 14 at the time and weighed in at about 100 pounds.
after that he NEVER forgot to put the ramrod back.