Every Standard Issue US Military Rifle Since the American Revolution
BY PGF
1 year, 4 months ago
Interesting history. The list may have gaps because the data considered is official. There were other guns in use, especially during the civil war.
In any war, even the smallest advantage can mean the difference between victory and defeat. To maintain the upper hand, the Department of Defense spent $106 billion on research and development of weapons technology in 2021 alone. And while new and evolving technologies like precision guided missiles and drones have changed battlefield dynamics in recent years, outfitting troops with rifles that are reliable and effective remains a top priority – as it has since America’s founding.
Perhaps second only to the will to fight, the rifle is the most important asset of any army infantry soldier. And from the flintlock muskets used by the Continental Army in the American Revolution, to the M4 assault rifles carried by U.S. Army infantry units of today, weapons technology has evolved considerably over the nearly 250 years the U.S. has been a country.
U.S. Models 1855 and 1861 Springfield rifle-muskets (picture is public domain):
Using data from a range of sources, including military records and government websites, 24/7 Wall St. identified standard-issue and other common infantry rifles issued by the U.S. Army throughout history – starting with the Colonial period. We did not include rifles with specialized functions, such as sniper rifles and machine guns.
From the American Revolution through the Civil War, rifle technology changed little. Over that nearly 100-year period, American soldiers were issued muskets that were limited in range, accuracy, and reliability by any modern standard. Though there were some innovations during that period, including the rifled barrel and the switch from a flintlock firing mechanism to caplock, it was not until the 1870s, with the introduction of the Model 1873 Springfield, which fired a bullet with a self-contained cartridge, that the U.S. Army adopted anything resembling what we use today.
Even then, the M1873 was a single-shot rifle, with a maximum rate of fire of about 15 rounds per minute. For comparison, modern military rifles can cycle at a rate of about 950 rounds per minute.
List with specs and historical detail at the link.
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On July 6, 2023 at 1:54 pm, scott s. said:
“From the American Revolution through the Civil War, rifle technology changed little.”
Can’t really agree with this. First, you had the parallel developments of rifles and muskets. The main tech drivers were the evolution in powder and barrel manufacturing. These led to gradually reducing powder loads and calibre in order to keep perceived recoil manageable. There were some one-off designs like the Hall rifle and Maynard priming system.
But one source which I found persuasive claimed the most important 19th c innovation was development of metal-working machinery capable of mass producing the brass cartridge case. Brass of the proper alloy offered the solution to the problem of sealing the breach during firing but still allowing extraction after firing.