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the evolution of guns essay
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My essay is about how guns from the 1770’s up until 1835 are different from how they are now. The older guns I used in my essay are the Brown Bess Musket, the Charleville Musket, and the Flintlock Pistols. The newer guns I used are the Remington R51 Subcompact and the Cordoba. The guns show many differences in many different aspects of how the guns operate. They also evolved in many different ways including design.
The first gun I used is called the Brown Bess Musket. Back then they would have to reload the gun by placing the bullet in the gun and pushing it down with a metal rod. Because of this, it took up more time and there was a more likely chance of getting shot. They were also very difficult to handle compared to guns we have now. For example rifles are now easy to reload. They also were harder to shoot because you had to be quick, and when you go quick you might miss your shot or you might have not reloaded right. Now, if you miss your shot you don’t have to take about a minute to shoot again. This shows that rifles have changed since the 1770s.
The next gun is...
One weapon used in the Civil War is a Sharps Carbine. It was developed primarily for Calvary, because of the shorter barrel. They were much easier to handle on horse back than their longer brother the Breech-Loader. Sharps were preferred because they could be loaded on a moving horse, something virtually impossible with a Muzzle-Loader. Also, Breech-Loaders carbine which fired moisture proof metallic cartridges, where more reliable than rifles that fired paper cartridges. As I said be fore it is easier to load a Sharps than a Muzzle-Loader. A Muzzle-Loader took 9 long hard steps just to fire one shot. Even the most skilled solder could only get three rounds off in a minute on the old Civil War Muzzle-Loader. And No wonder. After each shot you have to (1) steady the gun on the ground take out a new cartridge out of a belt pouch. (2) Tear open a piece of paper with your teeth. (3) Empty the powder in the barrel and insert a bullet in to the muzzle. (4) Draw the long “rummer” out of its carrying groove under the barrel. (5) ram the bullet all the way down. (6) Return the rod back to its groove. (7) Lift the weapon half-cocked the hammer. (8) Fully cock the hammer, aim, and finally,(9) fire.
Weapons have been around from the Neanderthals of the post-ice age, to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Rocks became knives, sticks became spears, and bayonets became AK-47’s. The technology from the French and Indian War was revolutionized and manufactured by the newly opened weaponry companies. Colt and Winchester had a new end of the market during the times of conflict in the United States.
During the years leading up to and during the American Civil War there were a number of advancements in firearms technology. This paper will focus on a few of those advancements, namely the inventions of the Minié ball, the Spencer and Henry repeating rifles, and of the Gatling gun.
Each shot couldn’t be more than inches from the center of the bull’s eye. At the end of these contests, 1,000 winners were enlisted in the 1st United States sharper shooters. The next generation of breechloaders, called magazine rifles, would prove ever more deadly to confederate opponents. “Guns such as Spencer and Henry repeating rifles were designed to carry preloaded magazine of seven to fifteen bullets which could be inserted into the rear of the gun. ”3
Enfield Rifle Musket: The Enfield Rifle Musket was second most widely used weapon in the Civil War, and was the most widely used weapon by the Confederates. Much like the Springfield, it was a single-shot, muzzle-loading rifle musket. The Enfield was preferred by many Americans because it was constructed with a .577 cal. barrel. Having a barrel
A popular weapon used by both sides was the rifle. Rifles were invented before the Civil War and were greatly used in the War of 1812. However, more types were built and a larger amount was used during the Civil War. Rifles added a spin to bullets for a greater accuracy at longer ranges. Using this weapon, soldiers could fire 400 yards away, as opposed to the average 80 yards (Robertson 50). Rifles were the fastest and hardest weapon of the time. Rifles allowed their bullets to be shot harder and faster towards its target. New inventions, used by the Union more than the Confederate, included Parrott rifles. They were composed of iron. Robert Parker Parrott, an American soldier and inventor, created these weapons, hence the name Parrott rifles. Despite its name, the Parrott rifle was actually a cannon. Its size ranged from 10 to 300 pounders. It was not favored by most because it was considered unsafe (“Civil War Artillery”). Because of its bulkiness and heaviness, it seldom led soldiers to inaccuratel...
The Henry rifle is a rifle that has a high magazine that uses a .44 caliber rimfire with 26 or 28 grains of blackpowder (Henry rifle. (2014, March 10). Retrieved from wikipedia). This gun was made in the year 1860 and used during the American Civil War through 1866. The Henry rifle can hold 16 rounds and is a breech loading lever action rifle. It can shoot an average of 28 rounds per minute (Henry rifle. (2014, March 10). Retrieved from wikipedia). The length of the rifle is 44 ¾ inches (Henry rifle. (2014, March 10). Retrieved from wikipedia). What makes the Henry rifle inferior to the Spencer rifle is that this gun doesn’t have a grip or anything to grab onto. Another reason is because the gun uses black powder and the barrel can overheat quickly (Henry rifle. (2014, March 10). Retrieved from wikipedia). This defect generally gave the person using it burns on the hand. The burns can get worse if used for longer time, so most of the people who used it wore a glove on their hand (Henry rifle. (2014, March 10). Retrieved from wikipedia)
Remington quickly grew and was seen as a leading firearm which then expanded its firearm goods by creating the first hammerless auto-loading shotgun, as well as many their own repeating firearms. As the array of firearms created by Remington grew, more interest was put into the company, and therefore in 1865 it was formed into a stock company.
A majority of weapons used in World War II were improved weapons from World War II. Most guns increased in power and abilities. In World War II people thought that pistols were useless but this was proved wrong due to the fact that the U.S. Mi...
Before beginning about the history of ball bearing or bullet ball guns, which are referred to as BB guns in short, let’s take a quick peep at some of the most interesting facts about air guns:
When looking at all of the important issues of today’s society, one of the most neglected issues revolves around guns. Guns serve two different purposes: to defend and to kill. Even though I’ve been on this Earth for only 21 years, I’ve become keen and have taken an interest in the study of guns and how they pose more problems in society than any other issue. My interest all started around the time of the Columbine shooting in Colorado and how society has taken steps since that point in history. Going back to the two different purposes, both have been used to help explain the differences in the distinctions of different gun related events that continue to occur, such as mass shootings. Problem analysis, as stated, will help to explain how guns can be seen differently from each individual and what can be gained or lost from a deep analysis.
The next real step in the evolution of the gun came during the Civil War. Rifles were invented that ...
Some errors that could arise from this type of source include biases and limited points of views that lead to misinformation. However, using secondary sources does not detract from Chase’s ability to construct a general theory about firearms development, because a general theory does not require absolute accuracy. Chase also uses many paintings to show military formations in past societies and what weapons they possessed. The conclusions he makes are rational and the inclusion of the paintings provides visually engaging primary sources that further justify Chase’s thesis. Using more primary sources would strengthen the credibility of his descriptions of firearms development in the world, but his construction of a rational theory based on known facts is enough to give this work acceptable credibility.
“Volley Guns” (Chivers, 2010, p.26) or also known as “Organ Guns” (Ellis, 1975, p.10) were first attempts at increasing firepower by adding several barrels at the firing itself, rather than simply attempting to increase the rate of fire. “Gunsmiths had long ago learned to place barrels side by side on frames to create firearms capable of discharging projectiles in rapid succession. These unwieldy devices, or volley guns, were capable in theory of blasting a hole in a line of advancing soldiers” (Chivers, 2010, p.26). An example of such weapons can be seen on July 28, 1835 when Giuseppe Fieshi unleashed terror on King Louis-Phillipe in Paris, France. He fired his 25 barrel “volley gun”, killing 18 of the king's entourage and grazing the King's skull. The weapon was ineffective however. Four of the barrels failed and another four ruptured. Two other barrels had exploded inside, grievously wounding Giuseppe. (Chivers, 2010, p. 27)