[D.E.C]

I am thinking about buying a civil war era rifle. Pretty much down to either a J.P. Murray artillery carbine or a 1861-1863 Springfield rifle.
Plan on using Minie balls but have no experience with paper cartridges .
Any suggestions? ( I went to the north/south forum but they're still debating the war).

 

[victorcharlie]

I don't know a thing about "war of Northern aggression" rifles...........except, being from the south........and looking back on things......I believe I'd get me one of those yankee rifles............they must shoot much better than the southern rifles or we'd all be singing Dixie and pledging allegiance to a different flag!

 

[filmokentucky]

Are you planning to re-enact? That will have some effect on your choices. The minies like a longer barrel as they need the extra length to get up to a decent velocity. The carbines are handy, but limit range. I'd go with a full length rifle-musket. Generally, carbines were the province of cavalry and troops with occupations that put combat second, such as sappers. Consequently, long range accuracy was of less importance. I had a J. P. Murray carbine years ago, and it gave good service, but even at 100 yards accuracy was lacking compared to the rifle. It actually was pretty good with patched ball loads, though.

 

[D.E.C]

FILMOKENTUCKY, ( AND ANY ONE ELSE ),
NO I DONT REENACT, JUST LIKE TO SHOOT OLD GUNS. KIND OF LIKE THE LOOKS OF THE CARBINE BUT PLAN ON SHOOTING AT 100 TO 200 HUNDRED YARDS. I OWN 3 FLINTLOCKS, 1 PERC. KENTUCKY AND A BUNCH OF COWBOY GUNS, BUT NO MILITARY RIFLES.
THE 1841 MISSISSIPPI RIFLE LOOKS COOL TOO BUT I'M LEANING TOWARDS A CIVIL WAR ERA RIFLE.

 

[Ramrod]

It is tough enough to get a rifle to shoot well at 200 yards, let alone a carbine. I think your needs would be best met with a 2 band Enfield. Here is a link to check out...
http://www.researchpress.co.uk/targets/enfieldm01.htm

 

[lostid]

FILMOKENTUCKY, ( AND ANY ONE ELSE ),
NO I DONT REENACT, JUST LIKE TO SHOOT OLD GUNS. KIND OF LIKE THE LOOKS OF THE CARBINE BUT PLAN ON SHOOTING AT 100 TO 200 HUNDRED YARDS. I OWN 3 FLINTLOCKS, 1 PERC. KENTUCKY AND A BUNCH OF COWBOY GUNS, BUT NO MILITARY RIFLES.
THE 1841 MISSISSIPPI RIFLE LOOKS COOL TOO BUT I'M LEANING TOWARDS A CIVIL WAR ERA RIFLE.

Well if you like the carbine then get that. If you like the Mississippi rifle,, what is spousta be a cut-back version of the military long rifle,,then get that. If you want to shoot accucrate groups at 100-200 yards?? Get the springfield.

 

[filmokentucky]

The 1841 Rifle used a patched ball originally and served very nicely in the Mexican/American War of 1846 or thereabouts. Later some were supposed to have been rebored to .58 caliber and used in the War Between the States. The Zouave built by Remington in 1863 was a later variant. Both are handsome rifles and either would do better at 100-200 yards than a carbine will. In .58 caliber, both can be made to shoot ball or Minies accurately. I believe that there are a couple of companies producing them now, and quality may well vary.

 

[lostid]

[quote="filmokentucky) The Zouave built by Remington in 1863 was a later variant.[/quote]

a little more research is do here,, i don't mean disrespect to the poster intentoinally,
,(lostid makes sound of clearing throat)( deeply congested,clearing throat)