An oldtimer is shooting with an oldtimer

The Model 1841 was adopted as the US Army’s first percussion rifle in 1842 and featured an overall length of 4 ½ feet with a .54 caliber, 33" seven groove with 1:72" twist long barrel secured to the stock by two metal bands. Called the Harper’s Ferry Rifle within the official circles, it was unofficially called the Harper’s Ferry Yaeger, the Windsor rifle (because some were made under contract by Robbins, Kendall & Lawrence and Robbins and Lawrence in Windsor Vermont), the Whitney (because Whitney also made them), it received its most popular nickname “Mississippi Rifle” because it was first issued to the First Mississippi Regiment in the Mexican-American War. Weighing 9.68 pounds, it had a brass patch box on the stock. Originally designed for a half-ounce round ball, when used with 75 grains of powder, it had a muzzle velocity of 1850 fps. In 1855 then Secretary of War Jefferson Davis ordered the rifle to be adapted for the new .58 caliber Burton ball. Besides being re-rifled and a stud attached so that it could take a bayonet, a new rear sight was added to take advantage of the extended range. Many older .54 caliber guns were pressed into service and with its older, non-adjustable sight, its users were at a disadvantage when fighting against men equipped with the .58 caliber Springfield or the .577 Enfield.
 
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