2007-03-29 21:05:02 · 21 answers · asked by babykatdream099 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
An early rifle that fired a round ball.
2007-04-06 10:33:20 · answer #1 · answered by Boston Bluefish 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Originally, the musket was a large caliber, smoothbore weapon. With the smoothbore barrel, it enabled the weapon to fire one large projectile, and in some cases, shotgun-like projectiles.
Later on, around the times of the Civil War, muskets were then rifled, and a conical projectile called a "Minie" ball was used. The rifling inside of the barrel placed a spin on the projectile causing stability in flight. This increased the accuracy and range of the musket.
Muskets were later replaced by rifles which fired cartridges loaded through the breach, rather than a powder charge and ball loaded through the muzzle, as muskets were.
2007-03-30 04:16:12 · answer #2 · answered by C J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Musket, long-barreled gun fired from the shoulder with a smoothbore barrel that lacks the interior spiral grooves, known as rifling, seen in modern firearms. Muskets fire a ball-shaped bullet, called a round, instead of the tapered bullet fired by modern guns. They are loaded from the front end of the barrel, called the muzzle, and for this reason are sometimes referred to as muzzle-loaders.
2007-03-30 04:27:18 · answer #3 · answered by Don I 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A musket is an old type of rifle used in the eighteenth century. the gun shoots one shot and the bullet and gunpowder are loaded through the barrel.
You may see a picture here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musket
2007-03-30 04:11:50 · answer #4 · answered by fwc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a muzzle-loading, ball-firing, black-powder-based projectile weapon.
It is the sort of thing we would call a "rifle" today, but muskets didn't have the spiral grooves inside the barrel that give rifles their name.
2007-03-30 04:08:46 · answer #5 · answered by juicy_wishun 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is a gun.
The musket ball is smaller than the barrel, which means it is less accurate at a distance than a rifle.
2007-03-30 04:09:42 · answer #6 · answered by Chali 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smoothbore long gun, which is intended to be fired from the shoulder.
2007-03-30 04:14:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
A muzzle loading, breach firing rifle last used in the US military during the civil war. Also...single shot.
2007-04-07 02:59:27 · answer #8 · answered by iraq51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A smooth bore, barrel loading rifle
2007-04-05 19:33:57 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is one of the earliest shoulder fired weapons the precurcer to the modern rifle
2007-04-05 05:41:42 · answer #10 · answered by bear 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋