How accurate were the rifles used by native Americans in 1755?

Question

Specifically, I am curious to know about the rifles that might have been used in the The French and Indian War. Were they muskets that were highly inaccurate like the American troops might have used or were they more accurate?

More specifically, I am trying to verify the accuracy of the account of George Washington being miraculously saved from several bullets fired at him in 1755....as the account reads, "The native warriors stared at him in disbelief. Their rifles seldom missed their mark. The chief suddenly realized that a mighty power must be shielding this man."

aniatari: Yea, I would obviously assume the same. I guess then I am asking if they got their rilfes from a different source than the Americans or if the American rifles themselves were more accurate than I thought...within certain range?

Answer 1

More than likely you are talking about muskets and not rifles. There were very few Rifles in the country in 1755. Indians would more than likely have muskets. These had smooth-bore barrels and shot large caliber balls. Sometimes the load was Buck-n-Ball, with a 50+ caliber ball and 2 smaller buck shots. Over about 40 yards they were devastating with massive fire power. But not very accurate for target shooting. They formed a foot or so pattern and tore apart whatever they hit.

Rifles were used by snipers/sharp shooters. Like the Kentucky Riflemen, Pennsylvania long riflemen or Green Mountain boys of the later Revolution. These were accurate to around 200 yards. The Indians would have had the muskets and probably been as good as shots as the whites.

You mentioned Washington being shot during a Battle during the French and Indian War. The British were ambushed by a Few French and a couple hundred Indians. General Braddock tried to fight European style, in close order lines and they were mowed down for over 3 hours, I think about 800 were killed. Braddock and 63 of the 86 officers were killed. Most of the rest were wounded as officers were singled out. Washington had 2 horsed shot from under him and had 4 holes in his coat. An Indian chief later came to see Washington, he wanted to meet the chief that the Great spirit had protected. It seems he had ordered several of his braves and himself to kill Washington. He said he shot at him over 20 times. Then he thought The Great Spirit was protecting him so he ordered them to stop. In Washington's he acknowledges 66 times during the Revolution that what he called the hand of Providence stepped to his aid.

Answer 2

They probably used French rifles for the most part (hence the French and Indian War). Also could have used American rifles that they had gotten over the years. Either way, I don't think the French version was too much better than the American version. Both were made from relatively the same technology. Also, most battles were held at close range, so although inaccurate at a distance, for what they were used for, rifles at that time served their purpose. Even American Muskets were highly effective because they weren't used as sniper rifles, they were most often used within a couple hundred feet where their accuracy was still decent.

Answer 3

After a demonstration from the Discovery America team I would have to admit to being a little apprehensive about a certain answer, more then a little.
The "smooth bore" was no champion shooting weapon and, few if indeed many could "hit the broad side of a barn" that was demonstrated.

The smooth bore used was of a 50 caliber and, from a distance of 100 yards, missed the six foot square target completely four our of four times.
In the next round of fifty yards, the same gun, same man, missed the target completely three out of four times.

When they got down to 50 feet, the rifle hit the target, somewhere in the field but, never in the same place twice, once out of five times. Showing the accuracy of the rifle was very bad.
When the army forces stood shoulder to shoulder, it was to try and make sure, someone on the other side got hit, someplace. This was from, usually 50 (fifty) feet apart. Not the 200 mentioned.

Later, when the rifled Minnie ball came into action, then the scene changed considerable but, this wasn't until the late 1860's or later, few men carried one.

Answer 4

Well I'm pretty sure, n8tives didnt manufacture their own guns, I suspect they armed themselves with the same guns as french or british settlers/colonists.

several native people were held in high regard for their marksmanship, usually brought about by the necessity of the hunt. Why teh guns missed i have no idea... the wind maybe? maybe those natives were just a bunch of lousy shots

Answer 5

Whatever the cause, it certainly was a miracle.
All it would take is a slightly misshapen ball to make it veer off target.