Also known as: smoothbore vs rifled.
| Smoothbore | Unrifled bore firing spherical shot, shell, case, and canister |
|---|---|
| Rifled | Grooved bore firing elongated projectiles spun for stability |
| Rifled advantage | Greater range and accuracy |
| Smoothbore advantage | Effective canister and simple, fast loading |
Two families of guns
The artillery of the war divided into two great families. Smoothbores such as the Napoleon fired spherical shot, shell, spherical case, and canister from an unrifled bore, and remained deadly at close range and quick to serve. Rifled guns such as the 3-inch Ordnance Rifle and the Parrott fired elongated projectiles that spun for stability, reaching far greater ranges with much greater accuracy.
The war was a period of transition between the two. Rifling proved decisive against fortifications and at long range, while smoothbores held their place in the field for their canister and their reliability, so batteries often mixed the types.
On this site
Sources & further reading
- Benton, James G. A Course of Instruction in Ordnance and Gunnery. 2nd ed. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1862.
- Gibbon, John. The Artillerist's Manual. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1860.