I don't know if this is a daft question or not but did they have set aside firing ranges in the 18th Century?
I guess not but can anyone tell me otherwise?
In previous centuries communities had archery butts set aside for practice for example?
Info and piccies appreciated.
many thanks
Alan
6 hours ago
3 comments:
Hi!
In В.Nosworthy book "The Anatomy of Victory: Battle Tactics 1689-1763" http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0870520148 is mentioned the results of firings conducted in the Prussian army in 1755. Just met the information in the Duffy's books .
You can use the data from the book Nafziger's "Imperial bayonets." http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/1853672505 . It contains the results of polygon firing from the Prussian Old Model musket.
Best regards,
Vasiliy
To one side of every military camp was the powder magazine (they had the awful tendency of blowing up)
between the magazine and the camp were places to 'clean fire' muskets, which was done each morning, then the muskets were re-loaded if battle was imminent. Most battalion officers could tell if battle was imminent ... they were camped just outside long-range artillery fire.
In more permanent camps there was a powder test pole, which would be used to proof the powder in the camp magazine each day.
I am not aware of any specific 'ranges' as we understand them today, training of recruits was often done on the march, with a drill session early - before starting day march - a short drill done at each rest (about 1 per hour), then another drill done at end of day's march before evening meals, often longer and possibly involving the entire Battalion or Brigade.
If we follow this to the 19thC we find that only the British army actually trained men to fire regularly. All troops were drilled in how to load and fire but only the British practiced it. Following this experience all regular armies began to adopt fire practice.
So we can infer that being professional armies in the 18thC they would have adopted any good practice and maintained that. since they clearly didn't the answer to your question should be "no".
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