When were rifles used?

Answer 1

Rifles evolved from smoothbore muskets. It is evident that rifles were in use from the 17th Century, but the 'rifling' was a hexagonal barrel and matching bullet, for improved accuracy.

The Pennsylvania and Kentucky muzzle-loading rifles were the first real step to achieving accurate fire on enemies. Both were used in the American War of Independence against red-coated line infantry of the British, by experienced hunters. They both fired a .50cal patched ball out of a rifled barrel. this gave accuracy out to and exceeding 150yds, much farther than the range of the 'Brown Bess' smoothbore used by the British (50yds).

This gave the Americans a 100yd advantage, and they used the earliest form of sniper tactics such as hiding in trees to avoid being shot themselves. They wore dull-coloured clothing to avoid being seen and picked off British officers to lower morale. Many regiments fled from the americans - the fire seemed to be coming from nowhere.

The American hunters in the Independence war were in fact the first real snipers. But their rate of fire was 1 round every 90 seconds - far too slow for effective sniping. The next step was breech loading.

During the American Civil War Rifles such as the Sharps came to be used by snipers. One shot was recorded as taking out a Confederate Artillery Officer at 600yds. This, combined with the breech-loading mechnism which gave a rate of fire of 1 shot every 10 seconds AND telescopic sights, provided the sniper with a fantastic and practical rifle.