What change in the construction of rifles helped the Americans during the Revolutionary War?
The long rifle was invented. The barrel was longer than a musket and with groves inside the barrel improving accuracy. Bayonets were also introduced that helped in hand-to-hand combat.
One of the significant changes in the construction of rifles that helped the Americans during the Revolutionary War was the introduction of the grooved barrel, also known as the rifling. Unlike the smoothbore barrels common in the military at that time, which provided no spin to the bullets, the rifling grooves in rifles imparted spin to the lead bullets, which improved the accuracy and range of the shots.
The rifling technology allowed American sharpshooters to pick off British officers and other high-value targets from a distance of up to 300 yards, giving them a significant advantage in battle. Additionally, as the rifling made the bullets expand upon firing, it gave them deadlier impact, causing considerable damage to the enemy’s ranks.
The rifling technology also allowed the Americans to engage in guerilla-style tactics, enabling them to stand at a distance and shoot at the enemy while staying safe. The British army was used to close-range fighting, so this change caught them off guard, allowing the Americans to overcome the British army’s power and strength. Therefore, the introduction of rifling in rifles played a significant role in helping the Americans during the Revolutionary War.
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