Rifled Musket

A rifled musket is a type of firearm used mainly in the 19th century, featuring a barrel with spiral grooves called rifling. These grooves cause the bullet to spin as it fires, greatly improving accuracy and range compared to smoothbore muskets. Rifled muskets were more precise, allowing soldiers to hit targets at longer distances, which transformed battlefield tactics. They were a significant advancement over earlier smoothbore weapons, combining the power of a musket with the improved accuracy of rifling. This innovation played a crucial role in warfare, particularly during the Civil War era.