Rifles
With the introduction of the Minie Ball also came a new generation of rifles. These rifles could be reloaded more quickly because the Minie Ball was much easier to insert. Because the rifles could be reloaded more quickly, the rate of fire of rifles was also increased.
Alongside a more powerful generation of rifles also came the first rifles that could be fired multiple times without reloading, carbines. They were most commonly loaded with a cartridge containing 10+ bullets which were rammed into the butt-stock of the carbine. These newer rifles had a rate of fire of about 20 rounds per minute while muzzle-loaders had a rate of fire of 2-3 rounds per minute. \
Although this was an incredible improvement over muzzle-loading guns, the army was never able to use these weapons to their fullest potential because tactics did not take full advantage of the higher rate of fire and ammunition lines were not able to handle such an increase in ammunition demand. With a 1000% increase in rate of fire also came a 1000% increase in consumption of ammunition.
Although this was an incredible improvement over muzzle-loading guns, the army was never able to use these weapons to their fullest potential because tactics did not take full advantage of the higher rate of fire and ammunition lines were not able to handle such an increase in ammunition demand. With a 1000% increase in rate of fire also came a 1000% increase in consumption of ammunition.