Target Practice at the Gallop? 

Experience in the Napoleonic Wars was that shooting over horse’s head had a significant likelihood of shooting the horse.

I cannot understand why you're apologizing for/justifying shooting laterally--that's *exactly* how Cooke directed this practice be conducted. Also, I think it's misleading to use such a tiny target because that gives an unrealistic expectation that makes the effectiveness of the carbine seem worse than it is. Too many people confuse target shooting with combat shooting, and as I know you know very well, Cooke's targets were a *lot* bigger than this (8 feet by 8 feet), and there was no bonus in qualification shooting for making a bullseye (although they did track shot string size). Even the close range is fine--this is the first time you've tried this, and Cooke's instructions called for new recruits to begin practice at 10 paces, which is about where you were. Besides, as I also know you know very well, the main target was a horse and man together. How many of your six shots were in a group the size of a horse and man together (i.e., about 8'x8')? That's what's missing in this experimental archeology: realistic analysis, not performance. Also, I think you're missing the opportunity to properly judge your performance by using the String Test as a measure of accuracy; Cooke mentions this briefly on the chart on page 100, but doesn't explain what a string measurement is. Fortunately, Heth gives detailed instructions for using the String Test in his 1862 "A System of Target Practice for the Troops."

This is not directly related to experimental archeology as such, but I was wondering if you could unearth some information on the training/use of Union cavalry regiments for specific battlefield roles. Sheridan, in his memoirs talks about some regiments being employed (and presumably trained) as sabre regiments and others being used more as fire support acting as mounted infantry. And these regiments seem to exist side by side in the same brigades. Never seen anybody write about this. Was this a formal designation/practice or was it more like one regiment had the better/fresher mounts and another the better carbines? Cavalry tactics in the ACW is a sadly neglected subject. I am quite certain most military historians have no ideas what went on in this area.

My Burnside is finally back from a stock repair. Got it for a song because it was chipped out at the comb. But the beauty is the guy it was issued to carved his initials and unit in it, which I was able to track everything down. Final stages of the Shennandoh campaign and counter guerilla and law enforcement duty in that area of W. Virginia.

Ol cowboy goes to buy a horse.....asks the man....'CAN YA SHOOT OFF OF HIM?....man says.. ONCE...........lmfao

Good demonstration, it shows how difficult it was to hit a target while mounted.

There is a reason they had halter link straps and a designated horse holder for every 4 men. That way you had 3 carbines firing from the solid ground. For a videt posted out as a mounted sentry the fire from a standing horse was a good tactic, then ride like heck to your closest backup.

Great shooting, one thing to remember though is a man on a horse is a bigger target, its sad to think nowadays but horses were shot, again you aim to hit the person... you might hit the horse. So it still has an effect.

Interesting stuff guys. Great work. Well, I am working on operating a lance on a horse in trott and gallop, which was actually a thing before and in WW1, of course source based. And made some videos about it and soon gonna do some more about my progress about that. ;) Btw. your videos are very inspiring, so thank you for your content. Stop by if you like, it is highly appreciated.

if only it was as easy as it looks in red dead redemption!!

Until the M1 Abrams era of tanks, our tactic in the attack was to stop and wait for the gunner to fire. The sound of the gun was the signal for the driver to take off. Have you found any references to such a tactic while firing from horseback?

What about a sliding stop and fire? Like some movies. I wound dry fire for a while first to avoid hitting the horse.

If I can make it I look forward to meeting you at the Purgatory 1866 event!

Could you bring up the target so it match your hight on a horse, it looks like you are shooting men who are in a foxhole. Put up 5 targets and then shoot and see what happens to your shooting.

I think the right definition of ACW cavalry firing tactics is dismounted skirmishers.

Interesting to compare this to the Cowboys, who you often see firing their rifles, while mounting

Awesome video! I am curious about the ww2 training films you mentioned, I tried a quick search and didn't turn up much meaningful. Did you have any links for those as well! All and all I love your videos, keep up the good work!

fantastic shooting, well done, firing sideways when on the move was quite the standard practise also in the Napoleonic time, also when standing, you could fire oblique , usually to the left, there the flintlock was sitting at the right side of the carbine, but also sort of straight to the front (usually fire from cavalry was versus cavalry when skirmishing against enemy cavalry, but also when in need against enemy infantry skirmishers)

Well only in Hollywood a man can hit at 1ooo yards. In reality kneeling supported gives you a better shot

Cavalry charges against cavalry like custer against Jeb Stuart's column pistols and sabers as much info you can supply in a video

What was the max real range of a cavalry carbine?

Were you able to go to that link and see the video of that guy, saying HIS way was the right way to shoot a carbine while on a moving horse?

Needed a bigger target when riding

That was impressive

Great for a horse's hearing.

Look at combat survival at the beginning of wars… heavy casualties until the survivors learned how to survive on the battlefield… if you lived and breathed on a horse and had sufficient practice… as well as your life depended on your ability to hit targets… you would… IDPA type targets would be a better choice, as well as understanding being hit often led to amputation or death… regardless of where the wound was located… still a great video

I am enjoying your shooting whilst at the gallop, one reason is my belief that cavalry tactics changed late in the Civil War because of firearms development. At lest that is the common historical thought. You didn’t explain to your viewers how you aimed your carbine (or revolver) in order to hit the target whilst at the gallop. My thoughts on aiming a firearm whilst on the move; i.e., if the target is at rest and the shooter is moving. Windage: When the shooter is moving but the target is at rest the shooter’s aim should lag (before getting to the target) not lead nor directly at the target. Elevation: As the horse is galloping the rider is moving up and down thus the rear sight of the carbine is going up and down. The support arm (off hand) is trying to move the front sight in unison with the rear; that is up and down. I believe that the shot will most often go high as the front sight will be biased high-the bead or top of the sight being above the rear sight because the support arm will overcompensate for the up and down movement of the rider at a gallop. Just my thoughts

Get off too engage the enemy, then you will always have a nice 20 mile ride to get home and your horse isn’t dead !!

I love shooting and I love riding. Sadly I'm yet to combine the two 😅

A guy on a Facebook group says that, according to Cook's Manual, troopers would not fire their carbines, from the shoulder. His exact quote is, "that's not how you live fired your carbine as a mounted trooper you brace the stock under your forearm and point with it at length........ if the were mounted the main goal was not to shoot the horse or each other so the carbines stayed elevated, and where held and fired at arm's length when discharged. The only time they would use that type of hold is usually if they where in line and stationary."

This was an entertainment video and a good demonstration.

👍

The Secsesh would have killed you.😢