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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5002 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject: Sniper's den and laser range finder |
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Two years ago today I submitted an article about the Leupold laser range finder. At the end of the article I wondered how far it was from the Gettysburg "sniper's den" on Devil's Den to the top of Little Round Top. Well I can finally confirm that it is 557 yards from the sniper's position to the 44th NY monument (the "castle") on Little Round Top. Quite a shot for a .58 caliber muzzle loader! However, Confederate snipers were picking off Union troops up there on that hill.
If you've never been to Gettysburg I highly recommend a trip! I've been going for the last 30 years, when I had the chance, and still find something new to see and explore.
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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wiersy111 Super Member
Joined: May 13, 2009 Posts: 2376 Location: Central Minnesota
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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject: Re: Sniper's den and laser range finder |
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I think that would be an awesome trip. Just to be able to walk the battlefield where so many fought for their beliefs.
But it won't be this year as we are going to visit the in-laws in Germany during February.
And we want to take the kids to the Black Hills and Deadwood for their graduation.
_________________ A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America " for an amount of "up to and including my life."
US ARMY RETIRED
The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
Being "Over the Hill" is much better then being under it! |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5002 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:48 am Post subject: Re: Sniper's den and laser range finder |
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Vince, the most common rifle muskets used, on both sides, were the US 1861 Springfield and the British P1853 Enfield. Both could fire the same ammo, usually a 500 grain Minie’ ball over 60 grains of black powder. These were pretty low velocity loads, about 950 Ft/sec.
An interesting side note (to me at least) is that the rifle muskets produced a "boom" when fired while the smoothbore muskets produced a "crack". A little research showed me that the muzzle velocity of the rifled guns was subsonic while the smoothbores were actually supersonic, around 1200 ft/sec. So you might be able to tell what was being shot at you just from the sound.
I have reproductions of the P1853 Enfield and an 1842 Springfield, .68 cal smoothbore. One of these days I'll take them both to the range for some live fire and a comparison.
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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Donut Slayer Super Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2007 Posts: 594 Location: Pensacola, Florida
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Pumpkinslinger Super Member
Joined: Sep 22, 2007 Posts: 5002 Location: NC foothills
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Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: Sniper's den and laser range finder |
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Donut Slayer, I've been all over the place after dark and never saw anything. I've heard all the stories too. Everyone talks about the "orbs" caught in flash pictures at night. Hate to burst the bubble but those are just insects too close to the camera to be caught in focus. I can duplicate it any time by dropping something small in front of the lens as the flash fires. I won't say that ALL of the ghost stories aren't true, I've been told some first hand that would be pretty hard to explain away!
_________________ Mike
"I ain't no better than anybody else, and there ain't nobody better than me!" Ma Kettle |
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Donut Slayer Super Member
Joined: Jun 27, 2007 Posts: 594 Location: Pensacola, Florida
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wiersy111 Super Member
Joined: May 13, 2009 Posts: 2376 Location: Central Minnesota
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Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: Sniper's den and laser range finder |
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Vince wrote: |
WOW....557 yards is a hard shot with any military style rifle. What make of .58 calibre rifle did they use Punkin? As you say mate...that is helluva shot from a front stuffer throwing a massive lump of lead.
Wiersay old mate. When you go to Germany, take the time to search out some of the old battle sites from WWI and WWII. I was over there some years ago with the aussie Army and I found it very sobering to stand on these sites...and to visit a German War Memorial in a small town (Lemgo). The War Memorial was actually the remaining bell tower of a bombed out Church. In some parts of Europe they have battle sites identified by old armoured fighting vehicles that remained after the battle.
Enjoy your trip mate.
Cheers, Vince |
I have visited quite a few battlefields in Germany, I was stationed in Aschaffenburg for four years. Ther barracks we lived in were built around the 1890's,. Behind our Kasern was the highest point in the area and it had a tall brick tower that is said to have been one of the observation posts Hitler used to observe the battle. We found underground bunkers and pillboxes throughout the country side. My wife is from a small town close by with very rich history dating back 800 to 900 years. The original wall built to protect the town is still about 75% intact, to include the tower where witches were shackled and burn to death. The locals tell tales of tunnels under the city connecting it to some surrounding cities that are big enoughto house and for tanks to move through. Then army Kasern there was one of the last to close when the US drew down. During WWII the Kasern was used as a POW camp and when the US took over it was a relocation camp. There is a small memorial in town dedicated with all the names of the fallen German soldiers from WWI that I visit every time I'm there. I do want to go and explore more sites there the next time we go I would like to get to Berlin also.
_________________ A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America " for an amount of "up to and including my life."
US ARMY RETIRED
The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.
Being "Over the Hill" is much better then being under it! |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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