577 Enfield

The 577 Enfield rifle musket utilized the standard Minie ball and paper cartridge, an ammunition type shared by the American-made .58 Springfield rifle musket. Already a proven weapon for the British, the 577 Enfield also became a popular rifle in use with US Confederate troops during the American Civil war. The weapon proved a proper counter to the highly effective Union 58 Springfield rifle models. As the war brewed over on both sides, the respective armies struggled to find the arms needed to field proper infantry regiments. As such, the forces of both Union and Confederates alike looked to import foreign designs to help supplant their needs.

Initially produced in 1853, the .577 Enfield was already highly utilized by the British Empire for its accuracy at range and the man-stopping power of the 500 grain ball. The .577 in the American Civil War had the ability to use the Union Springfield rifle ammunition and its own .577 caliber brand, allowing Confederate soldiers to use captured Union ammunition as a result. Knowing the disparity of industrial strength in the North when compared to the South, this design element was a key benefit.

The effective range of the .577 Enfield was listed at 600 yards, though the weapon could range out as far as 1,000 yards. Penetration of the 500 grain Minie ball could top 4 inches of wood at this maximum distance. Enfield sights were wholly adjustable through a rear friction cross bar/standing leaf arrangement. In contrast, the Springfields featured a fixed rear sight with two leaves, capable of marking for targets at 100, 300 and 500 yards as needed.

The Enfield was initially produced as a muzzle-loading musket, though the advent of cartridge breech loading mechanisms rendered muzzle-loading guns extinct. As such, conversions were now being offered for many of the muzzle loading guns in use. For the British, this came in the form of the "Snider" - interestingly enough developed by an American, Jacob Snider - converting the prized 577 Enfields to breech loading guns beginning in 1866. 577 Enfields fought on throughout the British Empire, seeing action in Crimea, India, Africa and the New World.

History text ©2003-2009 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com

Last Updated: 6/17/2009