The Lewis and Clarke air rifle....

[IMERC]

Did you know that Lewis and Clarke had an air rifle?



http://www.network54.com/Forum/451309/thread/1296928404/This+is+just+to+cool+not+to+spread+around

[CX3]

Somebodys been on facebook :D :D

Or im guessing you were, and saw that on the NRA forum?

[Tom]

Did you know... that threads with titles like "Did you know..." don't get as many hits as titles that tell people what they are about?   

[IMERC]

Somebodys been on facebook :D :D

Or im guessing you were, and saw that on the NRA forum?

don't do facebook.... or NRA forums....
buddy with like intrest sent me the link in an email...

[IMERC]

Did you know... that threads with titles like "Did you know..." don't get as many hits as titles that tell people what they are about?   

is this more better????

[Tom]

You're learning.  :P

[pineywoods]

Full write-up in the latest issue of american rifleman. Makes sense, great for small game and no black powder or percussion caps to worry with.

[Tom]

The video that IMERC posted says something about a fourty-plus caliber ball being put through a one-inch pine plank at 100 yards.   That sounds like something I wouldn't want to get in front of and I'm no "Small Game".   :D :D

[WH_Conley]

The video says it was a military rifle in some countries. I was wondering why they only took one. Maybe people were not too secure in the new technology.

[Tom]

Well, They said that they had one, but they didn't say that they didn't have two...  maybe three...  or....... :D

[WH_Conley]

You got a point there.

[timerover51]

This info on Wikipedia gives a good description of the weapon, which was issued to Austrian troops during the Napoleonic War period.  I suspect that it provided the inspiration for the air gun used by Captain Nemo in Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas.  There is a company making a modern 0.50 inch air rifle that is on par with the .45 ACP in energy and stopping power.

A friend of mine and I have done some work on air weapons, and with a 5000 psi air supply from a dive compressor, we figure that with larger weapons, we can duplicate black powder artillery performance of the Civil War period, i.e. about 1000 to 1200 feet per second with projectiles of 3 to 6 pounds in weight.