Girardoni .46 cal air rifle from 1780's The original Assault Rifle

[Tater]

It had a 22 shot capacity tube mag with speed loaders and capable pf firing a .46 caliber 153 grain ball 400-450 feet per second. Capable of 22 rounds per min. no powder all air rifle.



came with several Air tank stocks and a pump and speed loaders. 1500 pumps to build up roughly 800 psi. took an average man 20 min to pump up a tank.



im pricing out a modern day heavy caliber air rifle..... looks interesting.

 

[hminsky]

Yeah I read the Lewis and Clark expedition had one. It really amazed me that there was that technology back then.

 

[The5thDentist]

I had wondered how these worked since I first heard about Lewis and Clark having one. Ingenious design. Video is a great find.

 

[Taka]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girandoni_Air_Rifle

http://home.nra.org/history/video/lewis-and-clark-girandoni-air-rifle

http://www.beemans.net/Lewis & Clark Airgun.htm

 

[Gammon]

Air guns were so devastating in those days that soldiers armed with them were executed on the spot, if captured.

 

[mac1911]

Didnt Lewis and Clark shoot a big foot with their air rifle?
Mondern day air rifles are insane. The high preasure air guns are nice. I have the entry level Benjamin discovery shoots 18.5 grain 22 Cal right around 800fps.
I have fun out to 100 yards with it. The big bore rifles 9mm-50 Cal are interesting also. Like anything else how much do you want to spend!

 

[enbloc]

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