"Russian Minie Rifles in the Crimean War" Topic

Hello,

I am hoping someone can clarify the Russian use of the Minie during the Crimean War.

As I understand it, the Russians used smoothbore muskets throughout the war. They did have a rifled musket--model 1854, which was given to the best shots in a regiment.

I assume that the model 1854 fired the Minie round I am referring to?

Osprey states that there was various types of ammo produced. If these are the Minie type, were the Russians using these in their smoothbores? Can you even use a Minie round in a smoothbore?

Thanks,
Brian

At the beginning of the war, rifled weapons had a total of 26 rifles per battalion. By January 1855, the number of rifled weapons was brought to 26 rifles per company.

The 1854 rifles used a bullet of the Belgian Peters design, improved by General Timmergans (transcription from Russian is probably not a very correct spelling of surnames). The differences in the design of these bullets are not very significant.

For firing from smoothbore weapons, a bullet of the Neisler design was used. Just like in the French army.

Thank you for that.

So in 1854 the Russian Infantry Regiment would have around 104 rifles (4 battalions per regt.) and in 1855 there would be around 416 (4 co. per battalion)?

The Russians changed to using the Neisler ammo in their smoothbores? Does the use of this bullet increase the range of the smoothbore?

Yes, your calculations are correct. It must be borne in mind that these can be various rifle systems, but not only the M1854. These are the previously used Belgian rifles and allied trophy rifles.

The Neisler bullet was immediately copied by the Russians after the outbreak of hostilities.

When using the Neisler bullet, the range and accuracy of fire of smooth-bore weapons increase by about one and a half to two times (this is less than the efficiency of the Mignier bullet by about 2-3 times).
In other words, the Neisler bullet can be effectively fired at a dense formation from 500-600 meters, and for individual targets – from 200 meters.
The Mignier bullet – in tight formation from 1000 meters, for individual – from 500 meters (in theory, of course).
An ordinary round bullet from an ordinary smooth-bore musket of 100 meters is a distance for effective shooting at a dense formation.