Shorter stocked Enfields

[Jim Cunningham]

I have a very good shooting Snider with a shorter length of pull,and recently picked up a very nice 1860 dated type 3 Enfield with a shorter length of pull as well. Both the muzzleloading Enfield and Snider breechloading Enfield conversion were Canadian muskets, and I'm wondering if the shorter length of pull is unique to Canadian muskets. I'm 6 feet tall and don't find the
Type 3 difficult to aim, but feel the recoil of the Snider to be substantial with 60 grain of powder and a 530 grain bullet. Is there a reason why these Canadian muskets have shorter pull lengths? Thanks

[bobanderson]

I'm wondering if the shorter length of pull is unique to Canadian muskets.

...


Is there a reason why these Canadian muskets have shorter pull lengths? Thanks

It's because we all shoot with heavy winter coats on. Eh?

This goes along with the other rumor about intimacy during the hockey game.

[Muley Gil]

I don't have it handy at the moment, but the answer is in Dr C H Roades' The British Soldier's Firearm: From Smoothbore to Smallbore 1850-1864. The military decided to shorten the pull to better fit the soldiers.

Found it. The info is on page 69 of my book, which is the 1994 edition. The change to shorten the trigger pull from 14" to 13" was made in 1855, but was not adopted until 1859. Some of the longer stocks were made into 1860.

[Jim Cunningham]

Thank you
for the information

[John Holland]

Gil Tercinio is correct.

[Muley Gil]

Gil Tercinio is correct.

It happens every now and then. :D