It's a valid concern. One of the criticisms I have heard for years about the N-SSA from Living History circles is, "Fantasy guns shooting fantasy bullets."but I am interested in the rational for introducing more modern technology in Skirmishing because I want to understand the general thinking in the organization about the trade-offs between historical authenticity and gaining a competitive edge.
I don't think any of the projectiles I currently use in N-SSA competition match a historical design, or, in the case of round ball in my smooth bore, are loaded the way they would have been historically (paper patched). Edit: Well, except now for my Sharps. I shoot a historical projectile in it.
The RCBS-Hogdgon, with its massive grease groove, has no historical counterpart that I am aware of. Likewise, the Moose Wilkinson does not look like the actual historical Wilkinson bullet. Smoothbore round balls were not wrapped in aluminum foil, knurled with files, nor dipped in lube historically. Common N-SSA legal ammunition is so far removed from historical ammunition that at this point powder coating, while perhaps a bridge to far for some people, is not a big deal to me. Still, our bullets function, in general, with the same principles as period ammunition. Expanding balls still expand. Compression bullets still compress. Smoothbore round balls had mechanisms to consume windage. I think we are still there in spirit.
The good news is the N-SSA is changing and using period ammunition is becoming more and more viable. Of course some people have always shot a conical expanding ball bullet that closely approximates historical ones. A couple of years ago the rules got changed so that you can use US 1855 and 1862 style paper cartridges, where the bullet is removed from the paper prior to shooting. And just recently the rules have been changed so you can now use combustible cartridges in revolvers, utilizing the different styles of authentic heeled bullets now available from places like Eras Gone Bullet Molds.
Eras Gone has really revolutionized the market by providing people the opportunity to cast extremely close copies of historical bullet designs. I myself have switched to using the Eras Gone Richmond Sharps bullet in competition. I love the long heel as the bullet is far less likely to come away from the cartridge than with the Pedersoli "ringtail" bullet I was using previously, and it's a great shooter. Eras Gone also produces a historically-accurate Smith bullet. And a variety of historical revolver bullet designs.
Of course, accuracy is king in our game, and so people are going to shoot that which gives them the best accuracy within the rules.
Steve
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