Has anyone tested buck and ball ammunition?

[Ransurias]

Can buck and ball ammunition score multiple kills per shot? I realize that it essentially turns your rifle into a shotgun, but is it really more effective at taking out groups of charging enemies than regular ammunition? There's no video anywhere of it being used, so I'm kind of wondering. :)

[Leifr]

Yes, it works.

[Ransurias]

Yes, it works.

That's a bit vague. I've done some testing to confirm that you can kill people using buck and ball without aiming directly at them, but it doesn't necessarily answer the question of whether it can score multiple kills (2-3) with a single shot. In addition, I'd also be interested in finding out its effective range -- it might be effective as a "wall of lead" tactic if multiple people are firing buck and ball at enemy formations in the distance.

[Melonfish]

Check this out from CapAndBall:

https://youtu.be/4aUTlldgdg8

I'm rather jelous of this guy as he has some amazing black powder rifles and is the reason my first rifle is planned to be one of the perdesoli replicas.

[Ransurias]

Check this out from CapAndBall:

I'm rather jelous of this guy as he has some amazing black powder rifles and is the reason my first rifle is planned to be one of the perdesoli replicas.

Interesting, but that doesn't really have any relevance to the game. Still wondering if it's possible to get multi-kills / long-range kills with buck and ball ammunition in the game.

[Leifr]

Interesting, but that doesn't really have any relevance to the game. Still wondering if it's possible to get multi-kills / long-range kills with buck and ball ammunition in the game.

It works, I've killed three with one shot before and watched the bodies drop. I wouldn't use it at anything beyond 100 yards though (or thereabouts), much too unreliable.

[Melonfish]

Interesting, but that doesn't really have any relevance to the game. Still wondering if it's possible to get multi-kills / long-range kills with buck and ball ammunition in the game.

How does a real world test of buck and ball not relate to the game when the game is modelled on real world?

Buck and ball can multikill, get close and let loose you'll see.

[thomas aagaard]

when the game is modelled on real world?

plenty of things that is not yet modelled in the game. (and some that are wrong)

[Ransurias]

plenty of things that is not yet modelled in the game. (and some that are wrong)

Just to cite an example, we don't know whether there's a significant amount of bullet drop in this game. Therefore, the 300 / 500 / 700 meter adjustable sights might actually be useless. As far as I know, nobody has done any long-range testing to confirm whether there's any bullet drop at all. There's no kill feed or hit indicator of any sort, so we're pretty much in the dark, unfortunately.

[Leifr]

You can visit the firing range and do just that. It becomes evident fairly quickly that there is bullet drop.

[Dman979]

That's a bit vague. I've done some testing to confirm that you can kill people using buck and ball without aiming directly at them, but it doesn't necessarily answer the question of whether it can score multiple kills (2-3) with a single shot. In addition, I'd also be interested in finding out its effective range -- it might be effective as a "wall of lead" tactic if multiple people are firing buck and ball at enemy formations in the distance.

It is a valid tactic to fire Buck and Ball up to 120 yards. I've done testing in the drill camp with some friends, and when we volley fire- even at the furthest targets- there are enough hits to make me feel comfortable firing it in volley on the Sunken Road, for example. 20 people x 4 bullets x 2 rounds per minute (low rate is because of randoms) is a lot of lead going downrange. And you can keep it up for 20 minutes, too!

Best,
Dman979

[A. P. Hill]

… I'm rather jelous of this guy as he has some amazing black powder rifles and is the reason my first rifle is planned to be one of the perdesoli replicas.

AND … he even chose the right side to portray using the correct weapons.

[Melonfish]

AND … he even chose the right side to portray using the correct weapons.

he absolutely did!
My quandry is not whether I get the enfield 1853, the springfield or the Sharps (confederate), my issue is, which do I get first?

With regards to Smoothbore and buck and ball, i'm going to have a natter with the Black Powder guys at my club and see whether they've got any smoothbore and if they're willing to test firing buck and ball, might be interesting to see it IRL, have to check the ranges we go to will allow it too tbh, we can likely test 100, 200, and 300 meters. (300 may be pointless let alone 200)

[Dman979]

he absolutely did!
My quandry is not whether I get the enfield 1853, the springfield or the Sharps (confederate), my issue is, which do I get first?

With regards to Smoothbore and buck and ball, i'm going to have a natter with the Black Powder guys at my club and see whether they've got any smoothbore and if they're willing to test firing buck and ball, might be interesting to see it IRL, have to check the ranges we go to will allow it too tbh, we can likely test 100, 200, and 300 meters. (300 may be pointless let alone 200)

Since you don't fire the 1842 for accuracy, maybe try counting the hits every 10 shots, to simulate a small volley? You'll get results more appropriate to the weapon's use, and you can divide by 10 if you need to get an average accuracy.

Best,
Dman979

[Bicardi]

Buck and Ball works beautifully

[toka]

I’ve only fired buck & ball out of a 12 gauge shotgun, my black powder gun is rifled. I’m sure there are some differences due to the much shorter barrel and the different powders, but the five shells I fired did spread under 25 yards.

[L. Hopper]

There are differences between the Gauge of the Bore / Powder Charge / Projectile Sizes - Weight.

I used to deer hunt with a late 1700s Flintlock fowler, 69 caliber and 1816 Pomeroy Conversion. All depended on the list provided above and have exoerienced the accuracy described below.

However, the US Armory standardized a "buck and ball" cartridge with a slightly undersized 69 caliber round ball and three 31 caliber balls, wadding of paper and 110 grains of black powder. Spread was decent enough but to each rifle's quirks; the main ball was of normal accuracy as opposed to the others which were anyone's guess.

[Hohens]

Hello all....I am new to this game, I did go through some drill training and so far fought in two small battles at Antietnam. How do i go about getting buck and ball ammo ? thanks

[Dman979]

Hello all....I am new to this game, I did go through some drill training and so far fought in two small battles at Antietnam. How do i go about getting buck and ball ammo ? thanks

Hi, Hohens, and welcome aboard!

You can only use Buck and Ball if you are using the M1842 Springfield Musket. Press 2 to switch ammunition types from round ball to buck and ball. You will fire 4 projectiles instead of one. It's effective in volleys up to about 120 yards.

Best,
Dman979

[Hohens]

Dman979... Excellent...thank you much !

[themattymoose]

aye it is a handy bit of kit in those close cornfield maps

[Sgt.Nightfire]

It's the most effective i have noticed from 5 to 10 meters, beyond that it's like throwing pebbles. I once managed to kill 3 guys at once when they charged at me because they were all right next to each other.

[Poorlaggedman]

Having watched people volley on Sunken lane a lot from spectate, it seems mostly useless beyond very short range. I'll believe it when I see it being effective used in large numbers at any range at all. Keep in mind your opinion of what and where is a given game range is may not be reality. Even experienced players tend to wildly overestimate range. 100 yards would be significantly in excess of Burnside Bridge stonewall on the union side to the fence line frequently occupied by Confederates on the other. The bridge itself was and is less than 40 meters across. 100 yards from the stonewall would realistically be halfway up the slope on the opposite bank. Think buck and ball would do jack there? I think it needs adjustments.

I think the standard engagement range is very short in WoR, just as it actually was at Antietam due to the violent rolling terrain so Buck and Ball would always be more devastating if modeled correctly in WoR.

[Dman979]

Hmm, I'll have to check the length of Burnside Bridge. Pacing tests showed that you walk 70 yards in 60 seconds at the quicktime. With a stopwatch, it's easy to figure out ranges.

Best,
Dman979

[Len Mosby]

a lot of bullet drop sometimes

[STOTS]

The spread is the problem, it's good out to 30yds or so. After that the spread kicks in you're better off with roundball. Go to the range grab a 42' and check it out.

[Dman979]

The spread is the problem, it's good out to 30yds or so. After that the spread kicks in you're better off with roundball. Go to the range grab a 42' and check it out.

Only if you're aiming for a single target by yourself. Volley fire it into a line. It works, I promise.

I'll see if we can test it in my companies' drill this Friday.

Best,
Dman979

[Soulfly]

Used it a lot recently, on the bloody lane it comes in handy to put in on charging yanks ;) but only when they are like 5-6 meters away....or vice versa as a yank on this redoubt map where they are forced to attack through tunnels, devastating effect

[STOTS]

Only if you're aiming for a single target by yourself. Volley fire it into a line. It works, I promise.

I'll see if we can test it in my companies' drill this Friday.

Best,
Dman979

True, but I think they have too much spread. Just my opinion and yes volley fire with buck and ball can be devastating. We did test it on single fire at the range and that's what my comment was based on. :cool:

[Jackan]

Can buck and ball ammunition score multiple kills per shot? I realize that it essentially turns your rifle into a shotgun, but is it really more effective at taking out groups of charging enemies than regular ammunition? There's no video anywhere of it being used, so I'm kind of wondering. :)

the 1842 is poor at ranges past 100 yards in game, buck and ball can kill multiple people but is very inaccurate after 25-30 yards. you can very easily test this in a drill camp server yourself.

[Dman979]

True, but I think they have too much spread. Just my opinion and yes volley fire with buck and ball can be devastating. We did test it on single fire at the range and that's what my comment was based on. :cool:

I think that's the hangup here- people are thinking of the individual musket's accuracy, which isn't how it's supposed to be used. In the role it's designed for (massed volley fire at mid-range enemy lines) the 1842 is devastating.

Best,
Dman979

[LuxCapere]

buck and ball is nice, could be even slightly better, better spread AT RANGE, and more range over all.