<P> Long rifles were an American design of the 18th century , produced by individual German gunsmiths in Pennsylvania . Based on the Jäger rifle , long rifles , known as `` Pennsylvania Rifles '' , were used by snipers and light infantry throughout the Revolutionary War . The grooved barrel increased the range and accuracy by spinning a snugly fitted ball , giving an accurate range of 300 yards compared to 100 yards for smoothbore muskets . Drawbacks included the low rate of fire due to the complicated reloading process , the impossibility to fit it with a bayonet , the high cost , and lack of standardization that required extensive training with a particular rifle for a soldier to realize the weapon 's full potential . Due to the drawbacks , George Washington argued for a limited role of rifles in the Colonial military , while Congress was more enthusiastic and authorized the raising of several companies of riflemen . Long rifles played a significant part in the battles of Saratoga and New Orleans , where rifleman units picked off officers to disrupt British command and control , but required support by units armed with smoothbore muskets or by artillery to prevent the riflemen from being overrun . </P>
<P> Long rifles were an American design of the 18th century , produced by individual German gunsmiths in Pennsylvania . Based on the Jäger rifle , long rifles , known as `` Pennsylvania Rifles '' , were used by snipers and light infantry throughout the Revolutionary War . The grooved barrel increased the range and accuracy by spinning a snugly fitted ball , giving an accurate range of 300 yards compared to 100 yards for smoothbore muskets . Drawbacks included the low rate of fire due to the complicated reloading process , the impossibility to fit it with a bayonet , the high cost , and lack of standardization that required extensive training with a particular rifle for a soldier to realize the weapon 's full potential . Due to the drawbacks , George Washington argued for a limited role of rifles in the Colonial military , while Congress was more enthusiastic and authorized the raising of several companies of riflemen . Long rifles played a significant part in the battles of Saratoga and New Orleans , where rifleman units picked off officers to disrupt British command and control , but required support by units armed with smoothbore muskets or by artillery to prevent the riflemen from being overrun . </P>
what weapons did they use in the battle of saratoga
what weapons did they use in the battle of saratoga
Long rifles
Long rifles