Advancement of Military Firepower: Civil War Era to Present Abstract Introduction Visual Comparison Conclusion Results Tyler Lauzon and Spencer Phillips This presentation will examine the evolution of the firearm from the ancient smooth bore musket to the modern M16. We will focus on such advancement as rifled bores, aerodynamic projectiles, closed cartridge systems, and automatic firing capability. We will show how these advancements made certain tactics more effective and changed the way in which modern warfare is conducted. -As is clearly shown, not only the firearms themselves vastly improve technologically but so do the ammunition which they fire. In addition to increased aerodynamics, the rounds are also made with increasing precision and have fewer and fewer irregularities, which cause unpredictable flight patterns. -The earliest firearms were smooth bored devices in which the powder and projectile were hand loaded separately. The second shown firearm, the 1861 Springfield, had a rifled bore and its bullets were in paper cartridges with the powder, but the cartridge had to be ripped open and subsequently powder had to be poured into the bore. The round would then be inserted with a ramrod. The third pictured firearm, various forms of the M16, all fire cartridges which contain the primer, powder, and actual bullet. These are contained in a detachable magazine which contains multiple rounds. The rounds can all be fired with one sustained pull of the trigger, in full-auto mode. -The effective range of the smooth bore musket is 50 yards whereas for the Springfield it is 500 and the M16 reaches a range of 600 yards. The change from musket to rifle saw an increase in accuracy but not initially in rate of fire. The development of the minié ball and subsequently the percussion cap made the rifles rate of fire on par with that of the musket. The percussion cap also allowed for firing in damp conditions. The development of the complete cartridge system and full auto fire brought the rate of fire of the M16 to previously unheard of levels. Because of the mini ball rifles increased rate of fire, close combat occurred much less frequently. When close combat did occur, the new Colt Revolver replaced the saber as the primary means of close quarters combat. There have been recent changes from the traditional battlefield to jungle warfare and subsequently urban warfare. This shift lead to more compact firearms that maintained high accuracy and high rates of fire. We claim that the constant demands of warfare for higher quality weapons greatly effect the development of firearms. Also, ever improving technologies lead to changes in the way which warfare is conducted, such as the decline of bayonet use with more accurate guns. Also, requirements of specific environments can lead to specific developments, such as crowded urban environments requiring more compact weapons. We will trace the evolution of the firearm from the musket, to the minié ball rifle, to the M16. We will examine their developments and the implications they have, and also what led to them.