ONE, big deal. and it was slow as molasses to charge.
600 shots of even .44 KY rifle is 140 grs per shot. counting the ball. Probably more, heavier caliber were probaby used. but for my purposes, lets say 12 lbs of lead. 18 lbs of "ammo", and a 10 lb rifle. If instead, I've got a 4 lb AR, 1 lb of .22 unit and spare mag, 1 20 rd and 2 30 rd 223 mags, half a lb of mags, 3/4 lb of silencer, 1 lb of scope and mount, 1/4 lb of bipod and spare bolt (all parts in it) 1/4 lb of solvent and graphite lube. Say 8 lbs. 20 lbs of ammo to have the same load. Think that'd last ya for a couple of years, braining bison, elk, maybe moose, a few bears, chest hitting pronghorn and deer?, Say 4 lbs of 223 ammo, allowing for a bit of fighting, 140 rds 16 lbs of subsonic 60 gr 22 Aquila, 100 rds to the lb, 1600 shots at small game, birds, etc. Realistically, 1.5 lbs of each, 223, and .22lr, should be plenty, so no need of all the hassles and risks of using horses. Saving 16 lbs, having luminous sights, silencer, subsonic ammo, rapidfire, concealment of the longarm, at least twice the effective range, without the need to carry a buffalo robe to keep warm.
Yeah, I think that I'm WAY better off. No horrors of trying to clean a muzzleloader in the field, no misfires from rain or high humidity.
when you figure that you'll get a hindquarter of beef with most .22 shots fired (or an entire big dog, some deer, etc) that 150 rds of .22 ammo looks like a great plenty for a couple of years, eh? With the 223 braining an elk or bear now and then, reaching 150 yds or so to take deer and pronghorn with chest hits, and enough sense to have gill nets and trotlines, things go a lot further/better, without nearly the bulk/weight risk that L and C's men had to face
When you add some caches, maybe a mountain bike, NVD goggles, another 50 lbs of jerky, inflatable raft, etc, things really start looking better. Bikes dont bite you, throw you (or your gear) off, don't get sick or hurt, dont make noise, dont have to be fed or watered, and they STAY hidden under a bush after you put them there! Chained and padlocked, of course.
