Steel warships propelled by steam and equipped with breech-loading weapons had become standard. |
For the next 50 years breech-loading muskets and rifles were made in England as sporting guns. |
Enterprise was armed with two 100-pounder smoothbore, muzzle-loading Somerset cannon and two rifled 110-pounder breech-loading guns. |
Better guns, along with breech-loading, made possible both longer ranges and higher rates of fire. |
The American Civil War also previewed the importance of breech-loading rifles. |
The breech-loading cannons were set to fire in only one fixed direction and were of little use. |