Co. C, 53rd Pennsylvania Infantry
Photos from Past Events
LIVE SHOOT

Smithgall's Farm - Sunday Oct. 4th, 1998

On a Sunday morning in October, a dozen or so members of the 53rd PA headed out to Lancaster for target firing with their '61 Springfields, using ammunition hand made by Sgt. John Lowry and Private John Nyeste. To say the least, it was an exciting and educational get together!
(Photos by Scott Kunkle)
The blockhouse on the farm where a few of the lads spent the night before.
Setting the up the targets.
For the few of us who had never fired live rounds before, the power and sound of the minie balls in flight was awesome.
Pvt. Diamond hammering his rammer. Courtesy of Butch, we all found out that morning that it IS possible to fire your rammer down field!

Sgt. Fasnacht fires from the blockhouse.
Checking the damage. Some of the fellows were better shooters than others, but it is startling how accurate these weapons really are.
A minie ball wreaks havoc on a good ol' U.S. belt buckle.
Dirty, dumb and proud.

 

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