Mr. Gibson,

It has been awhile since I saw the show (well over a year at this point) and will have to keep an eye out for it to appear again to critic more thoroughly.

You are correct. The trajectories, dispersion patterns, and distance effectiveness would all be different. It would be similar to comparing the throwing of a NURF ball and a baseball.

I would even argue that the dispersion patterns when you "double shot" canister in the various guns would be different vice a single canister round.

The issue I take with their calculations is that it is pretty clear to take at what step in the firing process a gun crew is at prior to firing. "It ain't no secret." AND with the Rifle the crew is already being engaged by the infantry and the rate of fire is likely to go down unless the battery has infantry support.

I hope this helps.

Respectfully,

Gerald D. Hodge, Jr.
War Between the States Historian
Historian: 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
http://39thgavolinfrgt.homestead.com/39thHomepage.html