Most of these rifles were the personal property of the soldier and could vary substantially in design and decoration. The patch box lids were generally brass and were hinged at the rear. Most rifles had a butt-trap or patch box about six inches long for storing greased linen patches and tools. Frequently there was a scrolled brass trigger guard to provide a better grip and a raised cheek-rest for support when aiming. Jäger rifles typically had a length around 45 inches (1,100 mm), with a 30-inch (760 mm) barrel, and weighed around 9 lb (4.1 kg). However, there was some loss of accuracy, and the shorter barrel used meant the powder charges less efficiently. The shorter weapon was easier to load and more practical in skirmish combat. Jäger rifles (late 18th century) īy the late 18th century, these rifles had evolved to being shorter than earlier hunting weapons and were generally shorter than the typical military musket, with no provision for a bayonet. Jäger were not just skilled riflemen they were also able to handle and maintain delicate, accurate rifles in an age when very few soldiers had mechanical skills. Since they owned their own weapons there was little standardization, and the early rifles were generally designed for hunting. These troops were primarily used for reconnaissance, skirmishing or screening bodies of heavier troops. They were often of middle-class backgrounds or belonged to the lesser nobility. Huntsmen and foresters recruited in certain German states were an established presence in German military units. "hunter") were a type of soldier, a form of light infantry, first named by the Landgrave of Hesse when he formed such a unit from his foresters and huntsmen in 1631.
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