Original: The term '' musket '' is applied to a variety of weapons , including the long , heavy guns with matchlock or wheel lock and loose powder fired with the gun barrel resting on a stand , and also lighter weapons with Snaphance , flintlock or caplock and bullets using a stabilizing spin ( Minié ball ) , affixed with a bayonet .
Simplified: '' Arms and Equipment of the Civil War '' By Jack Coggins , Published by Courier Dover Publications , 2004 The advantage of this longer distance was shown at the Battle of Four Lakes , where Springfield Model 1855 rifled muskets killed Indian warriors before they could get close enough with their smooth bore muskets .