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One of the oddities of the Franco-Prussian War is that despite the presence of relatively modern long arms, the handguns fielded were generally of a most archaic character.
The French, like the Germans, generally deployed clumsy single-shot pistols.
The poor performance of the French guns may go some ways in explaining the emphasis retained on shock tactics in the French cavalry.
| Percentage of Hits on a 50 centimeter diameter Target, French Cavalry Pistol |
| Distance Meters |
10.0 |
15.0 |
20.0 |
25.0 |
30.0 |
50.0 |
60.0 |
| On Foot |
18.0 |
11.0 |
8.0 |
6.0 |
4.5 |
2.0 |
1.5 |
| On Horseback Trotting |
5.0 |
3.8 |
2.8 |
2.1 |
1.6 |
1.1 |
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*
| Percentage of Hits, French Cavalry Pistol, 1.9m x 32m Target |
| Distance Meters |
20 |
40 |
60 |
100 |
| Percentage of Hits |
96 |
80 |
61 |
48 |
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As a point of comparison, we may also refer to the modern tests of weapons described in Martin Pegler's Powder and Ball Small Arms, (Ramsbury, 1998).
Pegler's tests showed that an English Light Cavalry Pistol (16.9mm), with muzzle velocities ranging from 520 feet per second (40 grains of powder) to 743 feet per second (60 grains), produced shot groups of 18 inches at 15 yards and could penetrate 3 inches of oak at 25 yards; the accuracy at 25 yards being described as "not impressive."
Pegler's test generally seem to check with the French numbers: the French could hit their 50 centimeter (19.69 inch) target 18% of the time, at a slighter shorter range (10 meters versus 13.65 meters).
While the French Navy had been equipped since 1858 with the excellent Lefaucheux pin-fire revolver, French soldiers possessed none of these modern weapons, unless they did so by personal acquisition — which appreciable numbers did.
The performance of these mid-nineteenth century revolvers, while not brilliant by today's standards, was nevertheless considerably better and, more importantly, allowed their shooters multiple shots.
Trials at Woolwich in the early 1850s showed that a Colt revolver could hit a 6 by 6 foot target 100% of the time at 45 meters (150 feet); at 91 meters (300 feet), the accuracy dropped to 58%.
On the other hand, very high quality muzzle-loading rifled pistols — like the French Staff Officer's Pistol (Pistolet d'État-Major), a presentation weapon (costing more than 120 francs — or three times the price of an infantry musket) awarded in limited numbers to high-ranking military, of 16.7mm caliber firing a 25.5 gramme bullet and rifled with 48 grooves, could also perform well.
At 50 meters (160 feet) it could put 100% of its shots into a 2 meter by 2 meter square, while at 100 meters (326 feet) it could score 64% hits on the same target.
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