The problem with the Ferguson Rifle is that, sure it's great for 4 or 5 or 8 shots, but after that, the breech mechanism begins to foul and it needs to be stripped and cleaned etc. The Ferguson Rifle is a developmental dead end, it's simply too expensive to build/maintain.
WI Patrick Ferguson had before the war immigrated to the colonies and become a leading rebel leader would his rifle stand a better chance of being adopted by the Americans.
I'd say yes. The reason being that Ferguson, instead of dealing with one Ordnance Department for the British Army, would be dealing with 13 State Governments. With a bit of luck, he might persuade one of them to adopt his rife for it's troops.
He actually came up with the design in 1770 (although he didn't patent it until 1776). Let's assume he emigrates to America in 1771, taking the design with him. He sets up shop producing the rifles in Philadelphia, selling them to frontiersmen, who find the greater rate of fire useful in encounters with Indians in the wilderness. By 1775 he has an established business producing the rifles, and has made some powerful political allies, such as Ben Franklin, who admires the design and promotes it in the Pennsylvania legislature and in Congress.
Pennsylvania adopts the rifle for its infantry, and many other gunsmiths are brought in to produce it for the Pennsylvania State Line.
dude, Ferguson could well have been a Tory even if he migrated to America- just as many of the Scottish Highlanders were who'd gone to the Mid-Atlantic states & upper south- esp NC. So he could well have ended up STILL designing his weapon in British service regardless...
Given that some later firearms were rejected on the grounds that the drill would be more complicated this is a fair comment.It might be too expensive for general distribution and too finicky for line infantry,
This would favour the regulars of the Crown over the militias of the rebellious colonies and their French allies.but for elite troops, the necessity of careful cleaning and maintainance should be easy to meet while the increased firepower and ability to be fired while prone can be used to maximum effect.