Martini-Henry True or False?

[Bootie]

Is it true that during the Anglo-Zulu War the Martini-Henry rifle was able to penetrate up to 3 men in a row?

Cant recall if this is a military myth or not?

 

[Rico]

Maybe at close range with them standing very close together?

I've also heard that.

Something for the Mythbusters to try out?

 

[Richtig]

Back in the dim and distant their was a set of skirmish rules (possibly Donald Featherstone) and I recall all wounds from a Martini Henry were upgraded to severe - unlike other weapons, to reflect the stopping power it possessed.

 

[Bootie]

I think there might be some truth to it if this example is anything to go by.

 

[SLIM]

Having personally fired a Trapdoor Springfield from 1884 into concrete cinderblocks, I can corroborate the penetrating power of big-bore black powder rifles.

 

[Rico]

The widespread use of dum-dum bullets in the colonial wars also added to the carnage ... those wounded Zulu's at the end would've looked a LOT bloodier and messed up.