Rational expert: The problem at Isandlwana was not bad ammo, but rather a lack of ammo. The British quartermasters were refusing to release additional ammo until their officers ordered it. As a result, the British riflemen were overrun by the Zulus when their ammo ran out, and their bayonets proved no match for the Zulus’ assegais.
The Martini-Henry rifle was extremely effective against indigenous forces, as was the Maxim machine gun, but both are worthless without ammunition.
The 150 man contingent at Rorke’s Drift held off 4,000 Zulus and attributed their success to the Martini-Henry rifle “with some guts behind it”.
