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31:
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212:. These were known by various names, including "chargers" or "apostles" as 12 were often carried. For most of the time muzzleloaders were in use, a round ball and pre-measured powder charge could be carried in a paper or cloth wrapping. The shooter would bite off the end of the paper cartridge with his teeth and pour the powder into the barrel followed by the ball encased in the paper wrapping.
190:. Sometimes two types of gunpowder (and two flasks) were used consisting of finer priming powder for the flash pan and coarser powder for the main charge behind the ball. This was particularly the case with earlier muzzleloaders like matchlocks but appear to have been less common with flintlocks and was irrelevant with percussion locks since they used percussion caps rather than priming powder.
200:, a card wad or other secure wadding is used between the powder and the shot charge to prevent pellets from dropping into the powder charge and on top of the shot charge to hold it in place in the barrel. In smooth bore muskets and most rifles used prior to cartridges being introduced in the mid-to late nineteenth century, wadding was used primarily to hold the powder in place.
260:) of fabric is wrapped around a ball which is slightly smaller than the barrel diameter. In other types of round ball firing rifles, a ramrod and hammer is used to force the round ball down through the rifling. When fired, either the lead ball or the wrapping grips the rifling and imparts spin to the ball which usually gives improved accuracy. In rifles firing
357:(MLAIC) governs international competition with muzzle-loading arms. The MLAIC holds a Short Range World Championship in even-numbered years and a Long Range World Championship (300–1,000 yd (270–910 m)) on odd numbered years (South Africa has won the last 5 Long Range World Championships).
318:
in the 1930s, just as the last original users and makers of muzzleloading arms were dying out. The sport received a tremendous boost in the 1960s and 1970s. The Muzzle
Loaders Associations International Committee (www.MLAIC.org) was formed in 1970 and held its first World Championship in 1971. Since
207:
The use of cartridges with both gunpowder charge and ball, made up in batches by the shooter or a servant, was known from very early on, but until roughly around 1800 loading using a powder flask and a bag of balls was more common outside of the military. The measuring stage for the barrel charge of
271:
replaced the round ball in most firearms, especially for military use, in the 1840s and 1850s. It has a hollow base which expands to grip the rifling. The combination of the spinning Minié ball and the consistent velocity provided by the improved seal gave far better accuracy than the smoothbore
374:
has created the 10ML-II, which can be used with smokeless powder, reducing the cleaning required. However, Savage has discontinued the production of smokeless muzzleloaders. Remington
Firearms also have a muzzleloader in production, the model "700 Ultimate" or "700 SL Ultimate". There are several
112:
use a shell with the propelling charge and primer attached at the base. Unlike older muzzleloading mortars, which were loaded the same way as muzzleloading cannon, the modern mortar is fired by dropping the shell down the barrel where a pin fires the primer, igniting the main propelling charge.
280:
When aiming for great accuracy, muzzle-loaders are usually cleaned ("swabbed") before reloading, so that there is no residue left in the barrel to reduce accuracy, though in competitions run by the international governing body, the MLAIC, this is prohibited for military rifle and musket events.
219:
until they were firmly seated on the propellant charge. Priming powder could be carried in a separate priming flask and poured into the priming pan or a little powder from the cartridge was used, and the frizzen was pushed down to hold the priming powder in place. After the gunpowder and
228:
was used to firmly pack everything down at the base of the barrel. Then either a priming charge was placed in the priming pan or a percussion cap was placed on the nipple, the firing mechanism initiated; the cock or hammer was then cocked to make the firearm ready to fire.
281:
However, in small arms muzzleloading rifles, swabbing is only done after every 5-10 shots. Large caliber muzzle-loaders such as cannons are always swabbed between shots to prevent accidents caused by live sparks igniting the fresh charge of powder as it is being loaded.
82:. The term "muzzleloader" applies to both rifled and smoothbore type muzzleloaders, and may also refer to the marksman who specializes in the shooting of such firearms. The firing methods, paraphernalia and mechanism further divide both categories as do caliber (from
203:
On most naval cannons, one piece of wadding was used to hold the powder in place and served the purpose of creating a better seal around the shot. Another was used to act as a plug to stop the shot rolling out because of the swaying of the ship.
339:. In the United States muzzleloading guns are, subject to a number of qualifications, generally not considered firearms. Subject to state law they may be possessed by persons who might otherwise not be legally allowed to own a firearm.
313:
is the sport or pastime of firing muzzleloading guns. Muzzleloading guns, both antique and reproduction, are used for target shooting, hunting, historical re-enactment and historical research. The sport originated in the
365:
Driven by demand for muzzleloaders for special extended primitive hunting seasons, firearms manufacturers have developed in-line muzzleloading rifles with designs similar to modern breech-loading centerfire designs.
237:
113:
Both the modern mortar and the older mortar were used for high angle fire. However, the fact that the mortar is not loaded in separate steps may make its definition as a muzzleloader a matter of opinion.
249:, Toronto, Canada. The set of accessories includes a small hammer as rifled pistols used slightly oversized bullets; a hammer was needed to drive the bullet down the barrel when loading.
712:
354:
172:
In general, the sequence of loading is to put in first gunpowder, by pouring in a measured amount of loose powder, historically mostly by using a
667:
689:
208:
gunpowder could be avoided by carrying a number of pre-measured charges in small containers of wood, metal or cloth, often carried on a
722:
343:
264:, the patch, often the paper wrapping from the cartridge, is used as an initial seal and to hold powder in place during loading.
299:
613:
165:
147:
Loaded muzzleloading cannon. (1) Priming charge (2) Main propellant charge (3) Wadding (4) Projectile (5) Wadding
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17:
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then a flourishing industry manufacturing working reproductions of historic firearms now exists in the
151:
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253:
Muzzleloading firearms generally use round balls, cylindrical conical projectiles, and shot charges.
375:
custom gun makers that are currently building smokeless muzzleloaders on new or donor bolt actions.
70:(i.e., from the forward, open end of the gun's barrel). This is distinct from the modern designs of
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697:
566:
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370:
pioneered the in-line muzzleloader in the mid-1980s, manufacturing and selling them to this day.
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242:
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303:
30:
176:(or powder horn), or by inserting a pre-measured bag or paper packet of gunpowder (called a
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8:
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long guns, to in-line rifles that use modern inventions such as a closed breech, sealed
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180:) or by inserting solid propellant pellets. The gunpowder used is typically
131:. It usually, but not always, involves the use of a loose propellant (i.e.,
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390:
196:
is made from felt, paper, cloth or card and has several different uses. In
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39:
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A number of articles on loading and firing various military muzzleloaders.
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135:) and projectile, as well as a separate method of ignition or priming.
128:
79:
59:
35:
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as well as the
Western National Shoot Event held in Phoenix, Arizona.
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The projectiles and wads were then pushed down into the breech with a
456:
441:
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421:
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209:
132:
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105:
and fast rifling to allow for considerable accuracy at long ranges.
93:
Modern muzzleloading firearms range from reproductions of sidelock,
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411:
256:
In some types of rifles firing round ball, a lubricated patch (see
87:
468:
197:
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51:
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431:
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225:
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121:
117:
83:
55:
629:
ATF.gov Top 10 Frequently Asked
Firearms Questions and Answers
328:
124:
but in modern parlance the term most commonly applies to
67:
749:
744:
739:
241:
A pair of French rifled, flintlock, duelling pistols by
668:"Knight Muzzleloading Rifles looks to close production"
383:
463:
74:
firearms, in which user loads the ammunition into the
750:
355:
Muzzle
Loaders Associations International Committee
762:
605:Pistols: An Illustrated History of Their Impact
232:
713:"The Modernization of the Muzzleloaded Rifle"
27:Class of gun which is loaded from the muzzle
745:Muzzle Loaders association of Great Britain
690:"Hunting drives today's blackpowder market"
665:
601:
224:or shot charge were placed in the barrel a
710:
740:National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association
595:
346:holds two national tournaments a year in
344:National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association
116:Muzzleloading can apply to anything from
467:
294:
236:
155:Wadding recovered from the wreck of the
150:
142:
29:
711:McClintock, Brian (February 10, 2011).
14:
763:
164:and was found inside a loaded cannon,
38:" muzzle-loading musket, used by the
384:Related to muzzle-loading small arms
464:Related to muzzle-loading artillery
306:learning about muzzleloading rifles
24:
647:. No. Nov 1996. November 1996
25:
812:
733:
186:or black powder substitutes like
166:National Maritime Museum Cornwall
486:List of muzzle-loading artillery
284:
272:muzzleloaders that it replaced.
275:
704:
682:
659:
633:
622:
13:
1:
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360:
54:in which the user loads the
608:. ABC-CLIO. pp. 33–34.
233:Projectile types and history
7:
666:Jim Braaten (3 June 2009),
378:
327:, particularly in northern
10:
817:
696:. May 2004. Archived from
472:Muzzle-loading gun on its
288:
138:
557:RML 68-pounder 64 cwt gun
672:Minneapolis Star Tribune
567:68-pounder Lancaster gun
641:"In-line Muzzleloaders"
577:RML 12 inch 35 ton gun
572:RML 12 inch 25 ton gun
476:
307:
250:
169:
148:
43:
755:Muzzleloader Articles
471:
304:Boy Scouts of America
298:
240:
154:
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33:
801:Black-powder pistols
796:18th-century weapons
791:19th-century weapons
725:on January 30, 2018.
602:Jeff Kinard (2003).
552:70 pounder Whitworth
481:Rifled muzzle loader
247:Royal Ontario Museum
537:ML 8 inch shell gun
348:Friendship, Indiana
337:Province of Brescia
333:Gardone Val Trompia
243:Nicolas Noël Boutet
645:Field & Stream
582:RML 17.72 inch gun
477:
308:
251:
170:
149:
44:
718:Popular Mechanics
694:Shooting Industry
615:978-1-85109-470-7
584:, ("100-ton gun")
407:Caplock mechanism
331:, for example at
86:to small-caliber
42:from 1722 to 1838
16:(Redirected from
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721:. Archived from
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674:, archived from
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62:charge into the
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781:Early firearms
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734:External links
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700:on 2012-07-18.
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678:on 11 May 2015
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562:RML 7 inch gun
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542:68-pounder gun
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533:(gun-howitzer)
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401:Breech-loading
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300:Varsity Scouts
289:Main article:
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258:Kentucky rifle
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72:breech-loading
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547:Parrott rifle
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521:Demi-culverin
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368:Knight Rifles
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342:The American
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321:United States
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311:Muzzleloading
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18:Muzzle-loaded
723:the original
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698:the original
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676:the original
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649:. Retrieved
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396:Black powder
391:Antique guns
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352:
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310:
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279:
276:Modern usage
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183:black powder
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174:powder flask
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126:black powder
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107:
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48:muzzleloader
47:
45:
40:British Army
511:Demi-cannon
372:Savage Arms
262:Minié balls
245:1794–1797.
157:packet ship
78:end of the
66:end of the
786:Ammunition
765:Categories
589:References
361:Modern use
269:Minié ball
222:projectile
129:small arms
99:percussion
60:propellant
56:projectile
36:Brown Bess
457:Wheellock
442:Snaphance
437:Pepperbox
422:Matchlock
417:Flintlock
335:, in the
210:bandolier
178:cartridge
133:gunpowder
95:flintlock
88:palm guns
516:Culverin
496:Falconet
474:carriage
452:Terzerol
447:Snaplock
427:Miquelet
412:Firearms
403:firearms
379:See also
198:shotguns
58:and the
651:11 July
491:Bombard
302:of the
194:Wadding
188:Pyrodex
161:Hanover
139:Loading
122:pistols
118:cannons
110:mortars
108:Modern
84:cannons
52:firearm
50:is any
612:
526:Minion
506:Cannon
432:Musket
325:Europe
226:ramrod
217:ramrod
168:(2014)
103:primer
80:barrel
76:breech
64:muzzle
501:Saker
329:Italy
653:2020
610:ISBN
353:The
323:and
267:The
97:and
120:to
90:).
68:gun
34:A "
767::
715:.
692:.
670:,
643:.
46:A
655:.
618:.
20:)
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