Muzzle loading

MC (Poudre). BkPdr used in Fr as propellant for muzzle loading cannons and as a bursting charge in projectiles Ref Daniel (1902), 427... 

Parrott Gun. A type of muzzle-loading cast-iron rifled gun with a wrought-iron band shrunk... 

Patch. A piece of greased cloth or leather which was wrapped around the ball to make it fit the bore more tightly. It was commonly used with muzzle-loading rifles that fired spherical balls, and in some dueling pistols... 

Everyone has observed chemical reactions involving pyrotechnic mixtures. Beautiful 4th of July fireworks, highway distress signals, solid fuel boosters for the Space Shuttle, and the black powder used by muzzle-loading rifle enthusiasts all have a common technical background. 

Cannone ad anima liscia — Smoothbored Cannon Cannone ad avancarica - Muzzle-loading Gun Cannone antiaerea - Antiaircraft Gun 1 Cannone anticarro - Antitank Gun Cannone a retrocarica — Breech-loading Cannon Cannone a tiro rapido - Rapid-fire Gun... 

Aflred Krupp(Germany), Freyre(Spain) and Broad-well(US). By the end of the 19th century breech -loading cannons were perfected and only very few improvements have been made since that time. Howitzers are also breech-loading weapons. The only artillery weapons which are muzzle-loaded are light mortars (See also Breech Mechanisms)... 

Breech Screw. In muzzle-loading muskets and rifles, a solid screw plug closing the bottom of the bore... 

Culverin. A light, long, muzzle-loading artillery weapon developed during the 15th century. 

Stokes Trench Mortar. Named after the inventor, Sir Wilfrid S. Stokes, this is a Brit light 3 (7.6cm) muzzle-loading mortar that fires a projectile (Stokes bomb) weighing 11 lbs. See also under Cannon in Vol 2, C27-R to C28-L Refs 1) J. Quick, Dictionary of Weapons and Military Terms , McGraw-Hill (1973), 423 2) C. Chant, How Weapons Work , Henry Regnery, Chicago (1976), 64... 

The first projectiles to be discharged from any type of firearm were stones, feathered iron arrows, and iron shot. These were discharged from cannons.18 The first handheld firearms had bore diameters between 1.5 and 2.0 and suitable small round stones were used as projectiles. The earliest use of lead in bullets would appear to have been about 1340 and these consisted of spherical lead bullets.19 Firearms of this era were large and heavy and from this time to the present day there has been a gradual reduction in bore size and weight. By the time the flintlock pistol came into use, the spherical lead bullets were between 0.6 and 0.7 in diameter. 1 Bullets of this type were used for many years in smooth bore muzzle-loading firearms where the bullet did not have to be a tight fit in the bore. 

Many nitrates are important chemicals. For example, black powder (also known as gunpowder ) has been used for centuries, and it is a mixture containing approximately 75% KN03, 15% C, and 10% S. The mixture is processed while wet, made into flakes, and then dried. Except for use in muzzle loading firearms, it has largely been replaced by smokeless powder that is based on nitrocellulose containing small amounts of certain additives. 

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