One of the most terrifying experiences I've had with a firearm happened when I was duck hunting, using 3" goose loads that had spent a little too much time soaking in my "dry" box. Though they'd gotten a little crusty after a few seasons of being lugged around, the primers still looked passable. After taking my first shot at a bird, I pulled the trigger for my second barrel … [Read more...]
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How Guns Work: Flintlock Muzzleloaders
So, you've seen period films (Pirates of the Caribbean, anyone?) with those lovely old guns you're pretty sure are called flintlocks, but what really is a flintlock muzzleloader, and how does it work? Let's start with some of the history behind these antiquated firearms. The argument can be made that firearms were first made practical with the advent of the flintlock … [Read more...]