![]() It is the percussion sporting gun, either original or replica, that is the most practical type for shooting clay pigeons. Given that this ignition system dates back to the early 1800’s, the speed of ignition is only slightly less than that of a modern nitro powder shotgun as anyone who has shot a percussion gun will confirm. Speed of ignition, even on poor quality guns, was far superior to even the best flintlocks. The barrel, loaded with a charge of powder, wad and shot would be ignited by the fall of the cock onto the percussion cap. The final stage of development was a small copper cap containing this compound.Ī hollow nipple was screwed into the breech end of the gun and the cap would be placed on top of the nipple. He used a compound of fulminate of mercury (originally, dangerously as a propellant), which would explode instantly upon being struck. Percussion: A Scottish clergyman, the Reverend Alexander Forsyth, invented a detonating system in the early 1800’s. It is these later examples of flintlock guns that are much sought after by the modern muzzle loader. At the end of the flintlock era, around 1820, the use of patent breeches, roller frizzens and rain proof pans provided the ultimate in flintlock design. At this time the first double barrel guns appeared and the Holy Grail of the gun makers was to produce a gun lock withĪ very fast ignition time. The new fashion of shooting flying birds brought about the gradual shortening of barrel length to assist the handling of the gun. These long barrelled guns, with their slow ignition, were unwieldy for shooting flying birds. These guns were sometimes fired from rests such as a fork stick and were referred to as ‘Bank Guns’.Īs time went on shooting flying birds became popular on the continent and this idea was brought to Great Britain by visiting sportsmen. The early flintlock shotguns tended to have very long barrels and were often used for shooting wildfowl sitting on the water. This was an improvement on the more primitive ignition types mainly using smouldering cord (matchlock). Flintlock: At the beginning of the 17th Century, the flintlock, which uses a knapped flint stone striking a steel face to generate sparks for ignition was firmly established.
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