.36
calibre Bootleg pistol firing sequence
Although only of .36 inch calibre this under hammer 'Bootleg' single shot percussion pistol generates quite a large amount of felt recoil, due mainly to its light weight not absorbing much energy and thus passing it on to the firer. The benefit of under hammer guns is that the marksman has an unobstructed view of the sights, without any disturbing metalwork to spoil the view. Like all muzzle loading black powder guns that use percussion caps for ignition, there is some gas escape from the flash hole and this can be seen just above the firer's right thumb in the first photograph below. Note the large amount of grey smoke produced on firing, the origin of the phrase, "The fog of war".
