Close up of .75 calibre Brown Bess musket lock (firing sequence)

    In this series of 12 photos, taken about 1/30 of a second apart, you can see the short duration of the "Flash in the Pan" as the priming powder is burnt followed by the considerable vibration of the recoil as the main charge fires. The gun is a .75 calibre smoothbore flintlock musket known as a "Brown Bess", firing a 540 grain lead ball and it can generate a considerable 'kick' on firing. See also the view of the gun being fired.

Brown Bess musket lock
0.00 sec

Brown Bess musket lock
0.03 sec (the blurred motion of the hammer & flint striking the frizzen is very noticeable)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.06 sec (note the sparks from the frizzen starting the ignition of the priming powder)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.09 sec (the priming powder is properly alight)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.12 sec (the "Flash in the Pan")

Brown Bess musket lock
0.15 sec (no visible recoil at this time)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.18 sec (recoil vibration just beginning)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.21 sec (recoil well under way, notice that the strap eye is almost horizontal)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.24 sec (most of the priming powder has burned off)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.27 sec (main recoil now lifting the gun)

Brown Bess musket lock
0.30 sec

Brown Bess musket lock
0.33 sec (the ball is now at rest, having passed through the target and struck the backstop)

 

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