.45
calibre Pennsylvanian rifle
This sequence of 10 photographs show the firing sequence and recoil of a .45 calibre percussion fired Pennsylvanian rifle shot on Marple Rifle and Pistol Club's indoor range. The ignition of the main charge is much faster and more reliable than when using a flintlock and the gun, whilst not waterproof like a nitro cartridge gun is better protected that the earlier flintlocks. Note the effect of firing the gun is to force the shooter to close his eyes by 0.24 seconds after the hammer fell. This shows that the human body can react very quickly to stimulus, as in effect the shooter had only about 0.18 seconds to observe the start of ignition and actually close his eyes.
0.00 seconds: about to fire
0.03: seconds, the percussion cap is firing
into the main charge
0.06: seconds, a few sparks left & recoil
has started (the bullet will have left the barrel by now)
0.09: seconds still a few sparks from the
percussion cap
0.12: seconds & recoil moving the gun
back
0.15: seconds recoil still pronounced
0.18: seconds recoil reducing
0.21 seconds: recoil still present & eyes now
starting to close
0.24: seconds recoil phase over & eyes
shut
0.27 seconds: the gun is just starting to move back & eyes still shut