Another 9 photos of the firing of a flintlock shotgun

 

    In this series of 9 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 .50 calibre flintlock shotgun, but even so small a calibre (by black powder standards) can generate a considerable 'kick' on firing. The shooter is wearing ear plugs for hearing protection and it would seem like a good idea to also wear eye shields! The entire sequence from start to finish has taken about a quarter of a second, quite a long time and one of the reasons that black powder is less accurate than nitro powder.

 

0.00 seconds, just before firing
0.00 seconds, just before firing

0.03 seconds, note the sparks from the frizzen
0.03 seconds, note the sparks from the frizzen

0.06 seconds, the flash in the pan developing
0.06 seconds, the flash in the pan developing

0.09 seconds, the flash in the pan at a maximum
0.09 seconds, the flash in the pan at a maximum

0.12 seconds, the projectile is fired
0.12 seconds, the projectile is fired

0.15 seconds, the smoke is starting to form
0.15 seconds, the smoke is starting to form

0.18 seconds, more smoke forming
0.18 seconds, more smoke forming

0.21 seconds, almost all burning completed
0.21 seconds, almost all burning completed

0.24 seconds, The Fog of War
0.24 seconds, The Fog of War caused by the powder smoke

 

Site Map

Back to guns fired

Back to Home Page