Now THAT’S gas leakage!

[Flint62Smoothie]

Rifle - Patent date 1811, 1st breech loading rifle ever issued to a standing Army. Yes the British Ferguson pre-dated this design, but the John Hall flintlock musket began to be issued to US troops in 1819.

... and they say that “only” 2 things did this design in ... gas leakage and the advent of brass cartridges. I get the 2nd one ... but will let you guys comment as to the 1st.

[Flint62Smoothie]

Factoid - The first 2” of the barrel is counter-bored to remove the rifling. So after a few dozen shots, if/when the action wouldn’t open up, the soldier could load it like a traditional muzzleloader. These rifles carry metal ramrods in the typical manner.

[smylee grouch]

Quite a bit of aiming distraction. Could be tough on a full beard.

[redheart]

Wow!!!!!!!
It looks like this gun was designed to shoot, and light your cigar at the same time.

[Flint62Smoothie]

Quite a bit of aiming distraction. Could be tough on a full beard.

Wow!!!!!!!  It looks like this gun was designed to shoot, and light your cigar at the same time.

In retrospect, you can see this was fired by pulling on a rope looped to the trigger, sine the rifle was tied down ... since it hadn't been shot in ~160-years. I betcha the ball rolled off the powder charge (60-grains) and sat right at the forcing cone from the breech to the rifling.

I have an original flintlock model dated to 1839, in MINT condition ... that only has 0.003" gap at the forcing cone ... and doesn't do that!

Here's a detail of the flintlock breech:

[WadePatton]

That's a big gap and a dangerous amount of leakage. Jest about certain of that. Anybody measure the gap on that one? A revolver gas-burnt me once (not many folks forget the first time and manage to avoid a second  ) and I don't think it was nearly as sloppy as seen here.   

[Daryl]

Hall rifles were issued to the fort armory gun/smnith-officer with 'extra' bushings to take up wear and reduce the amount of leakage.

Oft times, civilians would end up with these after 'government sales' and never see a gun-smith after that.

[Old Ford2]

Which end did the ball come out...........if ever?
And I thought the gas leakage was great with a flintlock, especially a Brown Bess.
I am game to try anything, but after that image, I think I will stick to regular cap lock or flint lock.
You would definitely want to keep your facial hair away from that flame thrower.
Fred

[Daryl]

The reinforcing side straps were quite necessary.  You can see the flame blast out the sides as well as UP.

The soldier would sometimes get powder under the block in the stock cut-tout - sort of the same problem with the percussion Sharps.