Sensible Firearms Rule

[KPJFormat]

We've all been annoyed by Two-Gun Goofy before, here's a sensible solution:

You can't hold guns in your belt that are loaded! That's not how these guns worked in any case, because the flashpan had to be loaded with fresh powder for each shot. Though many guns had a clamp to hold that powder in place, the cartridge/bullet and powder still had to be rammed down the barrel fresh for each shot, if you put it in a holster or saddle it would fall out and become less packed.

This would make double-barreled guns more valuable, and reduce the value of camping musketeers who keep a belt full of loaded guns to defeat any infantry.

 

[RalliX]

But would this affect pistols? Having a brace of them would become useless if so.

 

[Baron Conrad]

I would rather if it was just impossible to have two long guns.

I think it's fine if someone has lots of pistols.

 

[Coraline]

Didn't they  put a wad of cloth into the barrel between the ball/powder to insure a tight fit and to keep the powder and ball from escaping?  At least it was common practice by the 1700s by civilian hunters and such in the Americas who always wanted to be sure their musket or rifles were ready to fire when needed.  Soldiers often had paper for this duty already by the 1700s with the ball/powder in a small little bundle of exploding joy.  Really counted on the weapon I guess, brown bess had a very very loose fit for the musket ball, also made it's accuracy horrible. hehe

 

[Gungho]

It's called wadding or swathing.  Blackpowder firearms only get loaded when they are about to be fired, reasons include climatic coditions affecting the powder, and jolting or bouncing around spilling the flash charge, and loosening the ball and wadding in the barrel.  But, all that aside, would you stick a fully loaded matchlock pistol with a burning match into your wasteband?

 

[Scully]

Agreed. Also make it impossible to carry more than one shield at the time.

 

[Maxim Suvorov]

It's called wadding or swathing.  Blackpowder firearms only get loaded when they are about to be fired, reasons include climatic coditions affecting the powder, and jolting or bouncing around spilling the flash charge, and loosening the ball and wadding in the barrel.  But, all that aside, would you stick a fully loaded matchlock pistol with a burning match into your wasteband?

Nonsense. Breech was locked when powder putted on, and even more - powder putted in the barrel are pressed by bullet - it is imposible to pull it out without damage.

 

[Archonsod]

would you stick a fully loaded matchlock pistol with a burning match into your wasteband?

Why would you bother carrying a separate match for each pistol?

This would make double-barreled guns more valuable, and reduce the value of camping musketeers who keep a belt full of loaded guns to defeat any infantry.

Only idiotic infantry Actually it would make sense in that situation, if you were stationary there's nothing stopping you using the old "one man loads, one man shoots" trick.

 

[Coraline]

It's called wadding or swathing.  Blackpowder firearms only get loaded when they are about to be fired, reasons include climatic coditions affecting the powder, and jolting or bouncing around spilling the flash charge, and loosening the ball and wadding in the barrel.  But, all that aside, would you stick a fully loaded matchlock pistol with a burning match into your wasteband?

If I was about to go into battle yes.  In naval conflict it was not uncommon for some sailors who had the fortune to afford multiple pistols to go into battle with many of them slung around their necks, all pre loaded.  It is not like when players enter a battle they're not pre preped for combat. 

 

[Gungho]

I doubt any of you can cite definitive proof.  I have no issue with pre-loaded flintlocks, but matchlocks are a different matter.  The 'match' is a smouldering length of accelerant impregnated rope or cord.

Maxim, how much experience have you had with muzzle loading firearms, or blackpowder?  Having used muzzle loaders both on firing ranges, and hunting, I can assure you that moisture effects and shot loosening are problems.  Try tamping down a load too tight and you risk a premature discharge, and will get burnt and probably cut by the ramrod when it gets fired out.

 

[Coraline]

Only major issue with the match lock was it's slower delay between pulling trigger and the gun going off, as well as the exposed match during rainy weather caused great miss fires than even a flint lock, and flint locks were not all that great in the rain either.  The slow burning matches during normal weather were quite adequate though, match locks stayed a usable firearm well into the 1700s as left overs from the last era but yet still useful weapons. 

Flint locks ended up just being far easier to use over a match lock, not because of reliability, armies did not often fight in the rain, it was not ideal for firearms of the era no matter what.  Flint locks actually had more miss fires because of the fact it relied on a spark to catch the powder on fire, which did not always happen.  Match locks were actually more reliable as they almost always went off, but maintaining a burning match was tedious for the user, and if it went out, you'd find much trouble to get it lit again.  The slow burning match used on the match lock lasted long into the 1700 and even much of the 1800s for grenadier units, who used them as long lasting matches for grenades, that very same match stayed for about 300 years in military service even when it was taken off of firearms. hehe

 

[Gungho]

Agreed, but armies don't wait for sunny days to fight.

Still, I doubt too many people tucked loaded and lit matchlocks into their belts. 

Clearing a misfire sucks, as well.  If you can't fire the thing off, you need to either put a spike and drawer onto the ramrod to pull the ball out, or remove the plug at the rear of the barrel and ram the ball through.  Either way, tedious, time consuming and not necessarily safe.  Standard practice is to wet the powder charge down before attempting either method.

Having a discharge while fiddling with muzzle loaders is a real wake up call.

 

[Queue]

1 pistol and 1 musket is okay. Think about that helpless musketeer. He has a sword that bounces off the enemy armour. At least wear him down a close range. 2 rifles + shouldn't be aloud.