I have often noticed in the past that the first genrations(s) of shipborne heavy black powder guns were often very long compared to the later ones we are more used to. e.g. the English guns used during the Armade campain.
I have read one explanation that is was due to the casting process: casting the barrel vertically ensured a better, more homogenious and more resilient cast in the lower part of the mould, due to the higher pressure there preventing microscopic bubles etc forming in the cast bronze. (i.e. where the BP charge was located)
I wonder tough: perhaps this was also due to the relative poor quality of BP used at the time.... IIRC the BP was not yet granulated.
Same for muskets: I have read that in the (later US) colonies longer muskets were used as a means to save powder.... did this actually work ?
I have read one explanation that is was due to the casting process: casting the barrel vertically ensured a better, more homogenious and more resilient cast in the lower part of the mould, due to the higher pressure there preventing microscopic bubles etc forming in the cast bronze. (i.e. where the BP charge was located)
I wonder tough: perhaps this was also due to the relative poor quality of BP used at the time.... IIRC the BP was not yet granulated.
Same for muskets: I have read that in the (later US) colonies longer muskets were used as a means to save powder.... did this actually work ?
statistics: Posted by Inhapi — 5:41 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 1 — Views 64