Magic Ink by Moose42

[moose42]

Sorry no story update yet...

I need some Flintlock technical help.

The carbines the Riders carry are basically a rifled version of the Brown Bess Carbine with saddle rings.



I know the problems with rifling vs smooth bore but I figured the greater accuracy was preferred over volume of fire. If I am totally nuts please slap me and let me know.

My technical question is this. Can this type of weapon be unloaded manually or do you have to shoot it?

I know the easiest way to unload it would be to discharge the weapon but can it be done safely without firing the weapon?

The reason I ask this question is back at base I figured the rule would be once you land your carbine needs to be unloaded. So should they have a buckets of sand near the landing fields or what?

Thanks in advance.

[442nd Dinochrome]

How is the carbine loaded; patched round ball or Minie slug?

If it's the former, you need a screw on your ramrod to pull it. The minie-type slug is hollow-based
and is held in place on the powder charge by the lube in the slug's grease grooves adhering to
the inside of the barrel. I sometimes had to remove a minie-ball from my .58 rifled-musket by
up-ending the rifle and bumping the muzzle on a block of wood until the nose of the bullet
appeared. This was only necessary on the rare occasion that the rifle was loaded without a
powder charge.

I seem to remember something about the way guards (armed with smoothbore matchlocks)
saluted their Sergeant as he inspected their posts; they lowered the muzzles to the ground,
allowing the ball to roll out followed by the powder. This proved that they were loaded and ready.

Maybe you could change the Rider's carbines to Ferguson-style breech-loading flinters?

[moose42]

Hmm... no I want them to be muzzle loaders for now. I haven't decided on the projectile yet. In chapter 1 I mention a patch and ball. So I guess that would be a ball, vs a minie-ball.

Hmm the Minie ball does make a rife much more practical...

Bah I'll change the reference in chapter 1 to a Minie style ball.

The rifles and carbines are going to be more like a Baker rifle, instead of the Brown Bess.

Thanks a bunch for the info.

[Mud_Dog]

How is the carbine loaded; patched round ball or Minie slug?

If it's the former, you need a screw on your ramrod to pull it. The minie-type slug is hollow-based
and is held in place on the powder charge by the lube in the slug's grease grooves adhering to
the inside of the barrel. I sometimes had to remove a minie-ball from my .58 rifled-musket by
up-ending the rifle and bumping the muzzle on a block of wood until the nose of the bullet
appeared. This was only necessary on the rare occasion that the rifle was loaded without a
powder charge.

I seem to remember something about the way guards (armed with smoothbore matchlocks)
saluted their Sergeant as he inspected their posts; they lowered the muzzles to the ground,
allowing the ball to roll out followed by the powder. This proved that they were loaded and ready.

Maybe you could change the Rider's carbines to Ferguson-style breech-loading flinters?

+1

I would also have suggested the Ferguson as well. But to remove the Ball you would need a screw and perhaps a worm(like a corkscrew) to remove the patch.

[moose42]

I like muzzle loaders, even though breech loaders are superior. There's something cool about ramming the projectile down the barrel. Velderland armorers haven't discovered breech loading yet.

[moose42]

Chapter 5 is up!

Linky

If you like what you read please comment. If you don't like what your read please comment. Why? Because your comments help me improve. Plus I apparently crave attention from my tens and tens of readers.

[moose42]

So the next installment of Magic Ink is ready for public consumption, I guess.

Magic Ink Chapter 6

Please feel free to comment, I welcome feedback on the good, the bad, and the ugly.

[moose42]

Inside the belly of the mountain.

Magic Ink Chapter 7

As always any feedback is welcome.

[Precision]

comments

there are little piddling things. I hate the term smoke pole - reminds me of the pejorative pole smoker
but you address that in part 6 so that is taken care of

as always the writing is quite good.

There are a few areas I would like a bit more flesh. The rapid introduction of characters gets me a bit turned trying to keep up. But like I said piddling things.

Also, if our hero carries a concealed pistol, why does he unload it when he lands in town? Perhaps a good chance to bash idiotic gun laws is being missed there.

[Precision]

Chapter 5 is up!

Linky

If you like what you read please comment. If you don't like what your read please comment. Why? Because your comments help me improve. Plus I apparently crave attention from my tens and tens of readers.

Nah, I'm sure you're up to dozens of readers by now.