Breech Chamber?

[jderrick]

I've heard of, and saw one a few days ago on a replica 16th century sailing ship, swivel guns with removable breech chambers for faster reloading. Sound's useful.

So what's the catch? Why didn't more cannons/other weapons use that method? I imagine a lot of loose seals and gas/debris flying all over the place....

If this has already been discussed, I looked but didn't see... sorry,

Thanks,
JD

 

I've heard of, and saw one a few days ago on a replica 16th century sailing ship, swivel guns with removable breech chambers for faster reloading. Sound's useful.

So what's the catch? Why didn't more cannons/other weapons use that method? I imagine a lot of loose seals and gas/debris flying all over the place....

If this has already been discussed, I looked but didn't see... sorry,

Thanks,
JD

Though quite period, this is the Muzzleloading Forum.

CP

 

[davy]

http://www.tcmuseum.org/gallery/image/a_swivel_gun/

Davy

 

[Jeffrey Hecht]

I've heard of, and saw one a few days ago on a replica 16th century sailing ship, swivel guns with removable breech chambers for faster reloading. Sound's useful.

So what's the catch? Why didn't more cannons/other weapons use that method? I imagine a lot of loose seals and gas/debris flying all over the place....

If this has already been discussed, I looked but didn't see... sorry,

Thanks,
JD

Though quite period, this is the Muzzleloading Forum.

CP

The breach insert is still loaded from it muzzle, so I think it will be ok to discus it here. I always wondered why they didn't catch on better. Could be because this style of cannon was forged and not cast? Not sure if that would make a difference or not.
Jeff

 

[jderrick]

I'm sorry if I mis-posted this on the Muzzleloading forum, but having seen discussion of the Ferguson rifle, removable cylinder BP revolvers (which could be viewed as breech chambers x 6), and other such threads http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/175151/post/175151/hl/ferguson+claypipe/#175151.... and it seemed to have more to do with cannons than the threads in the non-ML discussion forum.

Thanks,
JD

 

[Jeffrey Hecht]

I am pretty sure your fine posting it here,
Jeff

 

[GunneyG]

So what's the catch? Why didn't more cannons/other weapons use that method? I imagine a lot of loose seals and gas/debris flying all over the place....

Poor sealing and not strong enough for high powered guns. The ones that existed seemed to fire stone shot of not very great size.