12 Steps to Dinner - Text

ere are the steps involved in loading and firing a flintlock rifle:

• Remove the ramrod from beneath the barrel.
• Pour 70 grains (a teaspoon full) of black rifle powder in the barrel.
• Place a patch of linen or leather over muzzle. The patch engages the rifling, or grooves, in the barrel, and serves as a gas seal, which increases the velocity of the bullet. It also wipes the barrel clean as it is expelled.
• Place a ball on the patch.
• Drive the ball and patch into the barrel with the ramrod, all the way to the powder in the breech, then return the ramrod to its holder under the barrel.
• Place the lock on half-cock, with the frizzen sprung forward, and pour a fine glazed priming powder into the pan.
• Close the frizzen to hold the powder in the pan.
• Pull the cock back to firing position--to "full cock."
• Squeeze the trigger, releasing the cock.

--Joseph Mussulman