breechloader
Sign in to saveright|thumb|A Springfield Model 1888 rifle with its breech open. right|thumb|Schematic of various forms of locking on breechloading firearms. A breechloader is a firearm or artillery piece in which the user loads the ammunition from the breech (rear) end of the barrel. The vast majority of modern firearms are breech-loaders.
Article
12 sectionsContents
- History
- Swivel guns
- Firearms
- 16th century (Late Medieval Period)
- 18th century (Early Modern Period)
- 19th century (Victorian Period)
- Artillery
- Breech mechanism
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
right|thumb|A Springfield Model 1888 rifle with its breech open. right|thumb|Schematic of various forms of locking on breechloading firearms. A breechloader is a firearm or artillery piece in which the user loads the ammunition from the breech (rear) end of the barrel. The vast majority of modern firearms are breech-loaders.
Before the mid-19th century, most guns were muzzleloaders, guns loaded from the muzzle (front) end of the barrel.