A bright spark
Sporting Gun|October 2020
Robert Morgan looks at a gun commissioned by naval officer Captain Thomas Dilke, with three ignition methods
Robert Morgan
A bright spark

These days, many of us will go our whole shooting career without experiencing a misfire. However, should we be unlucky enough for that phenomenon to occur, nine times out of 10 – if not 99 out of 100 – it will be a fault with the gun that caused it.

Despite the dizzy heights to which cartridge prices seem to have risen today, for the money they cost they are an incredibly reliable item, especially when one considers what goes into making one. An MD of a cartridge company once told me that they would expect a one-in-20 million failure rate, and that was quite some time ago. I fully expect that reliability is even better now. Alas, shooters of muzzle-loaders in previous centuries were not so fortunate and there are many recorded incidents of flintlocks and wheellocks being fired as matchlocks when flints were exhausted or spanning keys lost.

Our ancestors also had another problem to contend with: availability of components.

Triple chance

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2020-Ausgabe von Sporting Gun.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2020-Ausgabe von Sporting Gun.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS SPORTING GUNAlle anzeigen
Thermal spectrum
Sporting Gun

Thermal spectrum

Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared

time-read
6 Minuten  |
August 2023
Roe, rucks and new ground
Sporting Gun

Roe, rucks and new ground

Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 2023
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Sporting Gun

Tales from a lifetime of foxing

Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2023
Fox rot about Charlie
Sporting Gun

Fox rot about Charlie

Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2023
The sniff of success
Sporting Gun

The sniff of success

Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2023
Adventures of Nick & Ted
Sporting Gun

Adventures of Nick & Ted

A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2023
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Sporting Gun

The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system

Vet's advice

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2023
Gundogs Q&A
Sporting Gun

Gundogs Q&A

No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 2023
Stop-start!
Sporting Gun

Stop-start!

Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 2023
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Sporting Gun

Gundogs at the Game Fair

Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice

time-read
2 Minuten  |
August 2023