In a new release from “Outdoor Life”, writer Brad Fenson shares a brief overview of muzzleloading innovation since the late 1600s. In our opinion, there have been a few more innovations than listed in their article, but we’ll let it slide. Check it out and see what you think.

Key Muzzleloader Innovations

• 1610: Marin le Bourgeoys develops the first flintlock, for King Louis XIII of France.

• 1700s: Martin Meylin of Pennsylvania makes long rifles, also known as Pennsylvania or Kentucky long rifles—the first firearms with rifling to stabilize projectiles and increase accuracy and range.

• 1807: Reverend Alexander Forsyth patents the first percussion ignition muzzleloader.

• 1808: Jean Samuel Pauly designs and patents an in-line action, in which the cock of the sidelock is replaced by a cylindrical hammer driven by a coil spring.

• 1814: English-born American artist Joshua Shaw refines the percussion cap design with a copper cup filled with fulminates.

• 1823: Jacob and Samuel Hawken design a muzzleloader that hunters of the day envy.

• 1853: Sir Joseph Whitworth develops a new elongated muzzleloader bullet in .451 caliber that’s three and a half times as long as it is wide, and weighs 520 grains. This could be considered the first attempt to create a bullet with a higher ballistic coefficient.

• 1975: Pyrodex, one of the first reliable black­powder substitutes, is introduced.

• 1985: The Knight MK-85 creates a wave of change in the muzzleloader industry.

• 1990: Del Ramsey creates Muzzleloading Magnum sabots, which enable the shooting of modern jacketed or lead pistol bullets in modern muzzleloaders.

• 2020: Federal Premium Ammunition launches the FireStick, a fully encapsulated propellant charge using Triple Eight powder, to be used in a Traditions NitroFire muzzleloader.

  Via Outdoor Life