“The priming-horn is intended to be filled with Pistol
Powder, and the Ranger always to prime from it in time of action, by which
method he will not be near so subject to burn priming or miss fire as He would
by priming from a Cartridge, as the grain of the powder will be small and a
very great fault which Men are subject to in time of action will be prevented,
Vizt. That of spilling one half of their Cartridge of powder and sometimes more
in priming and shutting their Pans, and when they have loaded and discharg’d
their Pieces after the common method, it often happens that the Ball is not
sent with half the force it is intended or anything near the distance it ought
to go, which mistake will (I imagine) be avoided by the handiness of the Priming-horn,
as the Men will have nothing more to do with the Cartridge than bite off the
top, put it in the barrel at once and ram it down, and if the Cartridge is
fill’d with Cannon powder it will have just the same effect I conceive as if
fill’d with Pistol powder which will get into the touch-hole and catch fire as
quick as can be wished…..” 21
End Note 21 from page 366: HL, LO6927, 13 Feb. 1758 Captain/Major George Scott,
ranger captain:
Small Arms of the British Forces in America, 1664-1815, by Dr. De
Witt Bailey.
Imagine if all the members of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia were to sign this petition. Then we could get somewhere. But it is NOT going to happen! Why? Because the S.S.A.A. is in it for itself, not for the gun owners. It makes money from running it's gun ranges, so why should it allow anyone to use a muzzle-loading pistol off range?!
The shooting public in Australia, for the most part, is fractured. We don't have anyone like the NRA in Australia. Regardless what you think of NRA policies in America, at least they back all gun owners, they protect their rights.
I have signed petitions for paintball enthusiasts, & gun owners in general across the board, but when it comes to a minority such as the muzzle-loading & black powder enthusiasts, few people give a damn. Very sad state of affairs.
Take a look at the various guns in these categories. Why are
muzzle-loaders placed on a “B” class license with Center-fire firearms? Why are
muzzle-loading pistols placed on an “H” class license with semi-automatic hand
guns?!!!I thought that licensing was
all about public safety, but categorizing of muzzle-loading guns obviously has
NOTHING to do with public safety!!!
What firearms are applicable to a Category A firearms licence? * Air
rifles. * Rimfire rifles (other than self-loading). * Shotguns (other than pump
action, lever action or self-loading). * Shotgun/rimfire combinations.
What firearms are applicable to a Category B firearms licence? * Muzzle-loading firearms (other than
pistols). * Centre-fire rifles (other than self-loading). *
Shotgun/centre-fire rifle combinations. * Lever action shotguns with a magazine
capacity of no more than 5 rounds.
What firearms are applicable to a Category C firearms licence? *
Self-loading rimfire rifles with a magazine capacity of no more than 10 rounds.
* Self-loading shotguns with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds. *
Pump action shotguns with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds. These
firearms are prohibited except for limited purposes. Some firearms,
specifically those adapted for military purposes, are excluded under all
circumstances from this licence category.
What firearms are applicable to a Category D firearms licence? *
Self-loading centre-fire rifles. * Self-loading rimfire rifles with a magazine
capacity of more than 10 rounds. * Self-loading shotguns with a magazine
capacity of more than 5 rounds. * Pump action shotguns with a magazine capacity
of more than 5 rounds. * Lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more
than 5 rounds. * Any firearms to which a Category C licence applies.
What firearms are applicable to a Category H firearms licence? *
Pistols (including revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, blank fire pistols, flintlock muzzle-loading pistols, Wheelock
muzzle-loading pistols, matchlock muzzle-loading pistols and air pistols).
I wrote to Adam
Marshal seeking his help in changing these pointless & ridiculous gun laws
concerning muzzle-loading pistols. A flintlock muzzle-loading pistol &
a Wheelock pistol both require a piece of rock (stone) to enable them to fire.
These pistols are very primitive, single shot, slow to load, most have no
sights, smoothbore & not very accurate. Criminals do not use them because
most of them don't know how to use them, & they can be difficult to
use.
Adam Marshal
simply passed on my request & the Police Commissioner replied that he had
no intention of changing this law. Obviously this is NOT about public safety;
this is about a law made out of ignorance & no thought regarding the people
who love using these primitive tools as a hobby.
It is not good
enough that the government can make a mistake in making a law, & then
refuse to correct that mistake just because they can't be bothered! PLEASE SIGN
THIS PETITION.
I would like to see all non percussion muzzle-loading pistols placed on a non restrictive licence. At present all reproduction muzzle-loading pistols are only available on an "H' class licence & can ONLY be used on a club pistol range. Antiques can not be used at all unless once again they are licenced & registered (NSW). I can find no record of criminal use involving a muzzle-loading pistol in the last 100 years, so this to me only goes to prove that gun control has NOTHING to do with public safety! Keith.
The Petition of Keith H. Burgess.
President of the New England Colonial Living History Group.
Brings to the attention of the House the matter of
firearms licensing in relation to muzzle-loading pistols (percussion locks
excluded).
At this present time, working replica (replicas of
original 17th and 18th century antique muzzle-loading pistols) muzzle-loading
pistols of the lock types matchlock, wheellock, tinderlock, doglock, snaphance, and
flintlock
can only be owned by a person possessing a category H gun licence, and these
pistols can only be legally fired on a registered gun range. Antique
muzzle-loading pistols of the same type may be owned, but not used/fired
without the owner possessing an H class licence. This requirement excludes the
use of these antiques & antique replicas for Living History and Historical
Re-enactment purposes. It also excludes the use of these antique replicas for
use as a back-up safety for muzzle-loader hunters hunting on private property
who are hunting with single shot muzzle-loading rifles or smoothbores.
Historical Re-enactment groups and Living History
organisations have re-enactment rules which preclude the use of live ammunition
and preclude the use of a ramrod during any and all re-enactment displays. There
is also a permit requirement; this permit is for historical re-enactment organisations
wishing to conduct an historical re-enactment event involving the possession
and use of firearms by participants. Clause
61 - Firearms Regulation 2006.
Replicas of muzzle-loading pistols of the lock types
mentioned are single shot (though some flintlocks can have two barrels), slow
to load and require a good deal of knowledge and training to ensure the
workability of this type of gun. Ignition even when used by a competent person
can not be guaranteed. Therefore these muzzle-loading guns are not suitable for
criminal use.
We fully understand the purpose of the H class licence
requirements, but these primitive muzzle-loading pistols are not the same as
modern breech-loaders, revolvers or semi-automatics. If a criminal wishes to
use a concealable gun to commit a crime, they can simply cut down a modern
breech-loading rifle or shotgun.
At present anyone can purchase an antique muzzle-loading
pistol without the need to apply for a permit to purchase, a licence or
registration. However, they cannot be legally fired/used unless the owner posesses
an H class licence. These replica muzzle-loading pistols are no different from
the antiques, their workings, capabilities & disabilities are exactly the
same.
The undersigned petitioners therefore ask the Legislative
Assembly to change the licensing requirement for these replica antique & antique
muzzle-loading pistols (percussion locks excluded) from the present category H
class licence to the category B class licence. Alternately we respectfully
request that these muzzle-loading pistols be placed on a new less restrictive
class of firearms licence , allowing these guns to be used with no more
restrictions than are presently placed on muzzle-loading long arms.
