Mad Minute - 1770's Flintlock Musket

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The mad minute didn't exist yet as a training concept in the 1770's, but the need to reload fast and still get your hits sure did. Let's put this 1770's flintlock smoothbore musket through the paces and see how many hits I can get in one...mad minute.

[@simonwaldock9689]

My wife, who writes historical novels set in the late 18th and early 19th centuries thanks you very much for showing how musket firing was done historically. The snippet about the newspaper was particularly interesting.

[@InrangeTv]

Awesome! You're welcome. :)

[@chpet1655]

Tell her to add aliens in her next novel 😏

[@edmarespaniola4241]

omg what's the name of her novels i need to read it.

[@amongusirl9377]

@@chpet1655are you a child?

[@Galinor_match_videos]

3 shots in a minute is impressive, you were pretty smooth in loading there.

[@viperscot1]

Done it once but was loading powder no ball as demo at an event I did as redcoat well I mean fired as minute went off Just a shame I no longer have flint lock to try it for real still got mould for the ball

[@nialltomy15]

Now that's soldiering!

[@mtgAzim]

You should get another one and make a video. We'd watch it! 👍🏻🙂

[@leogazebo5290]

3 shots in a minute? Now that's soldiering!

[@JorisKoolen]

In any weather!

[@lukeman9851]

There's something funny to me about a flintlock being held at a modern low ready. Very impressive work

[@InrangeTv]

When using a muzzle loader in any modern way, you should prime as your LAST step, not the first one. This video was done the historical way, with paper cartridges of the time, which dictates the opposite and it is not safe by modern standards.

[@Jayhawkga]

As Mike Rowe said " Safety Third "

[@edwardphillips8460]

Thanks to the history of man here we are!

[@ralfrude3532]

It wasn't even safe in a historical way. The hammer was always on full cock, when you primed the pan.

[@120masterpiece]

Presumably this is from the fear of the cock dropping at half cock and accidentally firing the weapon? A well adjusted, properly functioning and tuned lock will not snap at half cock Look at the tumbler, there's no conceivable way a properly functioning flintlock will fire at half cock. Even if it did I doubt there's enough tension in the main spring to open the frizzen from the half cocked position. There is certainly a concern with accidentally pulling the cock to the full cocked position instead of the half cocked position but training, familiarity with the weapon and understanding how the lock functions will prevent this. Speaking of properly tuned locks, your lock is not properly tuned. A well tuned lock should always fully open the frizzen. Of the five shots you caught on camera two of the shots did not fully open the frizzen, which means either your frizzen spring is too strong or your main spring is too weak. I'm not an expert but if I was to guess your main spring has weaken over 250 years. You should find someone who can properly tune locks to fix it.

[@TheSpookiestSkeleton]

I mean you're picking your poison, risk blowing your fingers off or risk getting shot before you finish reloading because of a more complicated paper cartridge handling technique.

[@deanroberts2021]

Case of " More haste less pace " , this is definitely something that could be trained out by routine training. Love the Channel.

[@InrangeTv]

More to come!

[@Khorsathedark]

That is one more shot per minute than the 16 inch rifles on a South Dakota class battleship. Impressive sir, that reloading was smooth.

[@mikehoare6093]

and those are breechloaders !

[@ArcanisUrriah]

"Sir Henry Simmerson : Do "you* know what makes a good soldier? Richard Sharpe : Yes, sir. Sir Henry Simmerson : [pause, then] And what makes a good soldier? Richard Sharpe : The ability to fire three rounds a minute in any weather, sir." Very impressive shotting there, all calm, efficient, and accurate. :)

[@SuperOtter13]

This is the coolest gun ive seen this year. What an amazing find. I would imagine working, safe for firing examples are hard to come by these days. Thank you, Carl very much for sharing.

[@Stoic_Lizard]

Yeah I'm in NM right now and kinda wanna look into some of these "trading posts" that he talks about. I'll make a weekend of it.

[@benstoyles1297]

All your british viewers immediately saying "three rounds a minute" in their best Sean Bean accent

[@noapologizes2018]

I believe 3 shots per minute was the goal for a trained infantry soldier. But as you indicated, the steps are time consuming. I think at best for most people is about 2.5 shots per minute. FYI in the Continental Army, a soldier was to have at least three (3) teeth so he could tear open the cartridge.

[@Meyer-gp7nq]

Wait there was a required number of teeth to be a soldier? That’s hilarious.

[@Vyleea]

I can imagen that there was someone (probably very drunk) hammering his teeth out to dodge the draft :D

[@matteoorlandi856]

@@Meyer-gp7nq well no. you needed enough teeth to tear the cartridge and to consume the meals that were... often hard to munch. back then having teeth was not something to take lightly. this requirement was dropped after the adoption of the pritchett cartridge that was designed precisely to be opened with hands and not your teeth, but it took a lot of time to convert the soldiers to stop tearing it apart with theyr mouth.

[@benjaminb505]

​@@Meyer-gp7nqStill are, in a way. I used to work in recruiting. Recruits are potentially disqualified from service for dental issues.

[@moosemaimer]

@@matteoorlandi856 mmm, hardtack and salt pork, and if you're _really good,_ horse stew.

[@Devil_Dog_98]

A whole new meaning to the word “Minuteman”! Nice shooting Karl!

[@Chasmodius]

He could stuff his rod down three holes in a minute? I don't think that's what "Yankee Doodle" meant by "with the girls be handy!" ... I'll show myself out.

[@kellyalger2394]

That's great, but I just got word of another settlement that needs our help! I'll mark it on your map.

[@bobperrine6193]

Another excellent video. I always enjoy these historical videos.

[@IvanIvanoIvanovich]

Pirate Karl is best Karl. Impressive reloading skills!

[@grahamcracker3595]

Awesome ! I'm always looking foward to your blackpowder content.

[@ROE1300]

👍 Your videos with this Charleville make me treasure my Pedersoli replica all the more. Please keep them coming.

[@InrangeTv]

More to come!

[@ROE1300]

@@InrangeTv Thank you!

[@SlavicCelery]

I think it really shows everyone how much a difference the cartridge really makes. Single shot rifles were roughly around 6-7 shots a minute. And they really were a force multiplier over the former ball and powder setups. Regardless of cap or flint. Those just changed the equation with consistent locktime and water tightness.

[@Willy_the_gunslingin_studentOD]

Not only was the reloading REALLY impressive but the accuracy was also really impressive! What a beautiful rifle!

[@bigginsmcsauce]

Damn straight. Love your black powder videos!

[@Logoscyth]

Now that's soldiering.

[@capuchinhelper]

Well Sir, on first sighting a Sharpe comment I gave the order to thumbs up, that's my style Sir!

[@PobortzaPl]

​@@capuchinhelperKarl's coat buttons tightly over many kinds of firearms operations

[@cigarettesmokingman9471]

The process of removing the ram rod and inverting it, then inverting it again and putting it back into the gun is the longest part of the procedure and could possibly be improved. For instance, like a simple clip mechanism to hold it also with the tamping end facing towards the butt of the rifle.

[@adamcichon6957]

... or one can hold it in the support hand, against the handguard, the whole time, while firing and charging the gun. When ramming is needed, it's only a matter of rising the support hand up, rumming the ball down, removing the ramrod from a barrel, and catching it in the middle, than still holding it, pinching it to the handguard with support hand. But it's not what was done back than. Ramrod was taken out and sticked back into the handguard, in order to protect it from bending/breaking it and/or losing it, when soldier had to go into charge or flee...

[@cigarettesmokingman9471]

@@adamcichon6957 Thats a better idea. Seems like someone would have done that as it would cut the loading time down considerably. Im sure someone did at some point.

[@MrSnowmandeath]

@@cigarettesmokingman9471 as others have mentioned, British doctrine was to replace the ramrod, and you can bet if something makes it into a manual it's because some supply guy was tired of all the grunts losing the damned things.

[@Ossuis]

In a modern day sense, absolutely there is better ways to do it. In the day that would have been a bad idea. Imagine you are double timing it towards an enemy position and your ramrod gets caught on something and dislodges, or if you put it in the ground and suddenly mid aim your told to hold fire and march and you can't grab it in time. Best slow your loading time and not end up without means to fire the gun.

[@furrycircuitry2378]

​@@Ossuisa sturdy stick would suffice plenty of those back in the day

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

"What is soldiering?" "The ability to fire three shots in a minute in any weather."

[@alun7006]

Nice work, with an absolutely beautiful gun.

[@Andy_Ross1962]

I love your black powder and old West videos. They are my fave Inrange content

[@spondulixtanstaafl7887]

Nicely executed, my anxiety level went up when the clock started running. I can't imagine keeping discipline intact under fire.

[@callumbush1]

Looks in remarkably good condition.

[@desperado8605]

Doubt I could get that many. Wonder how many of the really fast guys back then held their ramrod instead of replacing it everytime that's about the only place I would think you might shave a few seconds

[@geralddrake3002]

maybe but you're more likely to lose the ramrod

[@desperado8605]

@@geralddrake3002 how if it's in your support hand

[@24kachina]

Carry an extra tied to barrel and use it, keep mounted / inserted one as back up.

[@viperscot1]

Stuck it in the ground or held in hand not trigger hand was two ways I have seen

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Well the British infantry doctrine was to replace the ramrod each time, because of step forward or backward volley fire. I also assume the contenentals after von Steuben's teaching the same. During heated exchanges and moving, suppose you left your ram rod at the last firing position?

[@edmundy3952]

3 shots a minute in any weather. Now that’s soldiering.

[@ankeatts]

Enjoyed your video, that's a nice piece of history that you have there. If only they could tell us their story the tales it could tell. Keep up the amazing content and I look forward for future videos.

[@gonzogriff]

That was awesome! Definitely want a musket now

[@mattfleming86]

Beautiful rifle.

[@californiadreaming9216]

Extremely interesting demonstration of the use of an antique firearm. Reminds me of me trying to start my first car...1978 Mercury Zephyr...using ether, on cold mornings...around 15 F ...in 1992. 😅 Mind-boggling to consider that we now have miniguns which, instead of firing 3 rounds per minute, can fire up to 50 rounds per second.

[@jedidls]

Three rounds to the minute...That's good soldiering ;)

[@ST-zm3lm]

Always glad to see more black powder content!

[@viperscot1]

Yeah black powder . Great Reenactment of how to shoot this flintlock Getting that smell and taste of black powder shooting I remember one time my flint shattered blood from hand and face 😂😂😂 it still fired but new flint was needed Great the people crowd at event thought I was actually shot 😂😂 the trial of re enactment of an reenactor 😂😂 Keep up with the excellent informative quality content @inrangetv Karl

[@philiphales2109]

Thank you for demonstrating the use of this historic Blackfeet musket. That old gun certainly must have an interesting history: production, arrival in America, possible Revolutionary service, trade to Natives, surrender of the Reservation, to that old trading post in NM-fascinating.

[@mrsmith5114]

Nice accuracy. Love the speed shooting test.

[@demomanchaos]

It is interesting to see the Mad Minute being done by many channels with such a wide variety of weapons and seeing just how drastically things have changed as well as how different each weapon system functions/performs. IIRC an archer would roughly be at 6-8, which is interestingly the same as a single shot cartridge based rifle. Crossbows vary wildly depending on type, with lighter ones being 4-6 and the heavier ones being too slow for a second in the minute. Muskets range in the 3-5 range, with bolt actions being around the 20 mark, and the fastest I've seen someone run was the Bloke doing 38 in an M1 Garand. I'd be interested to see more modern weapons put through this course at some point.

[@Geekofarm]

Intensely powerful crossbows that required cranking were seldom used by standard military exactly because of the reload time. Exceptions, of course, particularly if you had money, more than one bow, and a drudge or two to do the cranking! I've seen some drawings of fortifications with emplaced rigs to cock the more powerful crossbows quickly too, giving improved range and rate of fire at once.

[@zchris13]

At 25 with a bipod you can absolutely put them on target at cyclic, and if you have a long enough belt it's literally just a game of "can you hold the trigger down for a whole minute without melting the gun"

[@demomanchaos]

@@Geekofarm Windlass crossbows were far from rare, and were a favorite in sieges.

[@demomanchaos]

@@zchris13 Not a lot of weapons have 60 seconds of ammo.

[@sejembalm]

You're a good shot with that short flintlock musket! I like shooting my smoothbore Long Land Pattern Brown Bess and reproduction Swedish 1590s matchlock muskets, but I am happy to get the .75 shots on the paper beyond 40 yards. The barrel on my English Civil War-style Swede is 42" long (slightly shorter than my 46" Bess), but that does not seem to help my accuracy. Sometimes I get better groups with a garage-built reproduction .69 matchlock horse pistol.

[@zmanjace1364]

Love the old stuff.

[@gunslinger1911a1]

Three rounds a minute, any weather. Well worn quote by Richard Sharpe, but makes for a good bench mark for musketry of the era. Well done, on getting your three, Karl.

[@tempestbloke]

@InrangeTV - Great to see you Karl, been a little bit.

[@InrangeTv]

What do you mean? We publish 4-6 videos a month here on the channel. ...but thanks. :)

[@andrewvu1752]

I was waiting for an update on this gun! I have a charleville too.

[@blainclatworthy5423]

Great shooting

[@Ultrad321]

Awesome to see for history buffs!

[@hoplophobia7014]

This is cool, thanks for sharing

[@ProSimex84]

Firing a surviving example of a French musket in the desert? Now that's soldiering.

[@Mathos93]

Love old west content! Thanks Karl

[@InrangeTv]

More to come!

[@revy1063]

Awesome job

[@Davethebalikid]

Goddamnit Karl, I’ve been on the fence about getting a muzzleloader all week, why must you tempt me so!

[@uncoolsticcboi]

its too hot out to be doing this to yourself karl. good show as usual.

[@patgray5402]

I love the black powder content.

[@jontheballer]

Whats the make of a good soldier sir? "Three aimed shots a minute in any weather."

[@Ralpha1961]

When time get tough a flint lock muzzle loader is a must. Making black powder and lead shots is simple. Swords and crossbows is a must too.

[@renano95]

Can't imagine doing this while your friends are getting shot, people screaming, and the air is full of gunpowder smoke

[@williamromine5715]

When you add in the fact that other people are shooting back you, three aimed shots a minute would be amazing.

[@winfieldjohnson125]

Cool, I have a Charleville that looks VERY much like that one......Now I have a benchmark for practice....Thanks.

[@-John-Doe-]

Very impressive.

[@mtgAzim]

I know it was doctrine to reseat the ramrod, because if you drop it in the midst of a battle, you're sorta done-ski. But, had you just held it with the fingers of your support hand, you may very well have been able to squeeze in one more shot within your time window. Since you have different divisions in regular competition, you should add an amended division for this, which would be: "How many hits can you achieve using 'any' technique?". Of course sticking to the period correct kit, leaving your technique as the sole variable. It would be interesting especially if a bunch of people actually pitch in and make their own attempts. Doctrine withstanding, I'm sure there were still guys back then that broke those rules in lieu of whatever convenience or benefits they could achieve. Even if it was a high risk, (maybe) high reward thing that might up the chance of losing their rod. Which is undesirable in any circumstance...

[@SlavicCelery]

Sounds like a modern hack to improve flintlock efficiency vs. the reality. Rifle drills were very focused and not "hack centric".

[@24kachina]

FANTASTIC piece of history, gorgeous gun. Karl - I bet you could slightly improve time if you did not replace ramrod in its holder, but instead held it with offhand under the barrel/stock. Removing and especially replacing it is time consuming. If I were fighting with a muzzle loader, I'd lash an extra ramrod to the side of the rifle and use it and keep rifle mounted one in reserve.

[@sgthl]

I thought exactly the same. A lot of time is wasted with reseating the ramrod in the holder every time.

[@viperscot1]

Yup that's how I've seen it run plus practice practice

[@phlogistanjones2722]

Now THAT'S SOLDIERING! Cheers!

[@VashGames]

The reload time is exhilarating!

[@Thoroughly_Wet]

Man its crazy to think what that musket has seen.

[@grantrowland1998]

Great video

[@InrangeTv]

Thanks!

[@maximilianfranz2158]

muskets are awesome

[@manythingslefttobuild]

Well done Karl

[@steelgnome0110]

impressive! I bet you can feel the clock staring you down on that 3rd shot

[@jamesgilbert124]

He's showing us the period-correct cartridges of powder wrapped in newspaper, and I can't help but wonder how he singed the hair on the back of his hand. Still, quality content as always.

[@christopherrowe7460]

I noticed the singed hair on the trigger hand, too. Possibly flash from the pan?

[@alun7006]

I'm guessing flash from the pan.

[@jamesgilbert124]

As others have pointed out, pan flash is a definite possibility. I just like thinking there's a fun story about doing something stupid and getting singed, but that's probably me projecting.

[@keithstratton3235]

It might sound silly, but I've found that instead of taking a beat to spit the paper out before priming, hold it in your mouth until you come up to the muzzle or take out the ramrod (in a drill manual, the 'cast about' step). It doesn't seem like much, but it does make the operation go smoother, and I've found it to take a few seconds off my reload.

[@keithstratton3235]

This does rekindle my hope for Bayonet Brutality

[@thebotrchap]

The Paper Cartridges channel has an unofficial 5 cartridge challenge running for muzzleloaders. Why not give it a shot. Time starts with your musket unloaded and cartridge ready in hand. Time stops at the fifth shot.

[@wobblywone3452]

Love ya and the black powder content but don't neglect sunblock... Keep up the great work!

[@GOBRAGH2]

With that paper cartridge setup its faster that I thought it would be vs: 1. Measuring and pouring the powder. 2, Stuffing the wad down. 3. Stuffing the ball down.

[@itdwellsinthewoods]

Almost four is pretty impressive!

[@maeror1022]

Even the mighty redcoats would have a hard time going shot for shot with you

[@SafetyProMalta]

Damn fine shooting sir.

[@grantlancaster9051]

My favorite InRange videos are the ones where Karl shoots black powder in an undisclosed location in the Arizona desert

[@LYLEWOLD]

Nice shooting. I think you'd've gotten a 4th shot off if you didn't have to put the ramrod away each time. Also, that's an awesome piece of history you have there. So cool to see it still out there shooting like it did centuries ago.

[@onezerotwo]

Mr. Shape would be pleased.

[@CaliforniaFly]

Good shooting!

[@P2501-y6u]

easily one of the most beautiful rifles in the world, good trade Karl! A note about the newspaper: Until the 1840s when newsprint was invented most things were printed on "rag paper" made of (mostly reused) cotton. Newsprint is made from wood pulp and is much cheaper at the cost of durability. US cash is 75% cotton and 25% linen for comparison. So if the soldier has to bite through a small bundle of newsprint vs a dollar bill you can imagine them picking newsprint as the easier thing to bite through. That said, I think if you're really going for speed and not historical accuracy then you might want to look at vellum, origami paper, and regular japanese writing paper. Japanese fountain pen paper is super thin but stronger than origami or vellum. It tears easily and handles moisture better than european paper. It's also expensive and niche so you can out-hipster all the other hispter flintlock shooters. Lastly, if you're going to make your own cartridges with newsprint you can buy blank newsprint at any art store and not eat a mouthful of ink/toner with each shot.

[@feuerfrei7070]

I love the old guns

[@Eadbhard]

Daniel Boone was able to load his flintlock on a dead run. Boone's ability to do this baffled his Native adversaries; they couldn't figure it out, so they just assumed Boone's 'long rifle' was always loaded.

[@kurtschmidt5005]

Love these muzzleloader videos!!!

[@mikehoare6093]

nice shooting !

[@CRii-s2v]

Maybe that’s the same sound the revolutionary soldier heard when he fired it all those years ago…

[@robertfaucher3750]

3 rounds a minute in any weather... Now that's soldieiring

[@jasonarringotn2501]

Awesome.

[@grandloser28]

In one minute teh Redcoast are on you.....but very impressive

[@evo8259]

Awesome!

[@han5vk]

Got that purple Thanos look going, I see.

[@richardreynolds1826]

I'm Blackfeet Indian. I wonder if that carbine belonged to family and the story of its life from France, over to here, the trip up the St. Lawrence, to what is now Southern Alberta/ Northern Montana. The day it was traded to my people at rendezvous and which clan it belonged to. Wondering how many hunts or raids it was used in and how it was modified then made its way to New Mexico then into your hands. If it did belong to family I can think of no better keeper of a possible family heirloom than you. Because you understand and respect it's history. Thank you.

[@shinoobsoman9269]

Awesome...🤩🤩🙏🙏🌹

[@Geep615]

I don’t know why but I find single shot black powder weapons far more interesting than any other era

[@rfarmer6804]

Like to see it with muskets going off all around!!

[@509Gman]

Now that’s soldiering

[@stug41]

Now that's soldierin'

[@gfarrell80]

I dunno Karl, is that period correct newspaper for the cartridges? Looks like it might be modern replica of period newsprint. :D

[@SeanDiVarco-q2i]

Thanks for the confusion and french and yes they were writing history books and stuff turned up in New Mexico and... who is on first this is ER baseball game 🎯😊.

[@zchris13]

Blackpowder... GOOD

[@ihcfn]

You ever get the Sharpe tv series in the states? That's what aroused my interest in black powder guns.

[@InrangeTv]

I have no idea.

[@ihcfn]

@@InrangeTv It's about a rank and file soldier rising through ranks during the Napoleonic war. old now but enjoyable at the time.

[@ihcfn]

@@InrangeTv Bit of a renegade, didn't do things by the book but got results.

[@Scott-qq9jd]

Sharpe's is on KZbin and I watched it with a BritBox subscription on Amazon. So it's known, but not well known.