this post was submitted on 06 May 2025
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So here's my absolutely unsubstantiated hypothetical: Everyone was running black powder. Black powder is a slow-burn propellant that benefits enormously from a longer barrel. It also has a maximum velocity of around 1,200 FPS. Just under the speed of sound. How do you maximize that? Long barrels, and BIG bullets. If velocity is capped, make the biggest bullet you can, and make it go as fast as possible. F = M x V. If "V" is capped, then "M" is how you get more power. That's how we got 4-bore hunting rifles. Capped at around 1,200 FPS? Then we'll just shoot a fucking cannon shell. It's a "stopping rifle" because even though it's "slow" (by modern standards), you still got hit with a 1/2 pound of lead moving at 1,200 FPS.
However because black powder was so absolutely filthy, the idea of an auto-loader was preposterous. They still had cased cartridges. Revolvers (the cutting edge) could barely handle the fouling load of black powder. Then we developed double-base smokeless powder. That changed the game. Now it's all about heat management. And big brass casings are excellent heat-sinks that get kicked out of the system.
I'm just rambling. Old guns are interesting. They were trying to approach some omega point, but they had no hope of getting there. Their entire "operational doctrine" was fucked to begin with. I mean, that C93: look at that thing. I'm sure it made sense at the time, but holy fuck. What a mess.