Wilson's Patent Breechloading Rifle

[Private Watkins]

A very interesting CW rifle... one that I've never seen or heard of before...

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=1803&cat=13&page=1

 

[Private Watkins]

The Wilson Patent Breech Loading Rifle is one of the rarest and most sophisticated of small arms to be imported by the Confederacy during the American Civil War.

To load the gun, the wedge was drawn outward, away from the lock plate. When pulled out sufficiently, the wedge freed the simple bolt to be drawn backwards and exposed the chamber for loading. The bolt had a pivoting, fishtail shaped, checkered piece at its rear that gave the operator a firm grasping area for opening the bolt and a large target to slam the bolt closed with, when using the palm of his hand.

A combustible cartridge was inserted in the chamber and the bolt slammed home to seat the cartridge. A greased felt wad in the bottom of the cartridge insured the chamber sealed completely and did not leak gas when the cartridge was fired. The locking wedge was then pushed back into the bolt, securing it and locking the action tightly.

At this point the hammer could be placed on half cock, and a percussion cap placed upon the cone (nipple). The rifle was then fired like any traditional percussion ignition rifle.

The placement and design of the wedge insured safety, as the hammer had to be in the fired position for the wedge to be moved. When the wedge was withdrawn (or not completely seated into the bolt), the hammer could not be moved at all and was blocked into the fired position. This eliminated the potential for an accidental discharge while loading the rifle, or the firing of the gun without having the bolt completely in battery.

 

[Private Watkins]

The mechanism was found to be ingenious and recieved positive reports, but the accuracy of the arm left much to be desired...

The problem was the ammunition. As the breech was sealed with a greased felt wad in the bottom of each cartridge, the wad remained in the bore after the cartridge was fired. This meant that the next cartridge fired left the bore with the former cartridge's wad stuck to the nose of the bullet. This resulted in erratic accuracy, as the wad often interfered with bullet as it left the muzzle, causing it to heel and yaw and having a detrimental effect upon the aerodynamic design of the projectile.

However, the Ordnance Committee was so impressed with the mechanical part of the design that they requested that Wilson alter two P-1853 Enfield rifle muskets and one Whitworth rifle to his system for further trials. The P-1853s were fired for accuracy at 300, 500 and 800 yards prior to the alteration, so their accuracy after the alteration could be compared to that of their original muzzle-loading configuration.

Again, the same problem reared its ugly head, and the March 26, 1861 report from the committee noted that,"the wild and capricious shooting of the converted Enfield is mainly owing to the action of this wad on the apex of the bullet, immediately on the latter leaving the barrel."

 

[Old Hickory]

Interesting, and on one of my favorite era long arms.

 

[MissREP]

The problem was the ammunition. As the breech was sealed with a greased felt wad in the bottom of each cartridge, the wad remained in the bore after the cartridge was fired. This meant that the next cartridge fired left the bore with the former cartridge's wad stuck to the nose of the bullet. This resulted in erratic accuracy, as the wad often interfered with bullet as it left the muzzle, causing it to heel and yaw and having a detrimental effect upon the aerodynamic design of the projectile.

Just a question for those more familiar with such firearms--was/is there any practical means of defeating that problem, other than ramming the barrel between shots? (I notice that the rifle still has a ramrod...)

Regardless of issues, I like the look of this gun.

 

[Private Watkins]

Just a question for those more familiar with such firearms--was/is there any practical means of defeating that problem, other than ramming the barrel between shots? (I notice that the rifle still has a ramrod...)

Regardless of issues, I like the look of this gun.

I don't know but I bet @Jobe Holiday or @johan_steele might...

And to add to your question, why does this rifle need a ram rod? Or is it really just a cleaning rod...?

 

[MissREP]

And to add to your question, why does this rifle need a ram rod? Or is it really just a cleaning rod...?

I wondered that too...I know enough about guns to know that a breech loader shouldn't need a ramrod.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

And Private Watkins is right! It is a cleaning rod!!!
J.

 

[johan_steele]

It is a cleaning rod AND a ramrod. Should the breach mechanism become to fouled to be opened the weapon can still be used as a muzzle loader.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Using the rod supplied with the Wilson Patent Rifle as a ram rod when the breech is too fouled to open is hypothetical. Accepting that at face value, then the rest of the hypothesis would follow as such: The ammunition you would have been firing would be the Wilson Patent Cartridge which had a felt wad at the base of the powder charge to seal the breech. Once fired, the felt wad remains in place in the chamber until pushed forward by the nose of the bullet of the next cartridge being loaded. Supposing your breech is now not able to be opened after having fired a number of rounds and you then resort to using said rifle as a muzzle loader. You will have to break the cartridge open, pour the powder down the barrel, on top of the felt wad which was left in the chamber, and then ram the bullet home, having discarded the felt wad included within the cartridge. One or two shots fired like this is going to turn the felt wad in the breech into a smoldering ember. This condition will cause the powder to ignite prematurely as soon as you introduce it into the barrel. This in turn will effectively leave the arm unserviceable due to the inability to load it from the muzzle without having it go off like a Roman Candle!
J.

 

[johan_steele]

Using the rod supplied with the Wilson Patent Rifle as a ram rod when the breech is too fouled to open is hypothetical. Accepting that at face value, then the rest of the hypothesis would follow as such: The ammunition you would have been firing would be the Wilson Patent Cartridge which had a felt wad at the base of the powder charge to seal the breech. Once fired, the felt wad remains in place in the chamber until pushed forward by the nose of the bullet of the next cartridge being loaded. Supposing your breech is now not able to be opened after having fired a number of rounds and you then resort to using said rifle as a muzzle loader. You will have to break the cartridge open, pour the powder down the barrel, on top of the felt wad which was left in the chamber, and then ram the bullet home, having discarded the felt wad included within the cartridge. One or two shots fired like this is going to turn the felt wad in the breech into a smoldering ember. This condition will cause the powder to ignite prematurely as soon as you introduce it into the barrel. This in turn will effectively leave the arm unserviceable due to the inability to load it from the muzzle without having it go off like a Roman Candle!
J.

Yikes, I was unaware of the felt pad in the ammunition. Cleaning rod it is.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Johan and I have "known" each other for a long time and have a great deal of respect for one another! The great thing about this particular forum is the immense wealth of knowledge and respect that is shown here on a daily basis. There is such a diverse group of people who, with their own lifetime of experiences, help us see the various sides of a topic. All of which makes this one of my personal favorites!
J.