Krkov-Pilaniek revolving rifle

The Krkov-Pilaniek revolving rifle is a true oddity in the world of firearms. While it may look like a bolt action rifle with a revolving magazine, its actual operation is much odder. The "magazine" is actually a rotating system of open-topped compartments that fit closely against the walls of the drum, and each of these compartments is filled from the top with loose powder and ball. The "bolt" serves as both a ramrod and a breech face, and is both used to move loads from the magazine into the chamber and to block the chamber while the round is fired. The weapon is readied by bringing the ramrod assembly to the rear, pressing the drum rotator located in front of the trigger to align a new chamber with the ramrod, pushing the ramrod home and turning the handle down to lock it, and then priming the percussion lock with a percussion cap. This allows for a higher rate of fire (roughly six shots a minute from an eight-shot magazine) than a contemporary muzzle loading rifle.

 

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I may not be so inactive after all, guys. I'm getting quite a bit more free time now, but exams are looming so don't hold your breath.

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