Editing Muzzleloader (section)

==Loading==
[[Image:CMM - Przekrój moździerza.JPG|thumb|Loaded muzzleloading cannon. (1) Priming charge (2) Main propellant charge (3) Wadding (4) Projectile (5) Wadding]]
[[File:Hanover, Falmouth Packet, wadding from loaded cannon.JPG|thumb|Wadding recovered from the wreck of the [[packet ship]] [[Hanover (ship)|''Hanover'']] and was found inside a loaded cannon, [[National Maritime Museum Cornwall]] (2014)]]
In general, the sequence of loading is to put in first gunpowder, by pouring in a measured amount of loose powder, historically mostly by using a [[powder flask]] (or powder horn), or by inserting a pre-measured bag or paper packet of gunpowder (called a [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridge]]) or by inserting solid propellant pellets. The gunpowder used is typically '''[[black powder]]''' or black powder substitutes like [[Black powder substitute|Pyrodex]]. Sometimes two types of gunpowder (and two flasks) were used consisting of finer priming powder for the flash pan and coarser powder for the main charge behind the ball. This was particularly the case with earlier muzzleloaders like matchlocks but appear to have been less common with flintlocks and was irrelevant with percussion locks since they used percussion caps rather than priming powder.

[[Wadding]] is made from felt, paper, cloth or card and has several different uses. In [[shotgun]]s, a card wad or other secure wadding is used between the powder and the shot charge to prevent pellets from dropping into the powder charge and on top of the shot charge to hold it in place in the barrel. In smooth bore muskets and most rifles used prior to cartridges being introduced in the mid-to late nineteenth century, wadding was used primarily to hold the powder in place.
  
On most naval cannons, one piece of wadding was used to hold the powder in place and served the purpose of creating a better seal around the shot. Another was used to act as a plug to stop the shot rolling out because of the swaying of the ship.

The use of cartridges with both gunpowder charge and ball, made up in batches by the shooter or a servant, was known from very early on, but until roughly around 1800 loading using a powder flask and a bag of balls was more common outside of the military. The measuring stage for the barrel charge of gunpowder could be avoided by carrying a number of pre-measured charges in small containers of wood, metal or cloth, often carried on a [[bandolier]].  These were known by various names, including "chargers" or "apostles" as 12 were often carried.  For most of the time muzzleloaders were in use, a round ball and pre-measured powder charge could be carried in a paper or cloth wrapping.  The shooter would bite off the end of the paper cartridge with his teeth and pour the powder into the barrel followed by the ball encased in the paper wrapping.

The projectiles and wads were then pushed down into the breech with a [[ramrod]] until they were firmly seated on the propellant charge.  Priming powder could be carried in a separate priming flask and poured into the priming pan or a little powder from the cartridge was used, and the frizzen was pushed down to hold the priming powder in place. After the gunpowder and [[projectile]] or shot charge were placed in the barrel a [[ramrod]] was used to firmly pack everything down at the base of the barrel.  Then either a priming charge was placed in the priming pan or a percussion cap was placed on the nipple, the firing mechanism initiated; the cock or hammer was then cocked to make the firearm ready to fire.