Seventeenth Century Living History Society
Loading a Musket
In order to effectively load and fire a musket, musketeers were taught a series of 24 orders, to be carried out in sequence. An illustrated abridged version is provided below:
Handle your piece |
Open your pan, clean your pan |
Handle your primer and prime your piece |
Close your pan, blow of loose powder and cast off loose powder |
Cast about your piece |
Handle your charge and charge your piece |
Put down your bullet and wad |
Withdraw your scouring stick, reverse and shorten your scouring stick |
Ram home your charge with three goodly thrusts! |
Withdraw your scouring stick, reverse and shorten your scouring stick, replace your scouring stick. |
Handle your piece, cock and try your match |
To your enemies fore present, open your pan |
Give Fire! |