Nineteenth‑century hunters wrestled with two maddening behaviors from smoothbore shotguns: at one extreme, tightly packed pellets that flew out “like a ball” (the coup de balle), and at the other, errant flyers that blew patterns wide open. Period writers traced both to how the wad pressed or failed to press the shot during ignition: over‑compression could keep the column clumped for several yards after the muzzle, while under‑compression let pellets collide, deform, and veer off‑axis.
Pierre‑François Davoust, an armurier from Alençon, set out to cure both problems at once.
Reading time: 4 min
About me
Hello, my name is Aaron Newcomer. I am a collector and researcher of early 19th century breech-loading firearms systems, with a particular focus on the work of Jean Samuel Pauly and Casimir Lefaucheux. I collect cartridges and documents related to these types of firearms and conduct research on these topics, furthering my understanding and knowledge of these historical firearms and their place in the evolution of firearms technology. My collection and research reflect my dedication to preserving and understanding the history and technical innovations of these early firearms systems.
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