Superposed load

A four-shot superposed load pistol, with the lock positioned to ignite the rear-most charge. The covers for the forward touchholes are open.

A superposed load or stacked charge or superimposed load is a method used by various muzzle-loading firearms, from matchlocks to caplocks, including a few modern weapons, such as Metal Storm, to fire multiple shots from a single barrel without reloading.[1] In a sense, superposed load guns were the first automatic firearms, as they fired multiple shots per pull of the trigger.

  1. ^ Sawyer, Charles Winthrop (1920). Firearms in American History, volume III. Cornhill Company, Boston.