Blunderbuss

The blunderbuss (or trombon) is the precursor to the first fighting shotguns. Introduced at TL 3, it is a muzzle loading, spark ignition smoothbore with a large diameter bore. A charge of black powder propells one or more lead balls of random size at 200 m/s.

The bell mouthed muzzle is designed to aid loading, and not to increase pattern size. The blunderbuss, never the less, has a large firing arc maing it a close-in, short range weapon.