Blunderbuss Vs. Flintlock – Discover Which Is Better

Key Point: Blunderbuss is a better weapon to have when firing at close range, while flintlock muskets tend to be a lot more effective at longer ranges.

This article will cover the 5 main differences between a blunderbuss and a flintlock. So, by the time you finish this article, you will know what sets the blunderbuss apart from the flintlock. And which of the two firearms is better?

So, which are the 5 main differences between a flintlock and a blunderbuss? Here they are:

The 5 main differences between a flintlock and a blunderbuss are:

1. Their design and structure
2. Purpose
3. Range and accuracy
4. Ammunition
5. Popularity and legacy

Here is a table showing how a blunderbuss compares to a flintlock.

Now, that you’ve seen the quick rundown of how the blunderbuss compares to the flintlock. Let’s take a look at, among other things why pirates loved using the blunderbuss on their raids. Let’s begin first with the difference in their design and structure.

Blunderbuss vs. Flintlock – Their Design And Structure

The Blunderbuss was a uniquely shaped firearm compared to the flintlock. If you take a look at a flintlock musket or a pistol it does not matter. A Flintlock will always have a long slender barrel. While the blunderbuss will have a shorter barrel with a wide opening at the end.

So, why does the Blunderbuss have a wide opening at the end of the barrel while the Flintlock does not?

Well, it comes down to how it was generally used. You will see what I mean in the next segment but in short, the Blunderbuss was used in close quarters while the musket was generally used to go after something at larger distances.

And of course, the design of the firearm was shaped primarily by how it was planned on being used. This brings us perfectly to our next segment which is …

Blunderbuss vs. Flintlock – The Difference In Their Purpose

Let’s examine the purpose of each of the firearms. First the Bludnerbuss.

The purpose of the Bludnerbuss was primarily as a close-quarter weapon that was able to inflict damage at close quarters to multiple opponents. This means accuracy was secondary for the most part. And remember the wide opening I mentioned in the previous segment?

Well, that was designed that way so that the projectile or projectiles could spread out in as many directions as possible. Making it a perfect close-quarter weapon at the time. So, much so that it was used for self-defense and crowd control in some cases. Now the most surprising use for a Blunderbuss was as a …

anti-boarding weapon. Let me explain. The Blunderbuss was carried on ships by merchants and even pirates. So, when a merchant ship was attacked by pirates they used Blunderbusses to spray the enemy deck full of sailors. On the opposite end, pirates when boarding a ship “uninvited” used Blunderbusses to spray the merchant’s ship with projectiles to make boarding easier.

A messy affair as you might imagine.

If You Are Curious: You can see another article detailing the difference between the Blunderbuss and the Arquebus. By clicking here another tab will open up with the article so you can visit it after finishing this one.

What About The Flintlock?

The main purpose of the Flintlock was to inflict damage at a distance. Hence why the barrel was long and slender i.e. narrow. This enabled the projectile to travel greater distances. This is why the flintlock was primarily used for two things: hunting and warfare.

Not as a close-quarter weapon but as a way to reach the opponent at greater distances. And as with the Blunderbuss, the purpose dictated the shape of the flintlock as well. Long-distance shooting required the barrel to be long and narrow at both ends.

Now, for the next segment which is …

Range And Accuracy

Let’s start with the Blunderbuss. It was designed for close-range combat and therefore had a shorter range and lower accuracy compared to the Flintlock.

The wide-mouthed design of the Blunderbuss allowed for a spread of projectiles, making it effective at close quarters but sacrificing accuracy. The Flintlock, on the other hand, had a slender barrel that allowed for a longer range and improved accuracy. This made it ideal for hunting or military use where hitting a target from a distance was important.

Now it’s time to see what these firearms were shooting.

The Ammunition – Blunderbuss vs. Flintlock

Here they also differ. But not by much. Remember when I said the Blunderbuss was mostly a close-quarter weapon? Well, to achieve maximum impact at close range they stuffed the Blunderbuss with “shot”. A “shot” was basically a smaller version of a musketball. You stuffed as many as you can in the barrel of a Blunderbuss and when it fired the shot spread out. Inflicting damage at a wide area.

While the flintlock was aimed at concentrated damage at a longer distance. So the flintlock used musket balls as projectiles.

Both the “shot” and musketball were made from generally the same metal. Lead. The only difference was in the dimensions.

Their Popularity

When it comes to popularity. The Flintlock wins out hands down. While the Blunderbuss was effectively used in the 17th and 18th centuries it was eventually replaced by newer and more modern firearms. On the other hand, Flintlocks reigned supreme for centuries. They shaped the course of wars and thus the course of human history.

So, while the Blunderbuss had its short stint in history, the Flintlock left a massive mark on history.

In Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Hopefully, you learned a thing or two about these two wonderful pieces of history. If you want to continue learning I suggest taking a look at my article on how the Flintlock compares to Percussion weapons, right here.

Take care!