"A breechloader describes a firearm in which the user loads the cartridge or shell by inserting it into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel.
Modern mass produced firearms are generally breech-loading—except for replicas of vintage weapons. Early firearms, on the other hand, were almost entirely muzzle-loading. Also, modern mortars are generally muzzle-loaded.
Breech-loading provides the advantage of reduced reloading time. It is quicker to load the projectile and charge into the breech of a gun or cannon than to push them down a long tube—especially when the bullet fits tightly and the tube has spiral ridges from rifling. In field artillery, the advantages were similar—crews no longer had to force powder and shot down a long barrel with rammers, and the shot could now tightly fit the bore, increasing accuracy. It also made it easier to load a weapon with a fouled barrel. Turrets and emplacements for breechloaders can be smaller, since crews don´t need to retract the gun for loading." - (en.wikipedia.org 01.03.2020)
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