Thread: Stalking with a .303

Originally Posted by AMac

Is this where the expression “going off half cocked” came from?

No, along with "flash in the pan", going off half cocked marks back to flintlocks.
To carry a flintlock in a semi ready state you need to put powder in the pan, close the frizzen and pull the hammer back to half cock. It shouldn't fall from half cock, so to go off half cocked is analogous to doing something before you should.
Flash in the pan means the priming powder fired, but the main charge didn't- an inadequate performance.