lˈaɪk mˈoʊst ˈɜːli fˈaɪɚɹɑːɹmz, ðə fˈɜːst ɹˈaɪfəlz wɜː mˈʌzəllˈoʊdɪŋ, ɔːlðˈoʊ ðɪs ɪnvˈɑːlvd ɐ lˈɑːt ʌv kˌɑːmplɪkˈeɪʃən ɪn ɪnsˈɜːɾɪŋ ðə bˈʊlɪt pˈæst ðə ɹˈaɪflɪŋ, ænd klˈɑːɡɪŋ ænd klˈiːnɪŋ pɹˈɑːbləmz wɜː noʊtˈoːɹiəs.
Like most early firearms, the first rifles were muzzle-loading, although this involved a lot of complication in inserting the bullet past the rifling, and clogging and cleaning problems were notorious.