Early matchlock and wheel lock mechanisms were replaced by later flintlock mechanisms and finally percussion locks.
en.wikipedia.org The term firelock was originally applied, as the name suggests, to the matchlock, but was later successively applied to the wheellock and then the flintlock as each was invented.
en.wikipedia.org The flintlock firing mechanism provided superior rates of fire and accuracy over the cumbersome matchlocks.
en.wikipedia.org Types of lock include snaplock, matchlock, wheellock, flintlock, modern percussion, rotating bolt, and experimental electronic types.
en.wikipedia.org The wheellock mechanism however gave faster ignition than the flintlock, because the sparks were produced directly in the pan, rather than having to fall a certain distance from the frizzen.
en.wikipedia.org