Muzzleloader systems

• US 10,030,956 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC (Vista Outdoor Inc.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Sr., Bryan P., Goodlin, Drew L., Carlson, Erik K., Head, Lawrence P., Swenson, John W., Jones, Sharon
• Primary Examiner(s): Abdosh, Samir
• Application Number:
  US15/426,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20170307347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 42 51, 89 13, 102430
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/58 Breakdown breech mechanisms, e.g. for shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/375 Feeding propellant charges and projectiles as separate units
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 7/11 Breakdown shotguns or rifles hinge-frame revolvers F41C3/16; breech mechanisms therefor F41A3/58; cocking mechanisms therefor F41A19/41
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 9/08 Muzzle-loading smallarms; Smallarms with flintlock mechanisms; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 9/085 Accessories for loading muzzle loading guns, e.g. magazines or tools for loading
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/76 of the casing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/02 Driving bands; Rotating bands F42B14/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/04 Lubrication means in missiles coatings for reducing friction F42B12/82
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/064 Sabots enclosing the rear end of a kinetic energy projectile, i.e. having a closed disk shaped obturator base and petals extending forward from said base
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/02 Bullets
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/24 for cleaning; for cooling; for lubricating ; for wear reducing
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/38 Separately-loaded propellant charges, e.g. cartridge bags F42B5/16, F42B5/192 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/04 Blank cartridges, i.e. primed cartridges without projectile but containing an explosive or combustible powder charge

Abstract

Muzzleloader systems include a pre-packaged propellant charge and primer for providing efficient loading and unloading of the muzzleloader. The muzzleloader accepts in the breech end the propellant containment vessel that abuts against a constriction portion with a reduced diameter portion. The propellant containment vessel having an end portion with a tapered surface that conforms to the constriction portion surface. A projectile is inserted in the muzzle end and seats against the constriction portion. The propellant containment vessel may be received in a removable breech plug. The constriction portion may be part of the breech plug or a separate component secured in the barrel by way of the breech plug. The containment vessel further comprises a primer mechanism that may be integrated into the proximal end of the containment vessel.

Claims

1. A muzzleloader firing system comprising muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber open rearwardly, a constriction portion at a forward end of the breech chamber, and a projectile bore portion with a bore forward of the constriction portion, the system further comprising a muzzleloader propellant cartridge without a projectile therein, the propellant cartridge sized for being received by the breech end of the muzzleloader, the cartridge comprising:

a cartridge cup portion comprising a polymer and having a tubular wall portion and a closed end of the tubular wall with a converging portion unitary with the tubular wall portion, the cup portion defining an interior;

a head portion connecting with the tubular wall portion of the cup portion, the head portion having a primer centrally engaged in the head portion; and

propellant filling the interior and extending to the closed end;

the system further comprising a projectile sized to the barrel and further sized to not pass through the constriction portion.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cup portion closed end has a conical portion and a portion extending perpendicular to an axis of the cartridge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge cup portion closed end is rounded.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein an angle measured in an axial plane from the outside surface of the tubular portion to the outside surface of the conical portion is from 115 degrees to 155 degrees.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge cup portion is injection molded.

6. A muzzleloader firing system comprising a muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber open rearwardly, a constriction portion at a forward end of the breech chamber, and a projectile bore portion with a bore forward of the constriction portion, a hermetically sealed propellant cartridge having propellant therein and not having a projectile therein and having a closed and unitary polymer cup sized for conforming to the surface of the constriction portion facing the breech end, the system further comprising a projectile for loading in the muzzle end, the projectile being received forward of the constriction portion wherein the projectile comprises a bullet body and a cup portion engaged on the body.

7. A muzzleloader firing system comprising a muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber open rearwardly, a constriction portion at a forward end of the breech chamber, and a projectile bore portion with a bore forward of the constriction portion, a hermetically sealed propellant cartridge having propellant therein and not having a projectile therein and having a closed and unitary polymer cup sized for conforming to the surface of the constriction portion facing the breech end, the system further comprising a projectile for loading in the muzzle end, the projectile being received forward of the constriction portion further comprising a ramrod having two engagement portions, one for the projectile bullet body and one for the cup portion.

8. A muzzleloader firing system comprising a muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber open rearwardly, a constriction portion at a forward end of the breech chamber, and a projectile bore portion with a bore forward of the constriction portion, a hermetically sealed propellant cartridge having propellant therein and not having a projectile therein and having a closed and unitary polymer cup sized for conforming to the surface of the constriction portion facing the breech end, the system further comprising a projectile for loading in the muzzle end, the projectile being received forward of the constriction portion wherein the propellant cartridge has a head portion that conforms and is secured to the cup portion, the head portion having an end flange and a recess for a primer.

11. The muzzleloader firing system of claim 8 wherein a primer is received in the recess for the primer.

9. A muzzleloader firing system comprising a muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber open rearwardly, a constriction portion at a forward end of the breech chamber, and a projectile bore portion with a bore forward of the constriction portion, a hermetically sealed propellant cartridge having propellant therein and not having a projectile therein and having a closed and unitary polymer cup sized for conforming to the surface of the constriction portion facing the breech end, the system further comprising a projectile for loading in the muzzle end, the projectile being received forward of the constriction portion wherein the surface of the constriction portion facing the muzzle end is perpendicular to an axis of the barrel of the muzzleloader.

10. A muzzleloader firing system comprising a muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber open rearwardly, a constriction portion at a forward end of the breech chamber, and a projectile bore portion with a bore forward of the constriction portion, a hermetically sealed propellant cartridge having propellant therein and not having a projectile therein and having a closed and unitary polymer cup sized for conforming to the surface of the constriction portion facing the breech end, the system further comprising a projectile for loading in the muzzle end, the projectile being received forward of the constriction portion wherein the constriction portion is a singular piece and is removable from the muzzleloader.

12. A muzzleloader firing system comprising a muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber open rearwardly, a constriction portion at a forward end of the breech chamber, and a projectile bore portion with a bore forward of the constriction portion, a hermetically sealed propellant cartridge having propellant therein and not having a projectile therein and having a closed and unitary polymer cup sized for conforming to the surface of the constriction portion facing the breech end, the system further comprising a projectile for loading in the muzzle end, the projectile being received forward of the constriction portion wherein the cup portion and head portion define an interior and exclusively propellant fills the interior and extends to the forward end of the cup portion.

13. A muzzleloader firing system comprising muzzleloader having a barrel with a breech chamber, a constriction portion and a projectile bore portion with a bore, the constriction portion having a surface facing a breech end and a surface facing a muzzle end, a plurality of hermetically sealed projectileless propellant cartridges each having a head end connecting to cup, the head end having a recess for a primer, the system further comprising a projectile for insertion in the muzzle end and wherein the diameter of the bore of the projectile bore portion is greater than a minimal diameter of the constriction portion.

14. The muzzleloader firing system of claim 13 wherein the projectile comprises a bullet body and a cup portion engaged on the body.

15. The muzzleloader firing system of claim 13, wherein the cup portion is polymer and has a frusto conical portion.

16. The muzzleloader firing system of claim 13, wherein the muzzleloader breaks open with a stock, trigger, and firing pin pivoting to allow access to the breech chamber for loading the hermetically sealed projectileless propellant cartridges.

17. The muzzleloader firing system of claim 13 wherein a propellant cartridge having a polymer cup with a conical surface conforming to the surface of the constriction portion facing the breech end, and further comprising a projectile, the projectile having an end surface conforming to the constriction surface facing the muzzle end.

18. The muzzleloader firing system of claim 14 wherein the surface of the constriction portion facing the muzzle end is perpendicular to an axis of the barrel of the muzzleloader.