Method for loading a muzzle-loading firearm

• US 5,621,187 A
• Filed: 09/11/1995
• Issued: 04/15/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accura Bullets, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Kearns
• Inventors: Kearns, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US08/526,263
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 102/520-528, 102/532, 42/90
• US Class Current: 102/520
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 14/00 Projectiles or missiles characterised by arrangements for guiding or sealing them inside barrels, or for lubricating or cleaning barrels
• 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

Abstract

A method for loading a muzzle loading firearm with a projectile. The projectile including a bullet; a gas check member; and a pin or cavity affixed to the bullet and a mating member affixed to the gas check member for frictional attachment of bullet to gas check member. The bullet has a diameter less than the bore of the firearm to minimize scoring or deformation of the bullet during the loading procedure; to facilitate loading; and to improve the ballistics of the bullet; and the gas check member being constructed of resilient plastic material and having a diameter exceeding the diameter of the bore for holding the bullet in place within the bore over the charge. The gas check member attaches by the mating attachment members to the bullet rearward of the maximum diameter of the bullet to prevent any interference between bullet and bore as the bullet obturates during firing. The gas check member frictionally and resiliently engages the bullet for convenience in manual attachment of the gas check member to the bullet prior to loading as well as for ready detachment immediately after firing to prevent bullet drag and to enhance ballistic integrity.

Claims

1. A method for loading a muzzle-loading firearm, said firearm having a barrel with a bore of a certain diameter, and a powder charge in said barrel, comprising:

a. placing a projectile in said barrel, said projectile consisting of a one-piece bullet of obturating material and circular cross-section, said bullet having a tapered front portion, a cylindrical middle body portion, and a flat rear end, the bullet cylindrical middle body portion having a certain maximum diameter which is less than the diameter of said bore in said barrel, and said flat rear end having a flat rear surface with a forwardly extending substantially cylindrical hole co-axial with said bullet; and

a one-piece gas check member of resilient plastic material and of circular cross-section, said gas check member having a flat front end, a gas check cylindrical middle body portion and a recessed rear end, the flat front end having only a forwardly extending substantially cylindrical pin co-axial with said gas check member, said substantially cylindrical pin having a diameter slightly greater than the inside dimension of said forwardly extending substantially cylindrical hole of said bullet, the substantially cylindrical pin of said gas check member being frictionally engageable and disengageable within the hole in said bullet for releasably attaching said gas check member to said bullet so that the gas check member is readily detachable from said one-piece bullet upon firing of the firearm, the gas check cylindrical body portion having a certain maximum diameter which is greater than the diameter of said bore in said barrel, and said gas check cylindrical body portion having a certain body portion length which is less than a length of said bullet cylindrical body portion; and

b. pushing said projectile into said barrel until the rear end of said gas check member is seated directly over the powder charge and said gas check member is in firm contact with the surface of the bore, so that there is no interference between the bullet and the bore by the gas check member.

2. A method for loading a muzzle-loading firearm, said firearm having a barrel with a bore of a certain diameter, and a powder charge in said barrel, comprising:

a. placing a projectile in said barrel, said projectile consisting of a one-piece bullet of obturating material and circular cross-section, said bullet having a tapered front portion, a cylindrical middle body portion, and a flat rear end, the bullet cylindrical middle body portion having a certain maximum diameter which is less than the diameter of said bore in said barrel, and said flat rear end having a flat rear surface with a rearwardly extending substantially cylindrical pin co-axial with said bullet, and a one-piece gas check member of resilient plastic material and circular cross-section, said gas check member having a flat front end, a gas check cylindrical middle body portion and a recessed rear end, the flat front end having only a substantially cylindrical aperture co-axial with said gas check member, said aperture having a inside dimension slightly less than the diameter of said rearwardly extending substantially cylindrical pin of said bullet, the substantially cylindrical pin of said bullet being frictionally engageable and disengageable within the aperture for releasably attaching said gas check member to said bullet so that the gas check member is readily detachable from said one-piece bullet upon firing of the firearm, the gas check cylindrical body portion having a certain maximum diameter which is greater than the diameter of said bore in said barrel, and said gas check cylindrical body portion having a certain body portion length which is less than a length of said bullet cylindrical body portion; and

b. pushing said projectile into said barrel until the rear end of said gas check member is seated directly over the powder charge and said gas check member is in firm contact with the surface of the bore, so that there is no interference between the bullet and the bore by the gas check member, except around the pin on the rear end of the bullet.