Multiple auto primer system for muzzle-loading firearm

Abstract

A method and apparatus for loading and ejecting ignition devices into a muzzle-loading firearm. A magazine contains a plurality of ignition devices, which are sequentially loaded from the magazine onto the breech plug of the firearm by a sliding bolt or other loading assembly. After firing, the loading assembly is actuated to extract and eject the spent ignition device and load a new ignition device onto the breech plug.

1 . An apparatus for carrying and loading a plurality of ignition devices into a muzzle-loading firearm having a breech plug, comprising: 
 a magazine for containing the ignition devices; and    a loading assembly for sequentially loading the ignition devices from the magazine into engagement with the breech plug of the firearm for firing.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an extractor for extracting the spent ignition devices from the breech plug of the firearm after firing.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the loading assembly comprises a sliding bolt, and the extractor comprises two extractor feet extending from the sliding bolt for securing the ignition device in the breech plug.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the extractor feet are configured differently from each other to cause the ignition devices to be selectively ejected in the same direction after firing.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an ejector for expelling the spent ignition devices from a breech of the firearm after firing.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the ejector pivots in and out of the breech and is selectively operated by the loading assembly, and wherein when the loading assembly is slid from a forward to a rear position the ejector operates to expel the spent ignition device from the breech.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a trigger assembly equipped with a safety mechanism, wherein the safety mechanism is automatically engaged when the sliding bolt is slid from a forward position to a rear position.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine has a curved channel formed therein for receiving the ignition devices with rims of the ignition devices overlapping each other.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , where the channel further comprises at least one lateral groove for receiving a rim of each of the ignition devices so that the ignition devices can only be inserted into the channel in one orientation.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the magazine has a primer pusher therein for expelling the ignition devices from the magazine into a breech of the firearm, wherein the primer pusher includes a pusher body having a lip that extends between a rim of a first one of the ignition devices and a wall forming the channel to assist in the overlapping ignition device rim arrangement.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine further comprises a primer retainer for securing the ignition devices therein, wherein the primer retainer is selectively operated by the loading assembly allowing the expulsion of the ignition devices from the magazine into a breech of the firearm.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the primer retainer has an engagement member and a retainer member that is laterally offset therefrom and configured so that, when the magazine is loaded in the firearm, the engagement member engages the loading assembly, which pivots the retainer member into a slot in the loading assembly and out of a position retaining the primers in the magazine.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the loading assembly includes a bolt, a firing pin, a firing spring, and a bolt spring that is separate from the firing spring and configured to bias the bolt forward to apply pressure to keep the ignition device in the breech plug.  
   
   
       14 . A magazine for use with a muzzle-loading firearm having a breech, a breech plug, and a loading assembly, the magazine comprising: 
 a housing defining a channel configured to receive a plurality of ignition devices and sequentially dispense the ignition devices into the breech for loading into engagement with the breech plug by operation of the loading assembly.    
   
   
       15 . The magazine of  claim 14 , in combination with the plurality of ignition devices loaded therein.  
   
   
       16 . The magazine of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of ignition devices are selected from the group consisting of percussion caps, musket caps, 0.209 shotshell primers, cartridges without a main charge or bullet, and blank ammunition.  
   
   
       17 . The magazine of  claim 14 , wherein the housing has a curved channel formed therein for receiving the ignition devices with rims of the ignition devices overlapping each other.  
   
   
       18 . The magazine of  claim 17 , where the channel further comprises at least one lateral groove for receiving a rim of each of the ignition devices so that the ignition devices can only be inserted into the channel in one orientation.  
   
   
       19 . The magazine of  claim 17 , further comprising a primer pusher therein for expelling the ignition devices from the magazine into a breech of the firearm, wherein the primer pusher includes a pusher body having a lip that extends between a rim of a first one of the ignition devices and a wall forming the channel to assist in the overlapping ignition device rim arrangement.  
   
   
       20 . The magazine of  claim 14 , further comprising a primer retainer for securing the ignition devices therein, where the primer retainer is selectively operated by the loading assembly allowing the expulsion of the ignition devices from the magazine into a breech of the firearm.  
   
   
       21 . The magazine of  claim 20 , wherein the primer retainer has an engagement member and a retainer member that is laterally offset there from and configured so that, when the magazine is loaded in the firearm, the engagement member engages the loading assembly, which pivots the retainer member into a slot in the loading assembly and out of a position retaining the primers in the magazine.  
   
   
       22 . In a muzzle-loading firearm having a breech, a barrel with a breech end, and a breech plug in the breech end of the barrel, the improvement comprising: 
 an apparatus for sequentially dispensing and loading a plurality of ignition devices into the breech and into engagement with the breech plug of the muzzle-loading firearm for firing.    
   
   
       23 . The improvement of  claim 22 , wherein the apparatus comprises: 
 a magazine for containing a plurality of ignition devices; and    a loading assembly for sequentially loading the ignition devices from the magazine into engagement with the breech plug of the muzzle-loading firearm for firing.    
   
   
       24 . A muzzle-loading firearm, comprising: 
 a breech;    a barrel having a breech end;    a breech plug in the breech end of the barrel;    a magazine for containing a plurality of ignition devices; and    a loading assembly for sequentially loading ignition devices from the magazine to the breech and then to the breech plug of the firearm.    
   
   
       25 . The muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 24 , further comprising a receiver portion defined in the firearm for removably receiving the magazine.  
   
   
       26 . A method for sequentially loading a plurality of ignition devices into a muzzle-loading firearm, the method comprising: 
 providing a magazine for receiving the ignition devices;    loading the ignition devices into the magazine;    loading the magazine into the muzzle-loading firearm; and    loading a first one of the ignition devices from the magazine to the breech plug of the firearm for firing.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising extracting a spent first ignition device from the breech plug of the firearm after firing.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising ejecting the extracted first ignition device from the firearm.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising loading a subsequent one of the ignition devices from the magazine to the breech plug of the firearm.