Break-away gas check for muzzle-loading firearms

Abstract

A gas check member, for use in muzzle-loading firearms, frictionally attaches rearward of a sub-caliber bullet to maximize the efficiency of such firearms. The diameter of the gas check preferably exceeds that of the bore slightly to prevent scoring and deformation of the bullet during loading, to hold the projectile in place within the barrel and to prevent moisture from contacting the powder when in place. Upon firing, the gas check minimizes the escape of propellant gases around the projectile and imparts a large, uniformly distributed forward thrust to the bullet to maximize the ballistic qualities of the shot. The gas check preferably incorporates an unstable connection between inner and outer members of the gas check that fractures, at about the time the bullet exits the barrel, to facilitate quick and reliable detachment of the outer member from the bullet. The outer member may also be adapted, preferably by scoring or other weakening of selected regions of the outer member, to itself fracture into multiple pieces, further optimizing detachment or release of a substantial portion of the gas check from the bullet. A more consistent and complete detachment or release helps prevent interference of the gas check with the trajectory of the bullet upon exit from the barrel.

1 . A gas check for use in muzzle-loading firearms comprising: 
 an outer wall with diameter exceeding that of the bore of the firearm and having a plurality of weakened regions; and    an engaging member, for attaching the gas check to the back of a bullet, which engaging member is joined to said outer wall by a connecting element;    wherein upon exit from the barrel of said firearm, said outer wall fractures at said plurality of weakened regions to release portions of the outer wall from the gas check.    
   
   
       2 . A gas check as in  claim 1 , wherein said connecting element is appreciably thin, or weakened, wherein upon exit from the barrel of said firearm, said connecting element fractures to release at least a portion of said outer wall from the engaging member.  
   
   
       3 . The gas check of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said outer wall engages the rifling of the bore to hold the bullet in place within the barrel, to prevent moisture from the barrel from contacting the powder when in place within the barrel, and to impart spin to the bullet upon firing.    
   
   
       4 . The gas check of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the gas check is frictionally attached to the back of said bullet by said engaging member.    
   
   
       5 . The gas check of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the check harnesses rapidly expanding gas products of gunpowder ignition to impart a distributed forward thrust to said bullet.    
   
   
       6 . The gas check of  claim 5  wherein under the thrusting force of said gases said connecting element 
 breaks apart upon exit from the barrel thereby separating said engaging member and outer wall to prevent interference with the ballistic properties of said bullet.    
   
   
       7 . The gas check of  claim 5  wherein under the thrusting force of said gases said weakened regions of the outer wall 
 break apart upon exit from the barrel thereby separating said at least a portion of the outer wall from the engaging member to prevent interference with the ballistic properties of said bullet.    
   
   
       8 . The gas check of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall weakened regions are formed by scoring.  
   
   
       9 . The gas check of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall weakened regions are formed by thinning of the wall at selected locations.  
   
   
       10 . The gas check of  claim 1 , wherein the weakened regions extend from at or near a lower edge of the gas check to near a top surface of the gas check.  
   
   
       11 . An annular gas check for use in muzzle-loading firearms comprising: 
 an outer wall with diameter exceeding that of the bore of the firearm; and    an engaging mechanism substantially surrounded by said outer wall for frictionally attaching to the rearward portion of a bullet wherein said engaging mechanism is connected to said outer wall by a band of material which is appreciably weakened or reduced in thickness relative to the thickness of the engaging mechanism such that upon exit from the barrel said band of material fractures thereby separating said outer wall from said engaging mechanism;    wherein said outer wall further comprises a plurality of weakened regions adapted to fracture upon exit from the barrel.    
   
   
       12 . The gas check of  claim 11 , wherein the outer wall weakened regions are formed by scoring.  
   
   
       13 . The gas check of  claim 11 , wherein the outer wall weakened regions are formed by thinning of the wall at selected locations.  
   
   
       14 . The gas check of  claim 11 , wherein the weakened regions extend from at or near a lower edge of the gas check to near a top surface of the gas check.