Muzzle loading firearm, gun barrel design, projectile system and method of using thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a gun barrel in muzzle loading firearm with a breech portion that receives a cartridge case and a muzzle that receives a projectile and an opening that connects both. Also a gun barrel with an opening, or passage bore, that is smaller than the bore of the muzzle end of the firearm is disclosed. A firearm and method of using a firearm with this type of gun barrel is disclosed, as is a projectile system that entails a cartridge with a charge that loads from a breech end and a projectile that loads from the muzzle end of the firearm.

1 . A gun barrel for use in a muzzle loading firearm, said gun barrel comprising: 
 a muzzle portion, characterized by a first caliber, said muzzle portion being configured to operationally receive a projectile;    a breech portion, characterized by a second caliber, said breech portion being configured to operationally receive a cartridge case; and    a connecting bore extending from said breech portion to said muzzle portion.    
   
   
       2 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said first caliber is greater than said second caliber.  
   
   
       3 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said second caliber is greater than or equal to said first caliber.  
   
   
       4 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said connecting bore is smaller than said second caliber.  
   
   
       5 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said breech portion includes a frusto-conical section.  
   
   
       6 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said breech portion has a uniform diameter.  
   
   
       7 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said breech portion is configured to operationally receive a cartridge case in a standard caliber.  
   
   
       8 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , further comprising a firearm operationally attached to said gun barrel.  
   
   
       9 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said connecting bore has a uniform diameter.  
   
   
       10 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said breech portion is configured to operationally received a cartridge case in a custom caliber.  
   
   
       11 . The gun barrel of  claim 1 , wherein said breech portion is configured to be adjacent to said cartridge case.  
   
   
       12 . A firearm comprising: 
 a muzzle portion, characterized by a first caliber, said muzzle portion being configured to operationally receive a projectile;    a breech portion, characterized by a second caliber, said breech portion being configured to operationally receive a cartridge case; and    a connecting bore extending from said breech portion to said muzzle portion.    
   
   
       13 . A muzzle-end loading firearm comprising: 
 a breech end configured so that a charge is loaded from said breech end; and    a muzzle end configured so that a projectile is loaded from said muzzle end.    
   
   
       14 . The muzzle-end loading firearm of  claim 13 , wherein said breech end is adapted to not require a breech plug.  
   
   
       15 . A substantially cylindrical gun barrel for use in a muzzle loading firearm, said gun barrel comprising: 
 a muzzle end, and a breech end;    a central bore extending from said muzzle end towards said breech end, said central bore characterized by a first caliber;    a mounting portion adjacent said breech end, said mounting portion configured for mounting said gun barrel to a firearm receiver;    a chamber adjacent said breech end, said chamber coaxial with said central bore, said chamber configured to operationally receive a cartridge case; and    a passage bore adjacent and between each of said central bore and said chamber, said passage bore communicating between said central bore and said chamber, said passage bore having a smaller diameter than said central bore.    
   
   
       16 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said central bore extends from said muzzle end to said muzzle end of said passage.  
   
   
       17 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said mounting portion comprises screw threads, said screw threads located on an outer surface of said gun barrel.  
   
   
       18 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said mounting portion comprises screw threads, said screw threads located on an inner surface of said gun barrel.  
   
   
       19 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said chamber is configured to operationally receive a cartridge case.  
   
   
       20 . The gun barrel of  claim 19 , wherein said cartridge case is in a standard caliber.  
   
   
       21 . The gun barrel of  claim 19 , wherein said cartridge case is in a custom caliber.  
   
   
       22 . The gun barrel of  claim 19 , wherein said cartridge case is constructed of one of a metal, a plastic, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       23 . The gun barrel of  claim 20 , wherein said cartridge case is in a standard centerfire caliber.  
   
   
       24 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said central bore includes rifling upon a portion of an inner surface thereof.  
   
   
       25 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said muzzle end includes a muzzle brake therein.  
   
   
       26 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said muzzle brake is removably attached to said gun barrel.  
   
   
       27 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said cartridge case contains a powder selected from the group consisting of a smokeless powder, a black powder, a Pyrodex powder, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       28 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said cartridge case is characterized by a shotgun caliber.  
   
   
       29 . The gun barrel of  claim 15 , wherein said cartridge case contains a primer.  
   
   
       30 . A method of increasing the reliability of a muzzle loading firearm, the method comprising: 
 providing a gun barrel with a muzzle end and a breech end, said muzzle end having a central bore characterized by a first caliber, said central bore extending from said muzzle end towards said breech end;    providing a mounting portion of said gun barrel adjacent said breech end, said mounting portion configured for mounting said gun barrel to a firearm receiver;    providing a breech end chamber of said gun barrel adjacent said breech end, said breech end chamber coaxial with said central bore, said breech end chamber configured to operationally receive a cartridge case; and    providing a passage bore of said gun barrel adjacent and between each of said central bore and said breech end chamber, said passage bore communicating between said central bore and said breech end chamber, said passage bore having a smaller diameter than said central bore;    providing a stock operatively coupled to said gun barrel and said firearm receiver, said stock including a trigger assembly operatively coupled to said firearm receiver and to a firing pin assembly; and    configuring said firing pin assembly to operatively interact with said cartridge case, when appropriate, to cause discharge of said muzzle loading firearm.    
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein said mounting bore includes a threaded portion.  
   
   
       32 . A projectile system, adapted for use with a muzzle loading firearm, comprising: 
 a cartridge of a first caliber containing a charge, adapted for loading in a breech end of said firearm; and    a projectile of a second caliber, adapted for inserting in a muzzle end of a gun barrel of said firearm.    
   
   
       33 . The projectile system of  claim 32 , wherein said cartridge comprises a standard caliber cartridge case.  
   
   
       34 . The projectile system of  claim 32 , wherein said projectile includes a sabot.  
   
   
       35 . The projectile system of  claim 32 , wherein a first portion of said cartridge adjoins a second portion of said projectile.  
   
   
       36 . The projectile system of  claim 32 , wherein said first caliber is smaller than said second caliber.  
   
   
       37 . The projectile system of  claim 32 , wherein said first caliber is equal to said second caliber.  
   
   
       38 . The projectile system of  claim 32 , wherein an exterior surface of said cartridge is adapted to be adjacent to a portion of said breech end.