System for loading a muzzle-loading firearm with smokeless or black powder

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and system of loading an in-line muzzle-loading firearm. A projectile is rammed into a muzzle end of a barrel of the in-line muzzle-loading firearm such that a bottom portion of the projectile is adjacent or in close proximity with the breech end of a breech plug. A pre-measured powder cartridge is then inserted within a cartridge receiving bore of the breech plug such that a forward end of the pre-measured powder cartridge is adjacent a bottom portion of the projectile and a rim of the cartridge engages a first annular lip of the breech plug. The cartridge may then be secured within the breech plug by action of a bolt mechanism or a break open receiver mechanism.

1 . A method of loading an in-line muzzle-loading firearm, comprising the steps of: 
 placing a projectile into a muzzle end of a barrel;    ramming said projectile down said barrel until said projectile reaches a breech end of said barrel;    inserting a pre-measured powder cartridge within a cartridge receiving bore of a breech plug such that a discharge end of said pre-measured powder cartridge is located at least in close proximity to a bottom portion of said projectile, wherein said cartridge receiving bore extends along a central longitudinal axis through at least a portion of said breech plug, wherein a rim of said pre-measured powder cartridge rests within an annular recess located on a front end of said breech plug, wherein said pre-measured powder cartridge includes a primer, a pre-measured powder charge and a pre-sized wad; and    securing said pre-measured powder cartridge within said breech plug such that said in-line muzzle-loading firearm is ready to discharge said projectile once a firing mechanism is actuated.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said breech plug includes an annular lip located on a rearward end of said breech plug that extends within said cartridge receiving bore a predetermined distance to define a discharge aperture.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said pre-measured powder charge and said pre-sized wad are positioned within a cylindrical portion of said pre-measured powder cartridge, wherein said discharge end of said pre-measured powder cartridge is aligned with said discharge aperture defined by said annular lip such that said cylindrical portion of said pre-measured powder cartridge is adjacent said annular lip.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said projectile is encompassed by a sabot.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said breech plug includes an annular recess on a rearward end of said breech plug, wherein a bottom portion of said projectile fits within said annular recess of said breech plug.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pre-measured powder charge is comprises smokeless powder.  
   
   
       7 . An in-line muzzle-loading firearm, comprising: 
 a barrel having a muzzle end, a breech end, a front opening at said muzzle end, a back opening at said breech end and a bore extending along a central longitudinal axis from said front opening to said back opening, wherein said bore includes internal threads adjacent said back opening;    a breech plug having a forward end with external threads for screwing into the internal threads of said barrel, wherein said breech plug includes a cartridge receiving bore extending along a central longitudinal axis through at least a portion of said breech plug and an annular recess formed at a rearward end of said breech plug;    a pre-measured powder cartridge for insertion into said breech plug, wherein said pre-measured powder cartridge includes an annular rim and a cylindrical portion extending a predetermined distance along a central longitudinal axis from said annular rim, wherein said annular rim includes a primer and said cylindrical portion encompasses a pre-measured powder charge and a pre-sized wad, wherein said annular rim fits within said annular recess of said breech plug and said cylindrical portion fits within said cartridge receiving bore of said breech plug;    a projectile for insertion into said muzzle end of said barrel, wherein said projectile is rammed down said barrel to said breech end of said barrel such that said projectile is adjacent a front end of said breech plug;    a locking mechanism for securing said pre-measured powder cartridge within said cartridge receiving bore; and    a firing mechanism for striking said primer of said pre-measured powder cartridge.    
   
   
       8 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 7 , wherein said cartridge receiving bore extends through said breech plug a length equal to the length of said cylindrical portion of said pre-measured powder cartridge.  
   
   
       9 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 7 , wherein said breech plug includes a lip extending inward at the rearward end of said cartridge receiving bore a predetermined distance to define a discharge aperture in said breech plug, wherein a discharge end of said pre-measured powder cartridge is aligned with said discharge aperture defined by said lip when said pre-measured powder cartridge is inserted in said breech plug.  
   
   
       10 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 7 , wherein said pre-measured powder charge comprises smokeless powder.  
   
   
       11 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 7 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a bolt action receiver that is capable of being positioned between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       12 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 7 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises a break open receiver that is capable of being positioned between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       13 . A method of loading an in-line muzzle-loading firearm, comprising the steps of: 
 placing a projectile into a muzzle end of a barrel;    ramming said projectile down said barrel until said projectile reaches a breech end of said barrel;    inserting a pre-measured powder cartridge within a cartridge receiving bore of a breech such that a discharge end of said pre-measured powder cartridge is located adjacent a bottom portion of said projectile, wherein a rim of said pre-measured powder cartridge rests within an annular recess of said breech, wherein said pre-measured powder cartridge includes a primer, a pre-measured powder charge and a pre-sized wad; and    securing said pre-measured powder cartridge within said breech plug such that said in-line muzzle-loading firearm is ready to discharge said projectile once a firing mechanism is actuated.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said pre-measured powder charge comprises smokeless powder.  
   
   
       15 . An in-line muzzle-loading firearm, comprising: 
 a barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end;    a breech aligned with said breech end of said barrel including a means for receiving a pre-measured powder cartridge having a primer, a pre-measured powder charge and a pre-sized wad;    means for securing said pre-measured powder cartridge in said breech; and    means for actuating said pre-measured powder cartridge by igniting said primer.    
   
   
       16 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said pre-measured powder charge comprises smokeless powder.  
   
   
       17 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said means for securing comprises a bolt action receiver that is capable of being positioned between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       18 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said means for securing comprises a break open receiver that is capable of being positioned between an open position and a closed position.  
   
   
       19 . The in-line muzzle-loading firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said means for actuating comprises a firing mechanism.