Apparatus and method of use for uniform muzzle loading

1. An apparatus for loading a barrel of a muzzle loading firearm to provide powder and a projectile at a breech end of the barrel, which comprises:

(a) a handle having a central longitudinal axis and adapted to be gripped by one hand, the handle having an opening between opposed ends along the axis;

(b) a moveable casing having a head and mounted in the opening adjacent one end of the handle and adapted to receive a ramrod of the muzzle loading rifle into the casing;

(c) a retaining means for retaining the casing within the opening, the retaining means mounted on the handle with at least a portion of the retaining means mounted inside the opening; and

(d) a coil spring mounted in the opening inside the handle between the portion of the retaining means mounted in the opening and the head of the casing, wherein when the ramrod is used to force the projectile onto powder in the barrel at the breech end, the casing is moved towards the portion of retaining means against the coil spring to pressure the projectile against the powder wherein the casing is a rimless casing with an extraction groove which engages a detent mounted through the handle into the opening when the casing is pushed back against the spring by the ramrod to provide an audible sound indicating that a predetermined pressure of the projectile on the powder in the barrel has been achieved.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining means comprises a starter for the projectile extending from one end of the handle, the starter is adapted to start a projectile in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.

3. An apparatus for loading a barrel of a muzzle loading firearm to provide powder and a projectile at a breech end of the barrel, which comprises:

(a) a handle having a central longitudinal axis and adapted to be gripped by one hand, the handle having opposed, flanged ends, wherein the handle has a cylindrical opening between the flanged ends along the axis;

(b) a moveable casing having a head and mounted in the cylindrical opening adjacent one flanged end of the handle and adapted to receive a ramrod of the muzzle loading rifle into the casing;

(c) a retaining means for retaining the casing within the cylindrical opening, the retaining means mounted on the handle with at least a portion of the retaining means mounted inside the cylindrical opening; and

(d) a coil spring mounted in the cylindrical opening inside the handle between the portion of the retaining means mounted in the cylindrical opening and the head of the casing, wherein when the ramrod is used to force the projectile onto powder in the barrel at the breech end, the casing is moved towards the portion of the retaining means against the coil spring to pressure the projectile against the powder wherein the casing is a rimless casing with an extraction groove which engages a detent mounted through the handle into the opening when the casing is pushed back against the spring by the ramrod to provide an audible sound indicating that a predetermined pressure of the projectile on the powder in the barrel has been achieved.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the retaining means comprises a starter for the projectile extending from one end of the handle, the starter is adapted to start a projectile in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the starter defines a pocket that is sized and shaped to receive a portion of the projectile to be seated in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the cylindrical opening defines a keyed recess parallel to the axis partially extending along an internal surface of the opening and sized and shaped to receive a keyed boss extending along the starter for alignment and mounting of the starter in the handle, and wherein the keyed recess defines a stop to abut against the keyed boss of the starter to prevent further insertion of the starter into the cylindrical opening.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the starter is securely held within the cylindrical opening by a securing means.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the detent comprises a spring loaded ball bearing mounted in a threaded member and mounted in a threaded opening extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the coil spring defines a predetermined tension adapted to receive pressure from the ramrod pressing against the casing until a desired pound of pressure is achieved in loading the projectile in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.

10. An apparatus for loading a barrel of a muzzle loading firearm to provide powder and a projectile at a breech end of the barrel, which comprises:

(a) a handle having a central longitudinal axis and adapted to be gripped by one hand, the handle having opposed, flanged ends, wherein the handle has a cylindrical opening between the flanged ends along the axis;

(b) a moveable casing having a head and mounted in the cylindrical opening adjacent one flanged end of the handle and adapted to receive a ramrod of the muzzle loading rifle into the casing;

(c) a starter for the projectile mounted on the handle with an end extending from the other flanged end of the handle with a portion of the starter mounted inside the cylindrical opening, the starter is adapted to start a projectile in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm; and

(d) a coil spring mounted in the cylindrical opening inside the handle between the portion of the starter mounted in the cylindrical opening and the head of the casing, wherein when the ramrod is used to force the projectile onto powder in the barrel at the breech end, the casing is moved towards the portion of the starter against the coil spring to pressure the projectile against the powder wherein the casing is a rimless casing with an extraction groove which engages a detent mounted through the handle into the opening when the casing is pushed back against the spring by the ramrod to provide an audible sound indicating that a predetermined pressure of the projectile on the powder in the barrel has been achieved.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the detent comprises a spring loaded ball bearing mounted in a threaded member and mounted in a threaded opening extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

12. A method for loading a barrel of a muzzle loading firearm to provide powder and a projectile at a breech end of the barrel, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus for loading a barrel of a muzzle loading firearm comprised of: (i) a handle having a central longitudinal axis and adapted to be gripped by one hand, the handle having an opening between opposed ends along the axis; (ii) a moveable casing having a head and mounted in the opening adjacent one end of the handle and adapted to receive a ramrod of the muzzle loading rifle into the casing; (iii) a retaining means for retaining the casing within the opening, the retaining means mounted on the handle with at least a portion of the retaining means mounted inside the opening, and (iv) a coil spring mounted in the opening inside the handle between the portion of the retaining means mounted in the opening and the head of the casing, wherein when the ramrod is used to force the projectile onto powder in the barrel at the breech end, the casing is moved towards the portion of retaining means against the coil spring to pressure the projectile against the powder wherein the casing is a rimless casing with an extraction groove which engages a detent mounted through the handle into the opening when the casing is pushed back against the spring by the ramrod to provide an audible sound indicating that a predetermined pressure of the projectile on the powder in the barrel has been achieved;

(b) seating a projectile in the barrel of a muzzle loading firearm; and

(c) inserting the projectile into the barrel with one end of a ramrod by placing the opposite end of the ramrod into the cylindrical opening against the casing.

13. A method for loading a barrel of a muzzle loading firearm to provide powder and a projectile at a breech end of the barrel, which comprises the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus for loading a barrel of a muzzle loading firearm comprised of: (i) a handle having a central longitudinal axis and adapted to be gripped by one hand, the handle having opposed, flanged ends, wherein the handle has a cylindrical opening between the flanged ends along the axis; (ii) a moveable casing having a head and mounted in the cylindrical opening adjacent one flanged end of the handle and adapted to receive a ramrod of the muzzle loading rifle into the casing; (iii) a retaining means for retaining the casing within the cylindrical opening, the retaining means mounted on the handle with at least a portion of the retaining means mounted inside the cylindrical opening, and (iv) a coil spring mounted in the cylindrical opening inside the handle between the portion of the retaining means mounted in the cylindrical opening and the head of the casing, wherein when the ramrod is used to force the projectile onto powder in the barrel at the breech end, the casing is moved towards the portion of the retaining means against the coil spring to pressure the projectile against the powder;

(b) seating a projectile in the barrel of a muzzle loading firearm; and

(c) inserting the projectile into the barrel with one end of a ramrod by placing the opposite end of the ramrod into the cylindrical opening against the casing wherein the casing is a rimless casing with an extraction groove which engages a detent mounted through the handle into the opening when the casing is pushed back against the spring by the ramrod to provide an audible sound indicating that a predetermined pressure of the projectile on the powder in the barrel has been achieved.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the retaining means comprises a starter for the projectile extending from one end of the handle, the starter is adapted to start a projectile in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the starter defines a pocket that is sized and shaped to receive a portion of the projectile to be seated in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the starter is securely held within the cylindrical opening by a securing means.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the cylindrical opening defines a keyed recess parallel to the axis partially extending along an internal surface of the handle and sized and shaped to receive a keyed boss extending along the starter for alignment and mounting of the starter in the handle, and wherein the keyed recess defines a stop to abut against the keyed boss of the starter to prevent further insertion of the starter into the cylindrical opening.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the detent comprises a spring loaded ball bearing mounted in a threaded member and mounted in a threaded opening perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the coil spring defines a predetermined tension adapted to receive pressure from the ramrod pressing against the casing until a desired pound of pressure is achieved in loading the projectile in the barrel of the muzzle loading firearm.