Muzzleloading rifle with breech plug having primer seal facility
A firearm having a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, with the barrel having a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel and has a breech face. The barrel moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel and/or the breech plug's rear face. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel. The breech plug includes a central passage that communicates between the primer and the flash hole. The passage forms a primer pocket at the breech end of the breech plug. The primer pocket has a diameter greater than the central passage. A circumferential groove in the primer pocket receives an O-ring. The O-ring encompasses the primer's cylindrical exterior to create a seal.
1. A muzzle loading firearm comprising:
a barrel with a bore defining a bore axis, and having a muzzle end and a breech end;
a frame connected to the barrel, the barrel being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the frame;
a breech plug removably attached to the barrel;
the breech plug including a central passage aligned with the bore axis;
the passage having an aperture at the breech end;
a primer received by the aperture;
the aperture having an interior side wall defining a circumferential groove;
the groove receiving an O-ring; and
the O-ring encircles the primer, such that a portion of the primer is received within the O-ring.
2. The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the O-ring encompasses the primer's cylindrical exterior to create a gas seal.
3. The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the O-ring is selected from the group comprising a silicone elastomer and a metal gas ring.
4. The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the O-ring has an interior diameter of less than 0.300 inches and greater than 0.175 inches and a width of less than 0.100 inches and greater than 0.020 inches.
5. The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the breech end of the groove is located 0.080 inches from the breech end of the primer pocket.
6. The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the O-ring retains a primer within the aperture by closely fitting a portion of the primer's cylindrical exterior that extends beyond the primer's flange.
7. The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the aperture has a diameter, and the groove has an axial width nominally the diameter of the O-ring and a radial depth less than the diameter of the O-ring, which causes the O-ring to effectively decrease the diameter of the primer pocket where the O-ring bulges beyond the groove.
8. The firearm of claim 7 , wherein the O-ring effectively decreases the diameter of the aperture from 0.246 inches to 0.236 inches.
9. A breech plug for a muzzleloading firearm having a barrel with a bore defining a bore axis, and having a muzzle end and a breech end comprising:
a body including a central passage aligned with the bore axis;
the passage having an aperture at the breech end;
a primer received by the aperture;
the aperture having an interior side wall defining a circumferential groove; and
the groove receiving an O-ring; and
the O-ring encircles the primer, such that a portion of the primer is received within the O-ring.
10. The breech plug of claim 9 , wherein the O-ring encompasses the primer's cylindrical exterior to create a gas seal.
11. The breech plug of claim 9 , wherein the O-ring is selected from the group comprising a silicone elastomer and a metal gas ring.
12. The breech plug of claim 9 , wherein the O-ring has an interior diameter of less than 0.300 inches and greater than 0.175 inches and a width of less than 0.100 inches and greater than 0.020 inches.
13. The breech plug of claim 9 , wherein the breech end of the groove is located 0.080 inches from the breech end of the primer pocket.
14. The breech plug of claim 9 , wherein the O-ring retains a primer within the aperture by closely fitting a portion of the primer's cylindrical exterior that extends beyond the primer's flange.
15. The breech plug of claim 9 , wherein the aperture has a diameter, and the groove has an axial width nominally the diameter of the O-ring and a radial depth less than the diameter of the O-ring, which causes the O-ring to effectively decrease the diameter of the primer pocket where the O-ring bulges beyond the groove.
16. The breech plug of claim 15 , wherein the O-ring effectively decreases the diameter of the aperture from 0.246 inches to 0.236 inches.
17. A muzzle loading firearm comprising:
a barrel with a bore defining a bore axis, and having a muzzle end and a breech end;
a frame connected to the barrel, the barrel being movable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the frame;
a breech plug removably attached to the barrel;
the breech plug including a central passage aligned with the bore axis;
the passage having an aperture at the breech end;
a primer received by the aperture;
the aperture having an interior side wall defining a circumferential groove;
the groove receiving an O-ring;
a portion of the primer being received within the O-ring; and
wherein the primer has a forward end, and the forward end of the primer extends beyond the O-ring.
18. The breech plug of claim 1 , wherein the groove is circular.
19. The breech plug of claim 1 , wherein the groove is defined by a plane perpendicular to the bore axis.
20. The breech plug of claim 9 , wherein the primer has a forward end, and the forward end of the primer extends beyond the O-ring.