Muzzle Loading Rifle with Breech Plug Having Gas Seal Facility

Abstract

A barrel for use with a muzzle loading firearm has an elongated sleeve with rifling along at least a portion of its inner surface. The sleeve has a muzzle end and a breach end. The breech end has internal threading and a smooth cylindrical section. A portion of the smooth cylindrical section is configured to deform a sealing element on a breech plug from an initial diameter to a smaller final diameter during insertion of the breech plug into the breech end of the sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrel for use in a muzzle loading firearm, the barrel comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having rifling along at least a portion of an inner surface of the sleeve, the portion having rifling including grooves and lands and defining a rifling diameter across the grooves of the rifling, the sleeve defining a muzzle end and a breech end and a longitudinal axis therethrough, the breech end having an internal threading and a smooth cylindrical section having a first diameter that is greater than the rifling diameter, the smooth cylindrical section being separated from the portion having rifling by an initial portion, the initial portion having a transition diameter being sized between the first diameter and the rifling diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The barrel of  claim 1 , wherein the initial portion comprises at least one section having a radially constant diameter that is sized between the first diameter and the rifling diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The barrel of  claim 1 , wherein the initial portion comprises at least one surface that forms an acute angle with the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The barrel of  claim 1 , wherein the initial portion is configured to deform a sealing element on a breech plug from an initial diameter to a final diameter smaller than the initial diameter during insertion of the breech plug into the breech end. 
     
     
         5 . The barrel of  claim 1 , wherein the initial portion comprises at least one tapered surface. 
     
     
         6 . The barrel of  claim 5 , wherein the initial portion comprises a forward surface that extends forward from the at least one tapered surface at an angle. 
     
     
         7 . The barrel of  claim 5 , wherein the forward surface has a forward diameter that is greater that the rifling diameter. 
     
     
         8 . A barrel for use in a muzzle loading firearm, the barrel comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having rifling along at least a portion of an inner surface of the sleeve, the portion having rifling including grooves and lands and defining a rifling diameter across the grooves of the rifling, the sleeve defining a muzzle end and a breech end and a longitudinal axis therethrough, the breech end having a breech chamber having an internal threading with a minor diameter that is greater than the rifling diameter, the internal threading being separated from the portion having rifling by an initial portion, the initial portion being configured to deform a sealing element on a breech plug from an initial diameter to a final diameter smaller than the initial diameter during insertion of a breech plug into the breech chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The barrel of  claim 8 , wherein the initial portion comprises at least one tapered surface. 
     
     
         10 . The barrel of  claim 9 , wherein the initial portion comprises a forward surface that extends forward from the at least one tapered surface at an angle. 
     
     
         11 . The barrel of  claim 9 , wherein the forward surface has a forward diameter that is greater that the rifling diameter.