Magnetic breechface assembly for muzzleloading firearm

Abstract

Described are embodiments of a magnetic primer positioning, seating and sealing device and breechface assembly for a muzzleloading firearm. In one example, a primer positioning, seating and sealing device for a muzzleloading firearm includes an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve, and at least one magnet positioned in the inner sleeve. For instance, the at least one magnet can be embodied as a plurality of magnets positioned in a circumferentially spaced array around the inner sleeve. In another example, a primer positioning, seating and sealing device for a muzzleloading firearm includes an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve, and a magnet concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the inner sleeve. For instance, the magnet can be embodied as an annular-shaped magnet concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the inner sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A primer positioning, seating and sealing device for a muzzleloading firearm, the primer positioning, seating and sealing device comprising:
 an outer sleeve;   an inner sleeve concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve; and   at least one magnet positioned in the inner sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets positioned in a circumferentially spaced array around the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner sleeve comprises a stepped inner sleeve having a first bore segment and a second bore segment;   the first bore segment comprises a first opening at a first end of the inner sleeve and the second bore segment comprises a second opening at a second end of the inner sleeve; and   the first bore segment is configured to receive a bolt of the muzzleloading firearm by way of the first opening and the second bore segment is configured to receive a primer for the muzzleloading firearm by way of the second opening.   
     
     
         4 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner sleeve comprises a stepped inner sleeve having a first bore segment that is configured to receive a bolt of the muzzleloading firearm and a second bore segment that is adjacent the first bore segment and configured to receive a primer for the muzzleloading firearm; and   the at least one magnet is positioned in at least one of the first bore segment or the second bore segment.   
     
     
         5 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner sleeve comprises a stepped inner sleeve having a first bore segment that is configured to receive a bolt of the muzzleloading firearm and a second bore segment that is adjacent the first bore segment and configured to receive a primer for the muzzleloading firearm; and   the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets positioned in a circumferentially spaced array around the first bore segment.   
     
     
         6 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the inner sleeve comprises a stepped inner sleeve having a first bore segment that is configured to receive a bolt of the muzzleloading firearm and a second bore segment that is adjacent the first bore segment and configured to receive a primer for the muzzleloading firearm; and   the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets positioned in a circumferentially spaced array around the second bore segment.   
     
     
         7 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises a neodymium magnet. 
     
     
         8 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises a grade N52 neodymium magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets having axially aligned polarity. 
     
     
         10 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets having diametrically aligned polarity. 
     
     
         11 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating spring concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . The primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating spring concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and coupled to an end of the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . A muzzleloading firearm comprising the primer positioning, seating and sealing device of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A magnetic breechface assembly for a muzzleloading firearm comprising:
 an outer sleeve;   an inner sleeve concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve; and   a magnet concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the inner sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . The magnetic breechface assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the magnet comprises an annular-shaped magnet concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The magnetic breechface assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the inner sleeve comprises a stepped inner sleeve having a first bore segment and a second bore segment;   the first bore segment comprises a first opening at a first end of the inner sleeve and the second bore segment comprises a second opening at a second end of the inner sleeve;   the first bore segment is configured to receive a bolt of the muzzleloading firearm by way of the first opening and the second bore segment is configured to receive a primer for the muzzleloading firearm by way of the second opening; and   the magnet is concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the first bore segment at the first end of the inner sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . The magnetic breechface assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the magnet comprises at least one of a neodymium magnet or a grade N52 neodymium magnet. 
     
     
         18 . The magnetic breechface assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the magnet has an axially aligned polarity or a diametrically aligned polarity. 
     
     
         19 . The magnetic breechface assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising an actuating spring concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . A muzzleloading firearm comprising the magnetic breechface assembly of  claim 14 . 
     
     
         21 . A muzzleloading firearm comprising:
 a bolt having a bolt body and a bolt nose extending coaxially from the bolt body; and   a magnetic breechface assembly operatively coupled with the bolt and comprising an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve, and at least one magnet.   
     
     
         22 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises a plurality of magnets positioned in a circumferentially spaced array around the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         23 . The muzzleloading firearm of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one magnet comprises an annular-shaped magnet concentrically positioned within the outer sleeve and adjacent the inner sleeve. 
     
     
         24 . A method of retrofitting a muzzleloading firearm, the method comprising installing a magnetic breechface assembly in combination with a bolt of the muzzleloading firearm, the magnetic breechface assembly comprising at least one magnet for cooperatively positioning an ignition source relative to a breechplug of the muzzleloading firearm.