Conversion of modern shotguns into muzzleloading shotguns

A steel plug is inserted into a modern shotgun to convert it into a muzzleloading firearm. The plug is made for use as a breech plug in a single barrel shotgun without modifications to gun. The plug enables the shotgun to be used as a muzzle-loader with black powder and allows conversion of the gun back to its original condition by simply removing the breech plug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The shotgun converter is a plug that is designed to convert modern shotguns 
into muzzle loading firearms. The conversion can be done with ease and 
requires only a few minutes of time. The conversion allows the use of 
black powder in the converted shotgun and enables hunters to hunt 
throughout all hunting seasons in all states. The converter has only one 
removable part, is easily cleaned, safe to use, and easy to apply to 
modern shotguns.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to the drawings, the converter 32 is inserted in the chamber of 
shotgun barrel 35 to convert the shotgun into a muzzleloading firearm. The 
converter 32 has a large diameter rear portion conforming to the shape of 
the shotgun chamber and a reduced diameter portion extending forwardly 
from a shoulder 27 with the rear portion into the barrel bore. The 
converter 32 has a main bore 12 in the reduced diameter portion of 
receiving black powder 28 when the firearm is loaded as a muzzleloader and 
the forward end of the bore 12 is flared outwardly. The rear portion of 
the converter 32 has a tapered primer receiving bore 21 for receiving 
primer 26 and a counterbore 22 for the primer rim. The converter 32 has a 
small bore 18 between the primer bore 21 and main bore 12 to allow the 
flash from primer 26, when struck by the hammer 34 and firing pin 33, to 
communicate with the powder 28 in main bore 12 to ignite the muzzleloaded 
charge. The rear portion of the converter has an annular groove 16 for 
receiving an O-ring 5 as a sealing means between the converter 32 and the 
shotgun chamber. The converter 32 also has a tapered slot 24 to aid in the 
removal of primer 26 during loading and unloading of the muzzleloader, and 
a notch 25 in the tapered annular rim or shoulder 8 to allow the shotgun 
ejector to bypass the plug when the gun is opened. 
The converter 32 is made of mild steel and the rear portion conforms to the 
shape of the firearm chamber and when in place seals the chamber and 
converts the shotgun into a muzzleloading firearm. To convert the 
muzzleloader back to its original condition the converter 32 is simply 
removed.