Abstract:
A breech plug having a cylindrical body with a nipple on one end for receipt of a percussion element, and a stem on the other end with a length of constant uniform diameter, and a flash bore that extends longitudinally through the nipple, cylindrical body, and the stem.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a breech plug and more particularly to a breech plug with an outwardly extending ignition stem.  
           [0002]    Breech plugs are well-known within the art for use with muzzleloading firearms. Generally, breech plugs are threadably received within the breech end of the barrel and have a nipple for receiving a percussion element. When struck, the explosive material within the percussion element is compressed between the shell of the percussion element and the nipple&#39;s anvil igniting a primary flash that is directed through a flash chamber in the breech plug to a flash port where the primary flash ignites a powder charge or propellant.  
           [0003]    Much effort has been directed to improving the ignition of the firearm through directing and controlling the primary flash. Advancements in the prior art have taught that ignition characteristics are improved if the primary flash occurs in a relatively large diameter flash chamber and is then focused into a small diameter flash port. One problem with these conventional breech plugs is that the plug limits the area of exposure at the base of the propellant that is exposed to the primary flash during ignition. This results in slower ignition, velocity and lock time, and the propellant burns unevenly within the barrel which also affects performance.  
           [0004]    Stems have been used in the past to ignite the propellant further within the breech end of the barrel. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 21,802 by Schenkl. These stems tend to limit the amount of propellant that surrounds them and do not adjust the diameter of the flash chamber and flash port to increase velocity.  
           [0005]    It is therefore a general objective of the present invention to provide an improved breech plug for a muzzleloading rifle.  
           [0006]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a breech plug that improves the ignition of the propellant.  
           [0007]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a breech plug that provides a more even burn of the propellant within the barrel.  
           [0008]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a breech plug that causes faster ignition, greater velocity, and increased lock time.  
           [0009]    These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the art.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    A breech plug for use with a muzzleloading firearm includes a nipple for receipt of a percussion element, a center cylindrical body adapted to be received within the breech end of the barrel of a muzzleloading loading firearm, a stem with a length and a constant uniform diameter, and a flash bore extending longitudinally through the nipple, cylindrical body and stem. The stem and the nipple are attached coaxially and longitudinally to opposite ends of the cylindrical body. The stem is adapted to fit within the barrel of the muzzleloading firearm such that a chamber is created between the stem, the cylindrical body, and the barrel. Additionally, the stem is adapted such that in use propellant powder may reside within the chamber around the stem and also beyond the distal end of the stem. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the breech plug of the present invention threadably mounted in the breech end of the barrel of a muzzleloading firearm.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the breech plug of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]    Referring to the drawings, the present invention is described in reference to a muzzleloading firearm by example only. It is contemplated that the improved breech plug can also be used in other firearms and apparatus.  
         [0014]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a preferred embodiment of a breech plug, generally indicated by the reference number  10 , which is adapted for use with a muzzleloading firearm. The breech plug  10  has a generally cylindrical body  12  with external threads  14  adapted to threadably attach to a barrel  16  with a breech end  18 , an axial bore  20 , and internal threads  22 . FIG. 1. The cylinder body  12  of breech plug  10  has a first or distal end  24  and a second or breech end  26 . The first end  24  has an attached nipple  28  extending outwardly from the first end  24 . The nipple  28  may be attached in any conventional manner to the body  12  including molded thereto. The nipple  28  is generally cylindrical in shape and is adapted to receive a percussion element  30  thereupon.  
         [0015]    The second end  26  has an attached stem  32  that is of generally uniform diameter and is coaxial to the cylindrical body  12 . The stem  32  may be attached in any conventional manner to the body  12  including molded thereto. The stem  32  has a length and an outside diameter that is less than the inner diameter  33  of the axial bore  20  of the barrel  16  such that an open generally cylindrical cavity  34  is formed as defined on a first side by the inner diameter  33  of the bore  20 , on a second side by the outside diameter of the stem  32 , and on a bottom end  36  as defined by the second end  26  of the cylindrical body  12  abutting the inside diameter of the bore  20  and the outside diameter of the stem  32 . Where the breech plug of the present invention is adapted for use within a conventional muzzleloading rifle, the axial length of the stem  32  is preferred to be 3.2 cm or 1¼ inches.  
         [0016]    The nipple  28 , the cylindrical body  12 , and the stem  32  are coaxial to each other and have a coaxial flash bore  38  of a certain diameter that runs therethrough. The flash bore  38  may be of generally constant diameter. Preferably, the flash bore  38  will be of a larger diameter at the nipple  28  and through the first end  24  and into the cylindrical body  12  and will transition to a smaller diameter within the stem  32 . FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the larger diameter  40  of the flash bore  38  with a transition portion  42  to a smaller diameter  44  within the stem  32 , all longitudinal and coaxial within the breech plug  10 .  
         [0017]    In use, the breech plug  10  is operably connected to the barrel  16  of a muzzleloading firearm by threadably attaching the plug within the breech end  18 , with the stem  32  residing within the barrel  16  and the nipple  28  residing outside the barrel  16 .  
         [0018]    A muzzleloading firearm is conventionally loaded by inserting propellant powder  46  and a ball  48  into the barrel  16  and ramming the powder  46  and ball  48  into the barrel  16  and against the breech plug  10 . In use, the breech plug of the present invention will permit powder to reside both within the cavity  34  and beyond the end of the stem  32 , with the ball  48  residing within the barrel  16  with a portion of powder  46  located between the ball  48  and the stem  32 .  
         [0019]    The muzzleloading firearm is further prepared by accessing the nipple  28  of the breech plug and applying a percussion element  30  thereto. Finally, the firearm is prepared for firing by cocking a firing pin, not shown, or a hammer element, not shown.  
         [0020]    Once the firearm is prepared, it is fired in a conventional manner by pulling a trigger, not shown, thereby causing a firing pin, not shown, to strike the percussion element  30 . The struck percussion element  30  produces a flame and hot gases, which travel through the flash bore  38  exiting the stem  32  and into the powder  46 , thereby igniting the powder  46 . Once ignited, the powder  46  will burn causing rapid expansion of hot gases that propel the ball  48  out of the barrel  12 .  
         [0021]    A conventional breech plug does not have a stem  32  and will ignite the powder at or near the end of the powder charge, which inefficiently burns the expanding and moving powder as the bullet is compelled down the barrel. In contrast, the breech plug of the present invention ignites the powder  46  in a central location or forward position which causes the powder  46  to burn forward toward the ball  48 , while simultaneously burning rearward toward the base of the cylindrical cavity  34 . Expansion from the ignited powder produce equal and opposite forces to those which propel the ball  48  down the barrel  16  to also compress against the powder  46  that resides within the cylindrical cavity  34 . The result is that the powder  26  burns in two opposite directions simultaneously, thereby compressing and efficiently burning the powder  46  within the barrel  16 .  
         [0022]    Accordingly, as can be seen from the preceding disclosure, the breech plug meets its objectives by providing a powder burn that results in greater efficiency, muzzle velocity, consistency of firing, and resulting greater accuracy.  
         [0023]    The foregoing description is set forth in a detailed manner, but it is to be understood that various modifications of detail, rearrangement, and multiplication of parts might be resorted to without departing from its spirit, essence, or scope.