Patent Publication Number: US-6336284-B1

Title: Sure shot muzzle loader

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to muzzle-loading firearms. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a tool for quickly inserting a bullet/powder charge to the correct depth in a muzzle-loading firearm. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A muzzle-loading firearm, as indicated by its name, is a type of firearm which is loaded through its barrel. To ensure accuracy in firing, it is very important that successive bullet (sabot, ball, etc.) and powder (black powder, PYRODEX, etc.) charges are inserted to the same depth in the firearm&#39;s barrel each time. A tool for performing this function quickly and accurately would be a welcome addition in the art. 
     There are many patents which disclose devices for assisting the loading of muzzle-loading firearms. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,050,175 (Mulinix), U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,858 (Dobbs), U.S. Pat. No. 4,536,983 (Fry), U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,517 (Mansfield), U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,125 (Curtis), U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,623 (Delap et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,303 (DeWeert et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,357 (Jones et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,380 (Jones), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,615 (Kearns) disclose starting devices for inserting a bullet/powder charge in the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm wherein the charge is further inserted to a firing depth by a ramrod. However, the instant patents fail to show structure on the devices for accurately determining that the initial charge and successive charges will be inserted to an optimum firing depth. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,327,515 (Kuryn) and European Patent number 0 282 438 A1 show respective devices for accurately determining the depth of a bullet/powder charge in a barrel. The devices however lack means for adjusting the depth determining feature to accommodate firearms which may require more or less depth for accurate firing. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,406 (French), U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,099 (Pace et al.); Austrian Patent number 143,673, and French Patent number 1,146,903 disclose ramrod structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,004 (Krantz) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,446,987 (Lee et al.) are concerned with the insertion of hollow-point bullets. The patents do not disclose structure to ensure optimum depth for successive loaded bullets. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to disclose a tool for loading and positioning a bullet/powder charge in a muzzle-loading firearm as will be subsequently described and claimed in the instant invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is an uncomplicated device to enhance the loading and proper positioning of a bullet/powder charge in the barrel of a muzzle-loading firearm. The invention is simplistic in that it consists of only three parts; a cylindrical casing, an adjustment rod and a locknut. When assembled, the three parts form an elongated tool. One end of the tool is used to insert a bullet into the barrel of a firearm. The other end of the tool is then employed in conjunction with a ramrod to ensure that the bullet: and powder are inserted to the optimum firing depth for the particular firearm. The tool is adjustable so that it may be utilized with other muzzle-loading firearms which may have different optimum firing depths. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a device to enhance loading of muzzle-loading firearms. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a device that ensures that successive bullet/powder charges are positioned at the same depth in the barrel of muzzle-loading firearms. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a device that has an adjustment feature such that the depth position of the bullet/powder charge may be varied to accommodate different types of muzzle-loading firearms. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a device to enhance loading of a muzzle-loading firearm, which device is simplistic in construction and easy to use. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a Sure Shot Muzzle Loader in the starter position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an environmental view of a Sure Shot Muzzle Loader in the tamping position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of the assembled Sure Shot Muzzle Loader according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of the adjustment rod of a Sure Shot Muzzle Loader according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the casing of a Sure Shot Muzzle Loader according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the locknut of a Sure Shot Muzzle Loader according to the present invention. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Attention is directed to FIGS. 3-6 of the illustrations wherein the device of the present invention is generally indicated at  10 . The device comprises a casing  12 , an adjustment rod  14 , and a locknut  16 . The device is shown in its assembled state in FIG.  3 . 
     Adjustment rod  14  (FIG. 4) is approximately seven inches long and has a first end formed with a one-quarter inch bore  14   a . Bore  14   a  has a sixty degree chamfer  14   b  at the end and extends approximately one-half of an inch into the rod. A second end of rod  14  has threads  14   c  disposed thereon. Threads  14   c  extend approximately four inches along the exterior surface of rod  14 . 
     Casing  12  (FIG. 5) has a cylindrical configuration and is fashioned with an internal stepped bore. Casing  12  has a one-inch diameter and a length of approximately four and one-half inches. The smaller diameter bore  12   a  is threaded to receive threads  14   c  of rod  14 . The larger diameter bore  12   b  has a diameter of one-half inch and extends approximately four inches into the casing. 
     As best seen in FIG. 6, locknut  16  has a one-inch diameter and is one-half of an inch wide. Locknut  16  is provided with a medium knurl and a threaded bore  16   a . The threads of bore  16   a  are adapted to receive threads  14   c  of rod  14 . A conventional set screw  16   b  is positioned on locknut  16  for reasons as will be explained below. 
     The device  10  is assembled and used as follows. The threaded end  14   c  of rod  14  is inserted (threaded) through locknut  16  and into bore  12   a  of casing  12 . The distance that rod  14  is threaded into bore  12   a  is pre-determined by the depth that a bullet/powder charge must be positioned in the barrel of a firearm as will be shown below. After the rod has been positioned in bore  12   a , screw  16   b  is tightened to fix rod  14  in the pre-determined position. 
     Attention is now directed to FIG. 1 which shows the device  10  utilized in its starter mode. A bullet  20  is partially inserted in bore  14   a . The device is then employed to initially push the bullet into the barrel  22  of a muzzle-loaded firearm. It is noted that the powder charge  26  (FIG. 2) is disposed in the barrel before the bullet is inserted. The device is not needed for the insertion of the powder. After bullet  20  is initially inserted in the barrel  22 , a ramrod  24  (FIG. 2) is inserted in the barrel. Device  10  is flipped over so that the larger bore  12   b  of casing  12  is positioned over end  24   a  of ramrod  24 . End  24   a  will be in abutment with the threaded end  14   c  of rod  14 . Device  10  (and consequently ramrod  24 ) is then pushed downwardly until casing  12  abuts barrel  22 . Since rod  14  has been pre-set based on the type of firearm, the bullet/powder charge will be positioned at the identical depth in the barrel upon each successive loading when using the device  10 . 
     If a different type of firearm is used, rod  14  can be adjusted to position the bullet/powder charge at the appropriate depth for accurate firing. The casing, adjustment rod and locknut can be fabricated from any durable and suitable materials such as plastic or metal. The dimensions of the device will allow it to be worn around the neck of a user for easy access if a cord or strap is attached to the device. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.