Patent ID: 8132348

Claim:
An action breech assembly for a muzzle loaded rifle, said breech assembly comprising: a) a pivot block pinned to a barrel breech, said pivot block having fixed thereto a pivot pin and a plunger stop pin laterally offset from said pivot pin; b) a one-piece action housing including i) hook means for suspending said action housing on said pivot pin, said hook means having an opening on one side thereof; ii) a retractable thumb release assembly, said release assembly including a sliding arm partially closing said opening to maintain said one piece action housing suspended from said pivot pin; iii) a cocking plunger assembly slidably mounted in said one-piece action housing, said cocking plunger assembly having an aft action end, a hook engaged over said plunger stop pin; iv) a striker assembly reciprocally mounted in said one-piece housing, said striker assembly including α) a generally cylindrical striker element having a forward-facing shoulder engagable by said aft action end of said cocking plunger; β) a recess extending from an aft end of said generally cylindrical striker element through a significant portion of its length; γ) a main spring assembly extending into said recess and engaging a forward surface of said recess; c) a primer adapter angulated through said pivot block for seating a primer; whereby when said one-piece action housing is rotated about said pivot pin from an at rest position to an open, cocking position, the lateral offset between said pivot pin and said plunger stop pin causes said cocking plunger assembly to move said striker assembly rearwardly and uncovers said primer adapter providing access thereto.