# US 5,706,598 A · Muzzle loading gun and adaptor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,706,598 A - Document ID: US5706598A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/650,160 - Filed: 1996-05-20 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1996-05-20 - Inventors: Kenneth E. Johnston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5706598A ## CPC - F41C 9/08: Muzzle-loading smallarms; Smallarms with flintlock mechanisms; Accessories therefor - F41C: SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR ## Abstract An adaptor (10) which allows a standard cartridge firing action to be used with a black powder muzzle loading gun (100) is described. The adaptor includes an insert (12) and a nipple (16) and is configured to be inserted into the barrel (108) of the gun adjacent the receiver (104). In use, a standard rifle cartridge casing (150) with a wall (150A) and with a head (150B) at one end containing a primer (152) is loaded into the receiver of the gun. Next, the cartridge casing is moved into the end (108A) of the barrel such that the casing extends into the center bore (14) of the insert and the nipple extends into the inside of the casing. When the gun is fired, the firing pin (114A) contacts the primer which ignites the black powder (118) which expels the projectile (120) from the gun. The ignition of the primer causes the wall of the casing of the cartridge to expand. The casing expands such that the casing is force fit and tightly held in the center bore of the insert. The expansion of the wall of the casing prevents blow back from the explosion from escaping past the adaptor and into the receiver of the gun. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adaptor for use in a muzzle loading gun, having a receiver means mounting a barrel and a blocking means mounted on the receiver means for supporting a head of a cartridge during firing of the gun, the blocking means mounting a firing pin mechanism, the adaptor comprising: (a) an insert having a first end and a second end with an inside wall and an outside wall between the ends and a center bore defined by the inside wall extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the insert, the outside wall being configured to be inserted into the barrel in a sealed relationship to the barrel and adjacent the blocking means; and (b) a nipple provided in the bore of the insert adjacent the first end of the insert and having a center bore extending therethrough in communication with the bore of the insert and with an outside wall in spaced relationship to the inside wall of the insert such that a casing of the cartridge with a primer on a head of the casing can be mounted on the nipple and extend into the bore of the insert adjacent the inside wall of the insert such that the nipple extends into the casing adjacent to the primer and such that the blocking means engages the head of the casing of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer wherein during firing of the muzzle loading gun the firing pin mechanism engages the primer and produces ignition of powder in the bore of the insert through the bore in the nipple. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the outside wall of the insert has threads between the ends and wherein the barrel of the muzzle loading gun has threads adjacent the receiving means of the gun which engage the treads of the insert and act to hold the insert in the sealed relationship in the barrel of the gun. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adaptor of claim 2 wherein the first end of the insert is provided with a notch which allows the insert to be removed from the barrel of the gun. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the center bore of the insert includes a first section which mounts the cartridge casing, a second section adjacent the first section for mounting the nipple and a third section for holding powder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adaptor of claim 4 wherein the inside wall of the insert has mounting means on the second section of the center bore of the insert adjacent the first section for mounting the nipple. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adaptor of claim 5 wherein the nipple has a first section and a second section with the outside wall of the nipple at the second section having threads which engage threads of the second section of the center bore of the insert to mount the nipple in the insert. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The adaptor of claim 6 wherein the first section of the nipple is provided with a shoulder adjacent the second section of the nipple and wherein a diameter of the shoulder is greater than a diameter of the casing of the cartridge which prevents the cartridge from extending beyond the shoulder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adaptor of claim 7 wherein the distance between the shoulder and a first end of the nipple adjacent the first end of the insert is equal to a length of the casing of the cartridge such that when the cartridge is mounted over the nipple with the casing adjacent the shoulder of the nipple, the head of the casing of the cartridge is in contact with the first end of the nipple. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The adaptor of claim 4 wherein the third section of the center bore is funnel shaped such as to allow a projectile to be mounted adjacent the second end of the insert and prevent the projectile from extending into the second section of the center bore. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the nipple is separate from the insert and has a first end and a second end and is mounted in the center bore of the insert such that the first end of the nipple is adjacent the first end of the insert. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The adaptor of claim 10 wherein the nipple has a notch in the first end which allows the nipple to be removed from the insert. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The adaptor of claim 10 wherein the first end of the nipple is flush with the first end of the insert. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The adaptor of claim 10 wherein the center bore of the insert is coaxial with the center bore of the nipple and wherein the insert is coaxial with the nipple. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the cartridge casing is a standard 45 caliber automatic cartridge casing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The adaptor of claim 1 wherein the head of the casing of the cartridge has an opening and wherein a diameter of the center bore of the nipple is the same as a diameter of the opening in the head of the casing of the cartridge. ### Claim 16 An adaptor for use in a muzzle loading gun, having a receiver means mounting a barrel and a blocking means for supporting a head of a cartridge in the barrel during firing of the gun, the blocking means mounting a firing pin mechanism, the adaptor comprising: (a) an insert having a first end and a second end with an inside wall and an outside wall between the ends and a center bore defined by the inside wall therethrough extending along a longitudinal axis of the insert, the outside wall having threads between the ends of the insert, the center bore having a first section, a second section and a third section with the first section adjacent the first end of the insert and the third section adjacent the second end of the insert wherein the second section has threads adjacent the first section, the outside wall being configured to be inserted into the barrel in a sealed relationship to the barrel and adjacent the blocking means; and (b) a nipple mounted in the bore of the insert having a first end and a second end with an inside wall and an outside wall between the ends and a center bore defined by the inside wall extending therethrough, the nipple having a first section adjacent the first end and a second section adjacent the second end, the outside wall having threads at the second section, wherein the nipple is mounted in the second section of the center bore of the insert in sealed relationship with the inside wall of the insert such that the first end of the nipple is adjacent the first end of the insert such that a casing of the cartridge with a primer on a head of the casing can be mounted over the first end of the nipple extending into the center bore of the insert adjacent the inside wall such that the first end of the nipple is adjacent the primer and such that the blocking means engages the head of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer wherein during firing of the muzzle loading gun the firing pin mechanism engages the primer and produces ignition of powder in the bore of the insert through the bore in the nipple. ### Claim 17 In a muzzle loading gun having a receiver means mounting a barrel and having a blocking means for holding a head of a cartridge during firing of the gun and mounting a firing pin mechanism the improvement which comprises as part of the barrel: (a) a chamber provided in the barrel having a first end adjacent the receiver means and an opposed second end and an inside wall with a center bore defined by the inside wall extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the barrel; and (b) a nipple provided in the bore of the chamber adjacent the first end and having a center bore extending therethrough in communication with the bore of the chamber with an outside wall in spaced relationship to the inside wall of the chamber, the nipple configured to mount a casing of the cartridge with a primer so that the nipple extends into the bore of the chamber adjacent the inside wall and the nipple extends into the casing adjacent to the primer and such that the blocking means of the receiver means engages the head of the casing of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer, wherein during firing of the muzzle loading gun, the firing pin engages the primer and produces ignition of powder in the bore of the chamber through the bore in the nipple. ### Claim 18 A method for providing a muzzle loading gun, with a receiver means mounting a barrel and a blocking means which supports a head of a cartridge during firing of the gun, the blocking means mounting a firing pin mechanism, which comprises: mounting an adaptor in the barrel adjacent the receiver means, the adaptor comprising: an insert having a first end and a second end with an inside wall and an outside wall between the ends and a center bore defined by the inside wall extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the insert, the outside wall being configured to be inserted into the barrel in a sealed relationship to the barrel and adjacent the blocking means; and a nipple provided in the bore of the insert adjacent the first end of the insert and having a center bore extending therethrough in communication with the bore of the insert and with an outside wall in spaced relationship to the inside wall of the insert, wherein a casing of the cartridge can be inserted in the receiver means of the gun such that the blocking means is adjacent the head of the casing of the cartridge and wherein the blocking means can be moved toward the barrel of the gun with the casing of the cartridge mounted on the blocking means such that the casing of the cartridge is extended into the bore of the insert adjacent the inside wall such that the nipple extends into the casing adjacent to a primer on the casing and such that the blocking means engages the head of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer, wherein during firing of the muzzle loading gun the firing pin mechanism engages the primer and produces ignition of powder in the bore of the insert through the bore in the nipple. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the outside wall of the insert has threads which threadably engage threads provided in the barrel adjacent the receiver means of the gun for mounting the insert in the sealed relationship in the barrel of the gun. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the first end of the insert has a notch which allows the insert to be rotated for insertion and removal from the barrel of the gun. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the nipple has threads on the outside wall which engage threads on the inside wall of the insert and wherein the nipple is inserted in the center bore of the insert by rotating the nipple such that the threads on the nipple engage the threads of the insert. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein the nipple has opposed ends with a notch at one end which allows the nipple to be inserted into the center bore of the insert. ### Claim 23 A method for firing a muzzle loading gun, the gun having a receiver means mounting a barrel and having a blocking means for holding a head of a cartridge during firing of the gun and mounting a firing pin mechanism, the muzzle loading gun having as part of the barrel, a chamber provided in the barrel having a first end adjacent the receiver means and an opposed second end and an inside wall with a center bore defined by the inside wall extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the barrel; and a nipple provided in the bore of the chamber adjacent the first end and having a center bore extending therethrough in communication with the bore of the chamber with an outside wall in spaced relationship to the inside wall of the chamber, the nipple configured to mount a casing of the cartridge with a primer so that the nipple extends into the bore of the chamber adjacent the inside wall and the nipple extends into the casing adjacent to the primer and such that the blocking means of the receiver means engages the head of the casing of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer, wherein during firing of the muzzle loading gun the firing pin mechanism engages the primer and produces ignition of powder in the bore of the chamber through the bore in the nipple, the method which comprises: (a) inserting gun powder into an end of the barrel of the gun opposite the receiver means so that the powder is at the opposed end of the chamber; (b) inserting a projectile into the end of the barrel of the gun opposite the receiver means adjacent the powder; (c) inserting the casing of the cartridge with the primer on the head of the casing in the breech opening of the gun adjacent the blocking means; (d) moving the blocking means toward the barrel of the gun wherein the blocking means engages the head of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer and the casing is mounted on the nipple and extends into the bore of the chamber adjacent the inside wall so that the nipple extends into the casing adjacent to the primer; and (e) pulling a trigger of the gun such that the firing pin mechanism engages the primer and produces ignition of the powder through the bore in the nipple and causes an explosion which expels the projectile from the end of the barrel of the gun opposite the receiver means, wherein during the explosion, the casing of the cartridge expands such as to provide a sealed relationship with the inside wall of the center bore of the chamber. ### Claim 24 A method for firing a muzzle loading gun, with a receiver means for mounting the barrel and a blocking means for supporting a head of a cartridge in the barrel during firing of the gun, the blocking means mounting a firing pin mechanism, the method which comprises: (a) providing in the barrel and adjacent the receiver means, an insert having a first end and a second end with an inside wall and an outside wall between the ends and a bore defined by the inside wall extending therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the insert, the outside wall being configured to be inserted into the barrel in a sealed relationship to the barrel and adjacent the blocking means; a nipple provided in the bore of the insert adjacent the first end of the insert and having a bore extending therethrough in communication with the bore of the insert and with an outside wall in spaced relationship to the inside wall of the insert wherein a casing of the cartridge can be inserted in the receiver means of the gun such that the blocking means is adjacent the head of the casing of the cartridge and wherein the blocking means can be moved toward the barrel of the gun with the casing of the cartridge mounted on the blocking means such that the casing is extended into the bore of the insert adjacent the inside wall such that the nipple extends into the casing adjacent to a primer on the casing and such that the blocking means engages the head of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer, wherein during firing of the muzzle loading gun the firing pin mechanism engages the primer and produces ignition of powder in the bore of the insert through the bore in the nipple; (b) inserting gun powder into an end of the barrel of the gun opposite the receiver means so that the powder is at the opposed end of the insert; (c) inserting a projectile into the end of the barrel of the gun opposite the receiver means adjacent the powder; (d) inserting the casing of the cartridge with the primer on the head of the casing in the receiver means of the gun adjacent the blocking means; (e) moving the blocking means toward the barrel of the gun wherein the blocking means engages the head of the cartridge with the firing pin mechanism adjacent the primer and the casing is mounted on the nipple and extends into the bore of the insert adjacent the inside wall so that the nipple extends into the casing adjacent to the primer; and (f) pulling a trigger of the gun such that the firing pin mechanism engages the primer and produces ignition of the powder through the bore in the nipple and causes an explosion which expels the projectile from the end of the barrel of the gun opposite the receiver, wherein during the explosion, the casing of the cartridge expands such as to provide a sealed relationship with the inside wall of the bore of the insert.