Plug for a firearm

A firearm for propelling a projectile, comprising:

• a barrel defining a breech;
• a plug body slidable in said breech having a first end and a second end, said plug body defining a powder chamber adjacent said first end, an ignition counterbore in firing communication with said powder chamber, and an access counterbore adjacent said second end of said plug body;
• said firearm characterized by said plug body having a mechanical interlocking device in said access counterbore for receiving an axially generated force to facilitate removal of said plug body from said breech by sliding said plug body from said breech using the axially generated force.

A plug assembly for inserting in a breech of a muzzle-loaded firearm, comprising:

• a plug body having a first end, a second end, and a first inner surface, said plug body defining a powder chamber adjacent said first end, an ignition counterbore in firing communication with said powder chamber, and an access counterbore adjacent said second end of said plug body wherein said access counterbore is further defined by said first inner surface of said plug body;
• said assembly characterized by said first inner surface having threads to facilitate removal of said plug body from the breech of the muzzle-loaded firearm.

A method of removing a plug assembly from a breech of a firearm wherein the plug assembly comprises a plug body having a first end, a second end, and a first inner surface and the plug body defines a powder chamber adjacent the first end, an ignition counterbore in firing communication with the powder chamber, and an access counterbore adjacent the second end of the plug body, the plug body having a mechanical interlocking device in the access counterbore, said method comprising the steps of:

• interlocking the mechanical interlocking device with a tool;
• and
• pulling on the tool to slide the plug body from the breech after interlocking the mechanical interlocking device with the tool.