U.S. patent application number 15/413672 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-11 for method of loading a sound suppressed muzzle loading firearm.
The applicant listed for this patent is SilencerCo, LLC. Invention is credited to Casey Brandol, Harrison Holden, Jonathon Shults.
Application Number | 20170131061 15/413672 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57147565 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170131061 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shults; Jonathon ; et
al. |
May 11, 2017 |
Method of Loading a Sound Suppressed Muzzle Loading Firearm
Abstract
A muzzle loading firearm has a sound suppressor mounted on the
barrel. Attachment of the suppressor to the barrel may be
permanent, as by welding, brazing and adhesive bonding. A guide
tube inserted into the suppressor is used to provide a continuous
path from the open end of the suppressor to the muzzle end of the
barrel to permit loading of propellant charge and projectile from
the muzzle end. The guide tube isolates the chambers of the
suppressor and prevents grains of the propellant charge from being
lost in the suppressor as they are poured into the barrel. The tube
also protects the internal components of the suppressor from damage
during loading with a ramrod.
Inventors: |
Shults; Jonathon; (Sandy,
UT) ; Holden; Harrison; (Sandy, UT) ; Brandol;
Casey; (West Jordan, UT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SilencerCo, LLC |
West Valley City |
UT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
57147565 |
Appl. No.: |
15/413672 |
Filed: |
January 24, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14695207 |
Apr 24, 2015 |
|
|
|
15413672 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41C 9/08 20130101; F41C
9/085 20130101; F41A 9/38 20130101; F41A 21/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41C 9/08 20060101
F41C009/08; F41A 9/38 20060101 F41A009/38; F41A 21/30 20060101
F41A021/30 |
Claims
1. A method of loading a muzzle loading firearm having a sound
suppressor attached to a muzzle end of a barrel, said method
comprising: positioning a guide tube within said sound suppressor,
said guide tube extending from an open end of said sound suppressor
to said muzzle end of said barrel; pouring a propellant charge
through said guide tube into said barrel; and transferring a
projectile through said guide tube into said barrel.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing
said guide tube from said sound suppressor.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein transferring said
projectile comprises ramming said projectile through said guide
tube and into said barrel.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transferring
a wad through said guide tube and into said barrel.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein transferring said wad
comprises ramming said wad through said guide tube and into said
barrel.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein positioning said guide
tube within said sound suppressor comprises fitting a portion of
said guide tube within said muzzle end of said barrel.
7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising positioning
said guide tube within said sound suppressor so that a portion of
said guide tube extends outwardly from said sound suppressor.
8. A kit for loading a muzzle loading firearm having a barrel with
a sound suppressor attached to a muzzle end thereof, said kit
including a guide tube removably positionable within said sound
suppressor and extending between an open end thereof to said muzzle
end of said barrel.
9. The kit according to claim 8, wherein said guide tube has a
length sized to extend from said muzzle end of said barrel and
project outwardly from said open end of said sound suppressor.
10. The kit according to claim 8, wherein at least a portion of
said guide tube has an outer diameter sized to fit within a bore of
said barrel.
11. The kit according to claim 8, wherein a funnel is positioned on
an end of said guide tube.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of and claims priority to
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/695,207, filed Apr. 24, 2015,
hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention concerns muzzle loading firearms.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Muzzle loading firearms, especially long guns such as
muskets and rifles, enjoy increasing popularity as sporting arms
for hunting and target shooting. Muzzle loaders, with their single
shot and slow burning black powder (or modern equivalents) present
exceptional challenges to prove the skill of marksmen on the target
range or in the field stalking game.
[0004] With the increasing popularity of muzzle loaders there comes
a concomitant increase in exposure of individuals to the noise of
discharge. There are various advantages to suppressing the
discharge noise of muzzle loading firearms, for example, to
mitigate hearing loss to shooters as well as to make shooting more
comfortable. This invention provides both a device and a method
that solves challenges inherent to adapting sound suppression
technology to traditional muzzle loading firearms.
SUMMARY
[0005] The invention concerns a method of loading a muzzle loading
firearm having a sound suppressor attached to a muzzle end of a
barrel. One example method comprises: [0006] positioning a guide
tube within the sound suppressor, the guide tube extending from an
open end of the sound suppressor to the muzzle end of the barrel;
[0007] pouring a propellant charge through the guide tube into the
barrel; and [0008] transferring a projectile through the guide tube
into the barrel.
[0009] By way of example the method further comprises removing the
guide tube from the sound suppressor. In a particular example,
transferring the projectile comprises ramming the projectile
through the guide tube and into the barrel. A further example
comprises transferring a wad through the guide tube and into the
barrel. By way of example, transferring the wad comprises ramming
the wad through the guide tube and into the barrel.
[0010] In a particular example, positioning the guide tube within
the sound suppressor comprises fitting a portion of the guide tube
within the muzzle end of the barrel. A further example comprises
positioning the guide tube within the sound suppressor so that a
portion of the guide tube extends outwardly from the sound
suppressor.
[0011] The invention further encompasses a kit for loading the
barrel. In a specific example embodiment, the kit includes a guide
tube removably positionable within the sound suppressor. The guide
tube extends between an open end of the sound suppressor to the
muzzle end of the barrel. In another example, the guide tube has a
length sized to extend from the muzzle end of the tube and project
outwardly from the open end of the sound suppressor. In a further
example embodiment, at least a portion of the guide tube has an
outer diameter sized to fit within a bore of the barrel. In a
particular example, a funnel is positioned on an end of the guide
tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of an example muzzle loading firearm
according to the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an example barrel
according to the invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a part of the firearm shown
in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIGS. 4 and 5 are isometric views illustrating an example
method of loading a muzzle loading firearm according to the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an
example method of loading a muzzle loading firearm according to the
invention; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating illustrating an example
method of loading a muzzle loading firearm according to the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIG. 1 shows a modern muzzle loading firearm 10, in this
example a long gun. Firearm 10 comprises a stock 12 including a
shoulder stock 14 and a fore stock 16 attached to a receiver 18. A
trigger assembly 20 is mounted on the stock, the trigger assembly
for discharging the firearm. A barrel 22 is also mounted on the
stock 12. Barrel 22 is shown in detail in FIG. 2 and comprises a
tube 24 having a bore 26 (which may be smooth or rifled), a muzzle
end 28 and an opposite end 30.
[0019] A sound suppressor 32 is attached to the muzzle end 28 of
tube 24. In this example the sound suppressor 32 comprises a
container 34 surrounding a plurality of baffles 36. Sound
suppressor 32 is attached to the muzzle end 28 of tube 24 via a
permanent attachment 38 between the container 34 and the tube 24.
Examples of permanent attachments 38 include welding, brazing and
adhesive bonding using, for example, an epoxy. It is understood
that other forms of attachment between the suppressor and the tube
are also feasible, such as a threaded attachment or a quick release
attachment.
[0020] In the example firearm shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 the receiver
18 breaks open to expose end 30 of tube 24. End 30 is closed by a
fitting 40, the fitting engaging tube 24 via matching screw threads
42. Fitting 40 has a well 44 adapted to receive a shock sensitive
primer charge 46, and a duct 48 communicating between the well and
the bore 26 of tube 24. Closed end 30 of tube 24 cooperates with
the trigger assembly 20 to discharge the firearm 10. As is well
understood, discharge of the firearm 10 occurs when the trigger
assembly 20 releases a cocked hammer or other striker (not shown)
that hits and ignites the primer charge 46, causing a flame front
to travel through the duct 48 and ignite a propellant charge 50
within the closed end 30 of tube 24. The burning propellant charge
50 produces hot expanding gases that propel a projectile 52, for
example, a sabot round, along the bore 26 of tube 24 and out of the
barrel 22. The baffles 36 of sound suppressor 32 dissipate the
energy of the gases as they exit barrel 22 and reduce the noise of
discharge. While this description addresses modern muzzle loading
firearms that have a receiver that breaks open to permit
replacement of the primer charge, the invention is applicable to
other types of muzzle loading firearms such as percussion cap and
flint lock systems, which may not have a receiver per se.
[0021] With the sound suppressor 32 attached to the muzzle end 28
of tube 24, additional measures are taken to ensure the proper
loading of the propellant charge 50 and the projectile 52. Loading
is accomplished using a guide tube 54, as shown in FIGS. 4-6. As
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, guide tube 54 is inserted into the sound
suppressor 32 prior to loading of the propellant charge and the
projectile. As shown in FIG. 6, the guide tube 54 isolates the
chambers 56 formed within the container 34 by the baffles 36 and
provides a continuous path from the open end 58 of the suppressor
to the muzzle end 28 of the barrel 22. The guide tube 54 thus
prevents a portion of the propellant charge from being "lost" in
one or more of the chambers 56 of the sound suppressor 32, thereby
ensuring that a full measure of the propellant charge reaches the
opposite end 30 of the tube 24 (see FIG. 2). Guide tube 54 also
protects the baffles 36 from damage which might occur when a
projectile is rammed home into the barrel 22 by a ramrod.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is advantageous to size the
length of the guide tube 54 so that it extends from the muzzle end
28 of the tube 24 and projects outwardly from the open end 58 of
the suppressor 32. Further advantage may be had by sizing the outer
diameter of the guide tube 54 so that it fits within the bore 26 of
tube 24. Additionally, it is feasible to flare the exposed end of
the guide tube to form a funnel 60 (shown in broken line) to
mitigate spillage of loose powder comprising the propellant charge.
With the guide tube 54 thus dimensioned it can serve as an
effective tool for loading a sound suppressed muzzle loading
firearm. It is advantageous to make guide tube 50 from plastic, and
metals are also feasible.
[0023] A method for loading a sound suppressed muzzle loading
firearm is illustrated in the flow chart of FIG. 7. At 62, the
guide tube is positioned within the sound suppressor. As shown in
FIGS. 4-6, the guide tube 54 is advantageously positioned so that
it extends from the open end 58 of the suppressor 32 to the muzzle
end 28 of tube 24. At 64 of FIG. 7, a measured propellant charge 50
is poured through the guide tube 54 and into barrel 22 (see also
FIG. 2). Next, as illustrated at 66, the projectile 52 is
transferred through the guide tube and into the barrel 22 (see also
FIG. 2). If the projectile is, for example, an oversized sabot
round, then it will be necessary to use a ramrod to drive the round
home. If the projectile is an undersized ball, then it is
appropriate to ram wads through the guide tube and into the barrel
before and after the projectile as indicated at 68 and 70 of FIG.
7, shown in broken line. Prior to discharge the guide tube is
removed (72) and the primer charge is positioned in fitting 40.
[0024] Suppressed muzzle loading firearms are expected to provide
advantageous shooting for both target sports and hunting by
providing a firearm that can be reliably charged with powder and
projectile using a kit including the guide tube according to the
example method disclosed herein.
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