Homemade breech plugs for Rossi .50 muzzleloader

[Snidely70431]

Above are a picture of some of the breech plugs for the Rossi .50 muzzleloader taken from the breech end. The two on the bottom row take the 209 primer. The one on the right is the factory plug. The one on the right I made.

On the top row are three plugs I made to take cartridges.
The one on the left takes a .223/5.56 cartridge cut off to 3/4 inch. It takes a small rifle or small pistol primer and head spaces on the front end of the cartridge.
The one in the center takes a .25 ACP cartridge. It takes a small rifle or small pistol primer and head spaces on the rim, which is about 20/1000 larger than the case.
The one on the right takes a .45 ACP cartridge. It takes a large pistol or large rifle primer and head spaces on the front end of the cartridge.

The main advantage of using cartridges as opposed to 209 primers is not having to worry about the flash hole. Each time a new cartridge is used, a new flash hole is used. Probably the most difficult part of the process of making home made breech plugs is drilling the flash hole. The drill is tiny and it is very easy to break it off.

These breech plugs are made out of 5/8-18 schedule 8 bolts. When I bought them I did so through Home Depot. I am not sure if they are still available.



This is a view of the breech plugs as seen from the inside of the barrel.

 

[noelf2]

Does the Rossi muzzleloader have some sort of transfer bar safety, or hammer block safety? With your plugs you are, basically, priming before loading. May not be a big deal, but that little flash hole is what makes loading before priming the safest bet (IMHO).

 

[Snidely70431]

Does the Rossi muzzleloader have some sort of transfer bar safety, or hammer block safety? With your plugs you are, basically, priming before loading. May not be a big deal, but that little flash hole is what makes loading before priming the safest bet (IMHO).

The Rossi has a transfer bar. The hammer does not directly contact the firing pin.

PS Every cartridge firearm, you are loading primer, propellant and projectile at the same time. I doubt you quibble about that.

 

[noelf2]

Well I'm not putting my hand over the muzzle of a gun when loading a cartridge into it, like I would with a muzzleloader. Not when reloading cartridges in a press either. If the Rossi is as you say, I'd be ok with that for me, personally. So are you just showing what you did, or are you thinking about production? Doesn't seem to be much interest.

 

[WestKentucky]

Not a great time of year for a post about inline muzzleloaders. I do think it’s really neat. Now, make one that takes a 45 colt cartridge, fill it with powder and comp in an overshot card. Ram down the bullet until it touches the end of the chamber, and you suddenly have something really worth messing around with.

 

[Snidely70431]

Well I'm not putting my hand over the muzzle of a gun when loading a cartridge into it, like I would with a muzzleloader. Not when reloading cartridges in a press either. If the Rossi is as you say, I'd be ok with that for me, personally. So are you just showing what you did, or are you thinking about production? Doesn't seem to be much interest.

https://www.eabco.net/Encore-Muzzle...g-Conversion-with-10-Empty-Cases_p_14679.html



This is the commercial version of the .25 ACP Breech Plug, but for the Encore muzzle loader. It was the inspiration for my experimentation with cartridge breech plugs. I made mine for the Rossi because I had mislaid my original breech plug, and no, I am not going to produce them to sell. Too much like work, and I would have no control over how they were used.

 

[Snidely70431]

Not a great time of year for a post about inline muzzleloaders. I do think it’s really neat. Now, make one that takes a 45 colt cartridge, fill it with powder and comp in an overshot card. Ram down the bullet until it touches the end of the chamber, and you suddenly have something really worth messing around with.

Actually, I have made breech plugs for using a lot of different cartridges in a lot of different inline muzzle loaders, including the .45 Long Colt. .38 Special, .38 S&W, .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, cut off .223/5.56, .44 Remington Magnum .


I'm a tinkerer more than I am a shooter, and I do not hunt at all, so it matters not what time of year it is. I got into muzzle loaders when Louisiana changed its hunting laws to make "primitive weapons" any single shot weapon of 35 caliber or greater, so a lot of hunters are using .35 Whelans , .444 Marlins, or 45-70's. As a result of that change I have been able to pick up nice rifles for next to nothing.

I particularly like the .41 and .44 Remington Magnums, because they are rated at 36,000 PSI and have large capacities, 36 and 37.9 grains of water, respectively. The 5.56 NATO is rated at over 62,000 PSI.