Development History Of The Modern In-line Muzzle Loading Rifle

I recently visited the local Cabela’s store in Lacey, Washington near where I live and saw several hot new products in muzzle loading technology, including several new in-line muzzle loaders. Reading various sporting firearms magazines, I also have noted a few articles about modern examples of muzzle loading firearms that are so common now in sporting goods shops all over the country.

Given this popularity, I thought readers might like to know the history behind the development of the first modern looking in-line type of muzzle loading rifle. I have been a muzzle loading shooter and hunter for over 50 years. I became interested in muzzle loading for hunting and competitive shooting way back in 1950. My older brother Howard and I used to shoot several different model percussion cap firearms, both of pistol and rifle types.

He participated in some Civil War reenactments sponsored by the Multnomah Muzzle- Loading Rifle Club of Oregon. It was great fun to watch all those muzzle loading firearms and cannons in action with all that black powder smoke drifting across the battle field. Our home was near Olympia, Washington at the time. Howard, our younger brothers and I had built a 100 yard firing range complete with a nice bench rest where we would shoot all different types of rifles including the various muzzle loading types.

Firing those muzzle loading rifles hundreds of times using an excellent bench rest never produced a hundred yard group less than about four or five inches. That got me thinking. Was it the long arc eccentric hammer drop, 45 caliber in-line muzzle loading rifle designed by the author in 1963. Also shown is the three piece aluminum ramrod and its leather sheath used while hunting. At the range a wooden dowel is used instead. or perhaps the crude open sights that produced those large groups?

In June of 1950 the Korean War broke out. By August I was in the military for four long years. College on the GI Bill followed and then on to graduate school, so there were plenty of things to keep me occupied and financially broke until 1963. Howard asked me to attend another muzzle loading event in that year. I once again began thinking there must be a better design for a muzzle loader that would produce smaller groups on targets.

For weeks I started drawing different rifle designs, some of which became real firearms in later years, but that is another story. Finally, I settled on a modern in-line design where the hammer bolt traveled in a straight line to contact the percussion cap for igni-

tion. I then set about trying to get the rifle from the design stage to a shooting prototype. This straight in-line design was created to eliminate any eccentric arc motion and cut the hammer fall time, thus greatly improving accuracy down range. I was able to complete his process in the summer of 1963. First, I obtained a .45 caliber barrel blank from Numrich Gun Parts Corporation.

Using my design plans, I had a machinist friend of mine, Vance Colyar, machine the action part of the barrel and reduce the diameter of the blank forward of the action to reduce weight. I built the trigger guard, trigger block, trigger assembly, recessed bolt and bolt handle myself in my shop. Then, I inletted the barreled action into a walnut stock and installed a Lyman ramp front sight and a Lyman model 57 WJ rear peep sight. The rifle was now ready for test firing. The results were outstanding.

I could consistently shoot 100 yard groups less than three inches and groups of two inches or less were common using the bench rest and those peep sights. I never mounted a telescope on the rifle so I don’t know what those results would have been. I hunted every thing from coyotes to mule deer with that rifle and it still shoots just as good today. After the test firings and the great results I wanted to let people in the shooting fraternity know about this new in-line design for a muzzle loading rifle.

I wrote a detailed story about my rifle design and the results of the test firing and mailed it to American Rifleman magazine. The editors there were very interested, however, before they would publish the story they wanted me to ship the rifle to them so it could be examined. I believe safety was their main concern for any readers who may want to build one. So I packed up my rifle and shipped it to them. They wrote back saying they had studied the design, had tested the rifle and would publish my story.

They shipped the rifle back to me and in the June 1964 issue of the magazine my story appeared, entitled "A Modern Muzzle Loader." For over 25 years my in-line muzzle loader was the only one in existence. Then I noticed several new in-lines began hitting the market place. Now there are several new, varying designs on the theme. That’s OK. I know that I developed the very first one and it still shoots great.

I also drew up the design for similar in-lines and built in-line pistols, as well as several other types like under-hammer designs. But those are different stories. I should mention that test firing to produce such good results on target didn’t just come quickly. At first I was In the center is the author’s original in-line muzzle loader.

The upper rifle is an under hammer design and the pistol at bottom is an in-line .45 caliber. using round balls of about 140 grains and FFg black powder and could not improve much better than a three inch group. I then tried a series of conical bullets from about 200 grains to 450 grains of various design shapes. The slow twist of the barrel would not stabilize the very heavy slugs. I finally settled on a 245 grain lead conical bullet with three large lubricated grooves ahead of 75 grains of Pyrodex RS.

In addition, I found that for best accuracy it is essential to clean the barrel after each shot. Of course when you are hunting you don’t have to worry about this if you need another quick shot. Also, a consistency of loading procedure is very important. For instance, clean the barrel and dry after each cleaning. Pour in the powder charge. Push the bullet down on top of the charge with the same force each time.

Finally, tap the bullet on top of the charge with one rap of the ramrod, trying to do it the same each time. What you definitely do not want to do is leave an air space between the bullet and powder or have a loosely packed charge prior to ignition. The designer of the first modern looking in-line muzzle loading rifle is still alive and kicking. He is also still shooting that very first in-line muzzle loader. AG