So there's a new concept in muzzleloading out on the market

[krispos42]

Federal Ammunition has teamed up with Traditions Firearms to introduce the "FireStick" muzzle-loading firearms using new system.

Basically, the rifle has a divided breech. The bullet (any regular .50-caliber muzzleloader) is loaded in the muzzle, as normal, but right near the breech end, the barrel constricts to seat the bullet. In other words, the bullet is seating on the steel of the barrel, not on the powder charge.

The powder charge is held in a FireStick. It looks like an all-plastic shotshell, and it holds a pre-measured amount of blackpowder substitute. It's waterproof, and there's a spot on the face of it to insert your preferred 209 primer cap. There are two "boom" levels, 100 grains of powder, or 120, and the FireSticks are color-coded.

The rifle is a break-action design, so after you've loaded a bullet in the muzzle, you break open the gun and insert a FireStick in the breech end. You can insert the primer before or after, as you wish. Then you close the gun up, cock it, aim, and shoot.

The difference is that you can easily remove the powder charge from the gun simply by breaking open the rifle and pulling out the FireStick, just like removing a shell from a break-action shotgun. Unloading is now super-easy, and doesn't require firing the gun.

You can also easily remove the bullet simply by tapping it out from the breech end.

The new system is suppose to be more accurate because the bullet seating is consistent and the powder charge is uniformly packed and measured.

So I think this is pretty cool. It's safer, because you can unload the gun easily when maneuvering around or over obstacles, climbing into tree stands, or getting into vehicles. You can also easily check to see if there's a FireStick in there, as well as a bullet. And of course it's easy to clean because the barrel doesn't have a closed end.

Here's links:

https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/federal-firestick-capsule-muzzleloading/371930
https://www.federalpremium.com/muzzleloading/firestick/

Federal is charging about $2.80 per FireStick, which seems reasonable. Bullets are about $1.87, primers are about $.10, so that's less than $5 a shot. They can't be reloaded, though... at least, not yet.

[Laelth]

1. What's that for?

Elephants? Moose? Buffalo?



-Laelth

[Abnredleg]

2. Mainly deer

Most states have a separate muzzle loading season

[Laelth]

3. Honestly, I really like that weapon.

You’ve got one shot. Then you have to reload, and if you miss with your first shot, your target escapes.

I wouldn’t mind issuing one of those to every adult citizen in the country if we could get rid of automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

I am getting warm fuzzies remembering Sheriff Andy Taylor issuing Deputy Fife just ONE bullet whenever he might be going into a dangerous situation (not that I think the police should be so constrained—only that the average Proud Boy probably should).

-Laelth

[flamin lib]

4. What you said!!!!

It meets the 'original intent' and 'textualism' so cherished by conservative interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. Who could argue against it? Certainly not the Contagious Amy Coney Barrett.

It complies with the macho sniper creed of 'one shot one kill' (also interpreted as 'aw shit, I'll try again tomorrow')

Yeah, I'm liking this a LOT.

[friendly_iconoclast]

8. Did you post that with a quill pen and/or hand-operated press?

[flamin lib]

5. If Alan Lanza had one of these. nt

[2naSalit]

6. Well...

That's great for innovation and all but if you are using a muzzleloader and you alter the breech situation by the manner described, that's quite a change to the original system and is then in need of a new descriptive term such as "hybrid". I like the cap and ball muzzleloaders for the primitive nature they enshrine, but I don't hunt so I can see some changes for improving the practicality. But I don't think you can call that primitive with those alterations.

[RotorHead]

9. There are several historical predecessors.

One example: https://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/134946060598/the-satoris-breechloading-system

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

7. As I read...

......18 U.S.C., § 921(A)(16) this is legally an "antique firearm".

"C. Any muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading shotgun, or muzzle loading pistol, which is designed to use black powder, or black powder substitute, and which cannot use fixed ammunition."

Looks like an excellent innovation.