Propulsion systems, puncturing devices, and firearm barrel cleaners that use these components to propel cleaning and/or lubricating projectiles down the barrel of a firearm are disclosed, along with related methods of manufacture and use.

Herein we describe barrel-cleaning cartridges which can be loaded into a firearm and then fired to perform the task of cleaning the barrel of said firearm. The barrel-cleaning cartridges include a propellant, a flexible textile that assumes a general cup shape within the cartridge, and a particulate obturating media, some of which is encircled by the flexible textile. These components combine to form a good gas seal and to clean the barrel of a firearm, including elements of the barrel having variations in diameter. The obturating media comprises particles having an average particle size greater than 212 microns, and an average specific gravity greater than 1.1, and a hardness of less than 7 on the Mohs scale.

Herein we describe barrel-cleaning cartridges which can be loaded into a firearm and then fired to perform the task of cleaning the barrel of said firearm. The barrel-cleaning cartridges include a propellant, a flexible textile that assumes a general cup shape within the cartridge, and a particulate obturating media, some of which is encircled by the flexible textile. These components combine to form a good gas seal and to clean the barrel of a firearm, including elements of the barrel having variations in diameter. The obturating media comprises particles having an average particle size greater than 212 microns, and an average specific gravity greater than 1.1, and a hardness of less than 7 on the Mohs scale.

A ballistic barrel cleaning cartridge is provided. The ballistic barrel cleaning cartridge includes a casing including a casing recess. The casing recess is closed at a first end of the casing. The cartridge further includes a propellant disposed within the casing recess and an abrasive-binding agent composite slug constructed with an abrasive agent and a polymerized binding agent. The abrasive-binding agent composite slug is disposed within the casing recess at a second end of the casing. The abrasive-binding agent composite slug includes a bore forward recess configured for receiving a bore forward high-density weight and a retention lip configured for retaining the bore forward high-density weight within the bore forward recess. The cartridge further includes the bore forward high-density weight. Expansion of the propellant is operable to expel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug from the casing recess.

A ballistic barrel cleaning cartridge is provided. The ballistic barrel cleaning cartridge includes a casing including a casing recess. The casing recess is closed at a first end of the casing. The cartridge further includes a propellant disposed within the casing recess and an abrasive-binding agent composite slug constructed with an abrasive agent and a polymerized binding agent. The abrasive-binding agent composite slug is disposed within the casing recess at a second end of the casing. The abrasive-binding agent composite slug includes a bore forward recess configured for receiving a bore forward high-density weight and a retention lip configured for retaining the bore forward high-density weight within the bore forward recess. The cartridge further includes the bore forward high-density weight. Expansion of the propellant is operable to expel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug from the casing recess.

An apparatus including a ballistic barrel cleaning cartridge is provided. The apparatus includes a casing including a casing recess. The casing recess is closed at a first end of the casing. The apparatus further includes a propellant disposed within the casing recess and an abrasive-binding agent composite slug constructed with an abrasive agent and a polymerized binding agent. The abrasive-binding agent composite slug is disposed within the casing recess at a second end of the casing. Expansion of the propellant is operable to expel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug from the casing recess and propel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug down a bore of a firearm.

An apparatus including a ballistic barrel cleaning cartridge is provided. The apparatus includes a casing including a casing recess. The casing recess is closed at a first end of the casing. The apparatus further includes a propellant disposed within the casing recess and an abrasive-binding agent composite slug constructed with an abrasive agent and a polymerized binding agent. The abrasive-binding agent composite slug is disposed within the casing recess at a second end of the casing. Expansion of the propellant is operable to expel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug from the casing recess and propel the abrasive-binding agent composite slug down a bore of a firearm.

An apparatus comprising a bore cleaning device operable to clean a bore of a firearm is provided. The apparatus includes a cylindrical cleaning pad including a periphery portion including a radial outer surface of the cylindrical cleaning pad, a center portion including a remainder of the cylindrical cleaning pad contained radially within the periphery portion, and a compression expansion cut disposed in the center portion and extending from a first flat end of the cylindrical cleaning pad to a center of the cylindrical cleaning pad. The apparatus further includes a propellant located in a bore-rearward position of the cylindrical cleaning pad providing a force to push the cleaning pad down the bore of the firearm and a payload located in a bore-forward position of the cylindrical cleaning pad.

An apparatus comprising a bore cleaning device operable to clean a bore of a firearm is provided. The apparatus includes a cylindrical cleaning pad including a periphery portion including a radial outer surface of the cylindrical cleaning pad, a center portion including a remainder of the cylindrical cleaning pad contained radially within the periphery portion, and a compression expansion cut disposed in the center portion and extending from a first flat end of the cylindrical cleaning pad to a center of the cylindrical cleaning pad. The apparatus further includes a propellant located in a bore-rearward position of the cylindrical cleaning pad providing a force to push the cleaning pad down the bore of the firearm and a payload located in a bore-forward position of the cylindrical cleaning pad.

Muzzleloader systems include a pre-packaged propellant charge and primer for providing efficient loading and unloading of the muzzleloader. The muzzleloader accepts in the breech end the propellant containment vessel that abuts against a constriction portion with a reduced diameter portion. The propellant containment vessel having an end portion with a tapered surface that conforms to the constriction portion surface. A projectile is inserted in the muzzle end and seats against the constriction portion. The propellant containment vessel may be received in a removable breech plug. The constriction portion may be part of the breech plug or a separate component secured in the barrel by way of the breech plug. The containment vessel further comprises a primer mechanism that may be integrated into the proximal end of the containment vessel.