Abstract: A three component bullet with an improved core retention feature and a method of manufacturing the bullet includes a cylindrical jacket having an open end and a closed end containing a malleable metal core which is forced into a forming die having a bottleneck shaped interior, wherein the outside diameter of the open-ended forward portion of the jacket is smaller than the outside diameter of its closed rearward portion. The open end of the pre-form may be dropped through or forced through a malleable non-rigid locking band. A relatively tight-fitting punch enters the open end of the pre-form, to radially swell the core and subsequently portions of the jacket fore and aft of the non-rigid locking band, thereby securing the non-rigid locking band in place. An inwardly-extending annular band of jacket material embeds itself into the core material to lock the core inside the jacket.

Abstract: A bushing for securing a grip to a firearm that includes a housing made from a resilient material and an insert made from a material having a hardness greater than the resilient material of the housing. The housing has a top end, a bottom end, a housing bore extending from the top end to the bottom end, and a contact surface that is configured to engage an internal surface of a receiver of the firearm. The insert is sized and shaped to be received within the housing bore and includes an insert bore configured for engagement with a fastener. The housing is configured to undergo elastic deformation when compressed between the insert and the internal surface of the receiver as the fastener is tightened to draw the insert toward the internal surface of the receiver.

Abstract: An auto regulating gas system to automatically regulate the operating speed of an auto loading weapon having a gas operating system by restricting the gas flow from the firing of a projectile. A gas block attached to the barrel or the weapon redirects a volume of propellant gases to cycle the weapon, the gas block including a gas port for directing propellant gases received from the a gas port of the barrel into the gas system. A spring-loaded plunger assembly is positioned within the gas block, the plunger assembly including a regulator plunger having a reduced flow orifice, a regulator bushing, a regulator spring, and a regulator cap, wherein the position of the regulator plunger within the gas block automatically controls an amount of gas that is allowed to enter the gas system. A mechanical backup linkage assembly is attached to the gas block as a backup device for returning the regulator plunger to a forward position in the gas block when a muzzle device mounted on a muzzle of the firearm is removed.

Abstract: A three component bullet with an improved core retention feature and a method of manufacturing the bullet includes a cylindrical jacket having an open end and a closed end containing a malleable metal core which is forced into a forming die having a bottleneck shaped interior, wherein the outside diameter of the open-ended forward portion of the jacket is smaller than the outside diameter of its closed rearward portion. The open end of the pre-form may be dropped through or forced through a malleable non-rigid locking band. A relatively tight-fitting punch enters the open end of the pre-form, to radially swell the core and subsequently portions of the jacket fore and aft of the non-rigid locking band, thereby securing the non-rigid locking band in place. An inwardly-extending annular band of jacket material embeds itself into the core material to lock the core inside the jacket.

Abstract: A monolithic upper receiver/hand guard is provided for use with a firearm. The monolithic upper receiver/hand guard can include an upper receiver section, a hand guard section, and an interrupted optics rail extending along the top of the upper receiver section and the hand guard section. Cable routing features can be defined in the hand guard section and/or the upper receiver section for helping to control wires and cables extending from or between peripheral devices and accessories, which can be mounted on the monolithic upper receiver/hand guard. The cable routing features can include one or more crossover cable guides disposed in respective channels in the interrupted optics rail. The crossover cable guide can include one or more grooves for receiving a portion of a cable passing from one side of the monolithic upper receiver/hand guard to the other for connecting two peripheral devices, for example.

Abstract: A modular firearm comprising an adjustable modular buttstock assembly. The buttstock assembly can include a frame with a central opening. A comb assembly having a cheek piece and a butt plate assembly having a recoil pad each can be mounted to the frame by an adjustment apparatus. Each adjustment apparatus can include of a guide post and/or a threaded adjustment post each received in respective bores in the frame to adjust the positions of the cheek piece and recoil pad. The adjustment apparatus also can include a locking or engagement feature that can selectively increase the friction between the frame and the guide post and/or adjustment post, to help prevent the translation of the guide post and/or adjustment post in the bore in the frame to fix the comb assembly and butt plate assembly in desired positions with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A multiple projectile fixed cartridge includes a casing, a retention insert arranged in the casing, and a plurality of projectiles arranged proximate the retention insert. The retention insert is configured to align and support at least a first projectile of the plurality of projectiles, and the casing is configured to align and support a second projectile of the plurality of projectiles.

Abstract: A low-cost, reduced friction expanding bullet with an improved core retention feature and a method of manufacturing the bullet is described wherein a cylindrical jacket containing a compacted malleable metal core having an open end and a closed end is forced into a forming die having a bottleneck shaped interior resulting in a bottleneck shaped pre-form wherein the outside diameter of the open-ended forward portion of the jacket is smaller than the outside diameter of its closed rearward portion and wherein a transition shoulder separates the two diameters. The pre-form is then placed in a profile die wherein a base punch exerts an axial force against said pre-form which axially collapses a portion of the jacket wall forward of the transition shoulder subsequently forcing said portion of the jacket wall radially inwardly providing a reduction in bearing surface and forming an internal core-locking radius while at the same time forming an ogival bullet nose.

Abstract: A bolt assembly for a firearm such as an auto-loading or pump action shotgun includes a bolt body, bolt carrier and a bolt head. The bolt head is received within the bolt body and is rotatable within the bolt body to lock the bolt assembly into battery prior to firing the weapon, but does not extend from the bolt body during such rotation. The bolt carrier translates axially relative to the bolt body so as to cause rotation of the bolt head. The extractor for the firearm can be pivotally attached to the bolt body, while the ejector further can be integrated into the bolt assembly for engaging and ejecting a shell or cartridge after firing.

Abstract: A wad or basewad for ammunition includes an ignition chamber. The ignition chamber can be integrally formed with the payload wad, basewad, or battery cup or can be attached to the payload wad, basewad, or battery cup. The ignition chamber communicates with a primer of the ammunition to receive and contain the primer blast for at least an initial period of time. This facilitates faster initial ignition of the propellant of the ammunition, and consequently allows higher performance levels to be achieved. Other advantages regarding other applications of this invention include cleaner burning loads, greater economy, and lower perceived recoil.

Abstract: A primer for small arms ammunition including a primary explosive and an oxidizer system containing bismuth oxide is provided. A method of forming the primer and a small arms ammunition cartridge also is provided. The oxidizer system can be non-hygroscopic and non-toxic. The primer can include reducing agents or fuels, sensitizers, binders and gas producing agents.

Abstract: A quick-detach barrel mounting system for removing and attaching a barrel to a receiver of a firearm. The quick-detach barrel mounting system can include a barrel nut having a body defining an axial bore. A proximal end of the barrel is received at least partially through the axial bore, and the barrel nut releasably engages a front end of the receiver. A hand guard can be mounted to the receiver and can define a cutout proximate the receiver. The hand guard at least partially encloses at least a portion of the barrel and the barrel nut, and the cutout is at least partially aligned with the barrel nut. At least a portion of the barrel nut is accessible via the cutout of the hand guard for at least partially disengaging and engaging the barrel nut with the receiver when the hand guard is mounted on the receiver.

Abstract: An auto regulating gas system to automatically regulate the operating speed of an auto loading weapon having a gas operating system by restricting the gas flow from the firing of a projectile. A gas block attached to the barrel or the weapon redirects a volume of propellant gases to cycle the weapon, the gas block including a gas port for directing propellant gases received from the a gas port of the barrel into the gas system. A spring-loaded plunger assembly is positioned within the gas block, the plunger assembly including a regulator plunger having a reduced flow orifice, a regulator bushing, a regulator spring, and a regulator cap, wherein the position of the regulator plunger within the gas block automatically controls an amount of gas that is allowed to enter the gas system. A mechanical backup linkage assembly is attached to the gas block as a backup device for returning the regulator plunger to a forward position in the gas block when a muzzle device mounted on a muzzle of the firearm is removed.

Abstract: A gas system for an autoloading firearm wherein the gas used to cycle the weapon can be restricted automatically through a mechanical shutoff actuated by the installation of a suppressor on the weapon. The gas system could be used to actuate either a piston to mechanically operate the weapon or a gas impingement mechanism wherein the gas is redirected into the bolt carrier assembly to directly actuate the unlocking and cycling of the bolt and bolt carrier group. A gas block for the firearm includes a spring-loaded plunger assembly positioned within a bore of the gas block and oriented parallel to a bore of a barrel of the firearm, the plunger assembly including a regulator plunger, a regulator bushing, a regulator spring, and a regulator cap. Mounting a suppressor over the muzzle depresses the regulator plunger driving it rearward, the rearward movement of the regulator plunger blocking one of gas ports in the gas block to automatically reduce the volume of propellant gases directed into the gas system.

Abstract: A gas cutoff system for use with a gas-operated firearm. The gas cutoff system includes a gas block affixed to the barrel and having a plurality of openings adjacent the barrel for receiving gas redirected from the barrel of the firearm upon firing. At least one gas cylinder is disposed within the gas block and includes a piston disposed within and moveable along the gas cylinder. A valve assembly is disposed within the gas cylinder adjacent to the at least one piston. The valve assembly includes a selectively closeable valve that can be actuated upon firing of the firearm when the volume/pressure of gas entering the gas block through the plurality of openings overcomes a biasing force of a spring so as to actuate movement of the valve within the gas cylinder. A portion of the valve is moved to a location blocking the openings through which the gas is entering the gas block to prevent excess gas from entering the gas operating system.

Abstract: A three component bullet with an improved core retention feature and a method of manufacturing the bullet is described including a cylindrical jacket having an open end and a closed end containing a malleable metal core which is forced into a forming die having a bottleneck shaped interior resulting in a bottleneck shaped pre-form wherein the outside diameter of the open-ended forward portion of the jacket is smaller than the outside diameter of its closed rearward portion. The open end of the pre-form may be dropped through or forced through a malleable locking band of appropriate height, diameter and wall thickness.

Abstract: A gas operating system for a firearm renders the firearm capable of firing a wide range of shot loads by passively or automatically compensating for different shot loads. The firearm includes a plurality of ports formed in the firearm barrel, and corresponding ports formed in a gas block of the gas operating system. The ports tap gases generated during firing which are used to cycle the firearm. When firing different cartridge loads, differing combinations of the ports are selectively at least partially blocked or otherwise obstructed by the cartridge casing according to the size of the cartridge. Additionally, the gas operating system includes compensating gas pistons with internal relief valves that can bleed off excess gas to compensate for larger shot loads regardless of the size of the cartridge.

Abstract: A magazine cutoff device for a firearm with a tube-type magazine, such as, e.g., semi-automatic shotgun. The cutoff device may be moveably mounted to accommodate at least two positions, on and off. The user may activate the cutoff, pull the bolt to the rear, eject a chambered shell, and lock the bolt to the rear while retaining any shells in the magazine.