Abstract: A process for starting an engine in a cruise missile that is launched from an aircraft during flight, where the cruise missile is ejected from a weapons bay of the aircraft and towed using a tow line, where the cruise missile engine is started while being towed and then released after the engine has started. The tow line is a low radar signature line and the weapons bay door is closed quickly after the cruise missile has been ejected to reduce radar signatures.

Abstract: A gas block for a firearm that includes a body portion having a longitudinal axis; a barrel borehole, adapted to receive at least a portion of a barrel therethrough, extending through the body portion, along the longitudinal axis of the body portion; a gas tube extension portion having a longitudinal axis, wherein at least a portion of the gas tube extension portion extends beyond at least a portion of the body portion; a gas tube borehole extending through the gas tube extension portion, along the longitudinal axis of the gas tube extension portion, wherein the gas tube borehole is adapted to receive at least a portion of a gas tube therein; and a gas port disposed between the barrel borehole and the gas tube borehole, such that the barrel borehole is in fluid communication with the gas tube borehole.

Abstract: A rifle stock has a body defining a magazine well configured to closely and removably receive at least a portion of the magazine, the body including an actuation element proximate the magazine well, the magazine well being a passage defining an insertion axis, and the actuation element having an actuation surface portion angularly offset from the insertion axis, such that the cartridge retention element operably encounters and is moved by the actuation element upon insertion of the magazine. There may be a magazine having a body with an exterior profile sized to be closely and removably received in the magazine well, the body defining a central passage configured to receive a plurality of ammunition cartridges, the passage having an open upper end, a cartridge retention element attached to the body and movable between a first retention position, and a second released position.

Abstract: A revolver has a detent mechanism providing positive mechanical engagement between the cylinder yoke and the frame. A housing mounted on the frame has a spring biased plunger that transversely engages a pin. The pin projects from the housing and engages a recess on the yoke when the revolver cylinder is closed. The pin is biased into engagement with the recess by the plunger to maintain the revolver closed and the chambers of the cylinder in precise alignment with the barrel during firing. Manual force applied to the cylinder can overcome the biasing force and permit the revolver to be opened and closed.

Abstract: A bipod that allows for panning (i.e., via pivoting) of a firearm mounted on the bipod without repositioning one or both of the bipod leg feet. To this end, the bipod is configured for allowing a firearm attached thereto to be independently rotated about and perpendicular to an axis extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the barrel of the firearm. Advantageously, in many situations, this will allow the shooter to position the firearm in a preferred shooting position and to follow or acquiring a target with a sighting device of the firearm without having to reposition one or both of the bipod leg feet.

Abstract: An automatic or semi-automatic firearm including a trigger having a frame, at least one trigger sear extending from the frame, and a hammer having a hammer pivot axis, a head and at least one hammer sear disposed on a lateral side of the hammer between the hammer pivot axis and the head, wherein the frame includes a pivot axis and the at least one trigger sear includes a trigger sear surface, the at least one trigger sear extending from the frame such that the at least one trigger sear engages a corresponding one of the at least one hammer sear.

Abstract: A magazine assembly having an elongated housing with a channel dimensioned to contain a plurality of stacked ammunitions between a first and second end of the housing. A spring loaded follower is mounted within the housing channel and is adapted to abut against one end of the stacked ammunition adjacent the second end of the housing and urge the stacked ammunition towards the first end of the housing. A tactile indicator assembly is mounted to the housing which cooperates with the follower to indicate the position of the follower between the ends of the housing and thus the amount of ammunition remaining in the magazine.

Abstract: A firearm has a frame, a barrel assembly and a slide assembly which holds a recoil assembly. The slide and recoil assemblies are located above the barrel so that the barrel is situated between the topmost part of the frame and the bottom of the slide assembly. The barrel assembly includes a housing which is covered by the slide assembly and secures one side of the recoil assembly. The barrel assembly can be removably connected to the frame through front and rear mounts that may be secured using removable pins. The barrel assembly can modularly connect with the frame and slide assembly so that different caliber barrels can be interchanged with each other using the same frame and slide assembly. The firearm is operated by the firing system which includes the trigger assembly and linear striker assembly.

Abstract: A projectile launching device includes a primary tube having a primary passage for launching a projectile. In some embodiments, the projectile launching device further includes a secondary tube disposed about the primary tube and defining a secondary passage, and a flow apparatus in fluid communication with the secondary passage configured to move gas through the secondary passage. An opening is at the end of the secondary tube and is configured to allow gas to laminarly exit the secondary passage. In other embodiments, the projectile launching device further includes a flow apparatus in fluid communication with the primary passage configured to draw gas from the primary passage to provide at least a partial vacuum in the primary passage. The projectile launching device may provide increased range, accuracy, and velocity of the projectile, in addition to providing a reduced sound signature of the projectile launching device.

Abstract: A concussion device for creating a low level of smoke and a selectively tuned low-toned sound, the device including a structure having a cavity, the cavity having a top opening; a first energetic charge disposed in a bottom portion of the cavity; and a member removably secured to the structure within the cavity and partially overlying the first energetic charge.

Abstract: A method to attenuate the blast wave/blast overpressure from a weapon discharge by leaking an effective quantity of propellant gas from behind the projectile, into the precursor gas flow in front of the projectile, while the projectile is still in the weapon barrel—whereby the exit pressure ratio of the projectile from the weapon is surprisingly reduced by about 95%—resulting in a reduction of from about 51.6 to about 58.2% in the peak pressure level/sound wave which impacts the user or crew of the weapon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle variants. The magazine well attachment includes a well attachment body having a slit configured to slide over a trigger guard of a firearm during the assembly process. The attachment may include a front retainer for securing the magazine well attachment to a front portion of the magazine opening of the firearm. A magazine release latch shield may be added as a modification to the magazine well attachment.

Abstract: A bore cleaning projectile cleans a bore of a firearm as the projectile is propelled down the bore. The projectile includes a frame including a lower charge cap, a tapered cone-shaped center shaft portion, and an end cap. The projectile further includes a propellant providing a force to push the device down the bore of the firearm and at least one cleaning agent situated around the tapered cone-shaped center shaft portion. The center shaft portion includes a narrower diameter at a longitudinally forward portion of the center shaft portion and a wider diameter at a longitudinally rearward portion of the center shaft portion. The cleaning agent is forced to move along the center shaft portion toward the longitudinally rearward portion of the center shaft portion as the frame is propelled down the bore. This movement along the center shaft portion causes intimate contact between the cleaning agent and the bore.

Abstract: A drum-type magazine in which a cartridge loading space for being loaded with cartridges can be formed in a drum unit when rotating a cartridge guide unit by an operation of a cartridge loading unit, and the cartridge loading unit can be immediately returned to an initial position thereof, so a user can easily load the magazine with cartridges using a small force. The drum-type magazine is also configured such that, even when the magazine is repeatedly used over a lengthy period of time and the elasticity of a tension member is reduced, the elasticity of the tension member can be increased by rotating a tension control unit, so the magazine can be efficiently loaded with cartridges and can efficiently support the loaded cartridges.

Abstract: A bolt for a firearm having a rotatable head and carrier body has a twisted polygonal keyed interface between the head and carrier body. A neck extending rearward from the head presents the keyed interface with a corresponding bore within the carrier body. This construction reduces torque moments between the head and carrier body as compared to prior art bolts. Camming loads on the neck may be constructed with inverses to create space for tolerance and lubricant.

Abstract: An exploding foil initiator system comprises a substrate having a first side and a second side, an exploding foil initiator and surface mount pads. The exploding foil initiator is formed on the first side of the substrate and comprises a first contact, a second contact and a channel that electrically connects the first contact and the second contact. A first surface mount pad is formed on the second side of the substrate. As second surface mount pad is also formed on the second side of the substrate. A first via extends through the substrate to electrically connect the first contact with the first surface mount pad. Analogously, a second via extends through the substrate to electrically connect the second contact to the second surface mount pad.

Abstract: A pivot-axis, pin arrangement for rifle receivers can serve as a trigger or hammer pin therefor. A lower housing has a pair of sidewalls defining a gap and with a pair of bores spaced across the gap. The outer side of one sidewall has a slightly recessed channel which is elongated between spaced ends, at least one of which is rounded and centered on the axes of the spaced bores. The pivot axis pin has a cylindrical shaft and a T-slot head style head. The head has one portion forming an annular ring while the remaining portion is elongated to an end. In use, the pin is inserted through the bores, and is ‘simply supported’ by the ends thereof in the bores therefor. The head of the pin locks against rotation merely by settling in into at least one rounded end of the recessed channel.

Abstract: A bolt carrier with integral adjustable gas key for use with a firearm is provided. The adjustable gas key includes a base portion and a tube portion coupled to the base portion. An inlet passage extends through the tube portion and an outlet passage angled from the inlet passage exits through the base portion. The adjustable gas key includes an inner volume located at a junction of the inlet passage and the outlet passage. The adjustable gas key also includes an adjustment device operatively coupled to the adjustable gas key, wherein the adjustment device adjusts a size of the inner volume. The adjustable gas key is integral and unitary with a bolt carrier of the firearm, wherein adjustment of the size of the inner volume adjusts the force of action of the bolt carrier.

Abstract: Interchangeable choke tube for the shot load of smoothbore shotgun which causes to the shot load gradually initial tightening of progressive form, expansion and final retightening (7), featuring internally initial tightening of progressive form section (8) followed by expansion section (9) and which is followed by final retightening section (10), which achieves the improvement of the effectiveness of the shot as, first, the initial tightening of progressive form section (8) featured applies to the shot charge, as it passes through it, vertical lateral pressure which splits the aggregates of shot pellets and second, the expansion section (9) which follows causes ameliorative rearrangement of the shot pellets as they are deploying in a space with larger diameter and, in this way, and their smoother entrance into the final retightening section (10) with result the improvement of their distribution within their pattern, something that is not happening with the hitherto existing ones.

Abstract: A firearm 10 having a selectively movable slide portion 12 which includes at least one serrated radius or shoulder edge 14, 16 and which allows the firearm 10 to be selectively cycled by engaging the at least one serrated edge 14, 16 with a surface, such as table edge 32, thereby allowing for selective and relative movement between the frame 7 and the slide portion 12.