Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a cam race for improving the longevity of an upper receiver of a direct gas operated firearm. The cam race provides a hardened slide face and a corner surface for a cam pin comprising a bolt carrier group of the firearm. The cam race is configured to be secured into a window disposed in the upper receiver. The window is surrounded by a counterbored area that receives a back plate of the cam race. The counterbored area and the thickness of the back plate cooperate such that the corner surface and the slide face are positioned to receive the cam pin during reciprocal movement of a bolt carrier group within the upper receiver. The cam race is retained in the upper receiver by fasteners that are tightened into threaded holes in the counterbored area.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a cartridge extractor to improve the longevity and safety of direct gas operated firearms. The extractor comprises an elongate body having a first end and a second end. The first end comprises a claw portion that grips a rim of an ammunition cartridge. The extractor includes a lug and an elongated rib that reinforce the claw portion. The second end comprises a biased portion that ensures that the rim of the cartridge casing remains within a notch comprising the claw portion until the cartridge casing is ejected from the firearm. A pivot portion is disposed between the first end and the second end. The pivot portion couples the extractor with a bolt and presses the claw portion into a forward recess of the bolt due to spring forces acting on the biased portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a ballistic shield system that enables a shooter to very accurately fire a handgun or a rifle while remaining well protected by the ballistic shield and looking through a bullet resistant viewing window comprising the ballistic shield. A high visibility green laser sight/high output white light illumination system may be mounted onto the firearm for aiming and illumination, with the firearm being precisely but removably mounted to the side of the shield at a location where the firearm's grip can be ergonomically grasped in the shooter's dominant hand, both for operating the firearm and for controlling the position and orientation of the ballistic shield for aiming purposes. An interface that enables the firearm to be precisely but removably mounted to the shield may comprise a quick-draw holster that is mounted directly onto the ballistic shield.

Abstract: As disclosed herein, the technology relates to firearms including a modular trigger mechanism designed with the capability to provide a practice pistol that accurately and realistically mimics various models of center fire pistols and firearms. In one embodiment, a trigger mechanism comprising a static sear, trigger, and sear bar. In another embodiment, the trigger mechanism provides the user of a practice pistol the realistic sense of a center fire pistol trigger in that its positional geometry, weight of pull, weight at break, and trigger position at disconnect reset point, will perform within a realistic range.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a gas regulator valve for adjusting cycle speeds of direct gas impingement operated firearms. The gas regulator valve comprises a gas inlet for receiving expanding gases from a fired cartridge and a gas tube for directing the expanding gases to a bolt carrier comprising a firearm. The gas inlet is disposed at the front of an upper receiver comprising the firearm. The gas tube directs the expanding gases into a carrier key of the bolt carrier. The gas regulator valve includes a plug for controlling gas flow through the gas tube. An actuator disposed on a side of the upper receiver enables operating the plug. The actuator enables a practitioner to adjust the flow of expanding gases without moving the firearm out of a shooting position. The actuator includes a key that may be turned by a rim of an ammunition cartridge.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a front plate having a diverging central bore for firearm sound suppressors that improves noise and flash characteristics during firing a weapon. The central bore is disposed between a back surface and a front surface of the front plate. An untapered portion of the central bore extends from the back surface to a diverging portion that opens toward the front surface. The diverging portion includes a curvature profile configured to allow for more controlled expansion of high-pressure propellant gases exiting of the suppressor through the central bore. The curvature profile provides an included angle of the central bore that decreases secondary flash events accompanying the expulsion of propellant gases accompanying a fired bullet exiting the suppressor through the central bore. The curvature profile exhibits a cross-sectional area of the central bore that is proportional to a distance along the diverging portion.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a virtual window may include a projector, which projects an image upon a projection surface. The projection surface can be arranged at a distance of separation from a user. The system can further comprise a plurality of sensors forming a field of detection with respect to an area of space encompassing the distance of separation between the projection surface and the user. The plurality of sensors can capture position data for the user representing a current position of the user within the field of detection. The system can also include at least one processor rendering a computer simulated environment as the projected image, wherein the at least one processor processes the captured position data such for the user such that the computer simulated environment is generated in a perspective relative to the current position of the user within the field of detection.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a front plate having a diverging central bore for firearm sound suppressors that improves noise and flash characteristics during firing a weapon. The central bore is disposed between a back surface and a front surface of the front plate. An untapered portion of the central bore extends from the back surface to a diverging portion that opens toward the front surface. The diverging portion includes a curvature profile configured to allow for more controlled expansion of high-pressure propellant gases exiting of the suppressor through the central bore. The curvature profile provides an included angle of the central bore that decreases secondary flash events accompanying the expulsion of propellant gases accompanying a fired bullet exiting the suppressor through the central bore. The curvature profile exhibits a cross-sectional area of the central bore that is proportional to a distance along the diverging portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a suppressor to be coupled with a muzzle end of a barrel of a firearm to reduce muzzle blast and muzzle flash. The suppressor comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. A front portion within the housing comprises a series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers for attenuating the temperature and energy of propellant gases accompanying a projectile fired from the firearm. An annular gas expansion chamber surrounds the cylindrical gas expansion chambers and directs a portion of the propellant gases from a rear portion of the suppressor to peripheral vents disposed at the distal end. Lateral chambers within the rear portion deflect and rebound a portion of the propellant gases before passing them into the annular gas expansion chamber. Ledges within the annular gas expansion chamber direct the propellant gases distally through suppressor toward the peripheral vents.

Abstract: A lighting device power control circuit configured to charge one or more capacitors through the pulsing of an inductor is provided. In one example, a lighting device includes a light source and a power control circuit. The power control circuit comprises an inductor, a power transistor configured to pass an operating current associated with the light source, and one or more capacitors configured to keep the power transistor turned on to pass the operating current. The one or more capacitors are configured to be periodically charged in response to a voltage spike generated across the inductor. Related methods and additional embodiments are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a suppressor to be coupled with a muzzle end of a barrel of a firearm to reduce muzzle blast and muzzle flash. The suppressor comprises a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. A front portion within the housing comprises a series of cylindrical gas expansion chambers for attenuating the temperature and energy of propellant gases accompanying a projectile fired from the firearm. An annular gas expansion chamber surrounds the cylindrical gas expansion chambers and directs a portion of the propellant gases from a rear portion of the suppressor to peripheral vents disposed at the distal end. Lateral chambers within the rear portion deflect and rebound a portion of the propellant gases before passing them into the annular gas expansion chamber. Ledges within the annular gas expansion chamber direct the propellant gases distally through suppressor toward the peripheral vents.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a holster, comprising a control component, wherein the holster is adapted to allow a user the option of drawing a weapon and an accessory attached to the weapon. Further disclosed herein is a holster, comprising a control component adapted to receive a handgun assembly comprising a handgun and a light accessory attached to the handgun, and further comprising one or more actuators, wherein the one or more actuators are capable of moving between a neutral position and an engaged position, as the handgun assembly is inserted into the holster, retained in the holster, or drawn from the holster. Also disclosed herein are methods of using the holster.

Abstract: A firearm suppressor with a recoil booster may be provided. In one example, the suppressor may include a housing, a back end member coupled to the housing, and a recoil booster coupled to the back end member. The recoil booster may be configured to couple to a firearm. The recoil booster may include a coil spring, a rear cap coupled to the back end member, and a piston configured to slide relative to the rear cap. The rear cap may include a main body at least partially disposed within the back end member and including a first bearing surface to receive a first end of the spring and a flange extending forward from the main body and maintained within an inner circumference of the spring. The piston may include a second bearing surface configured to receive a second end of the spring. Additional embodiments and related methods are provided.

Abstract: A rail mountable device may be provided that is configured to be secured firmly to a rail. In one example, the rail mountable device may include a rail clamp that includes a screw, a screw receptacle, a first ramp member coupled to the screw, and a second ramp member coupled to the screw receptacle and configured to move relative to the screw receptacle. Additionally, the rail mountable device may include a removeable battery pack with a battery indicator. Furthermore, the rail mountable device may include a plurality of switches disposed on either side of the rail mountable device. The switches may be coupled to a bracket and a mode of the rail mountable device may be operated through manipulation of the switches. Additional embodiments and related methods are provided.