Abstract: The present disclosure provides an ergonomic handguard that supports rail mounted weapon accessories in a variety of different orientations. The handguard includes sides and bottom surfaces that are ergonomic. The stem includes modular sections of picatinny rail that can be attached to various locations on the handguard as needed to provide a mounting structure for rail based weapon accessories.

Abstract: A breech assembly for a weapon may include a breech ring and a carrier fixed to a shaft. The shaft may be rotatably mounted to the breech ring. A breech block may be fixed to the carrier and insertable into and out of an opening in the breech ring by rotating the shaft. A notch may be formed in an end of the shaft. A lock may be translatably disposed in the breech ring and translatable into and out of the notch in the end of the shaft. Translation of the lock into the notch may rotatably lock the shaft with respect to the breech ring.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to launchers and launcher systems for discharging or launching payloads to downrange targets, and associated methods of using such launcher systems. This disclosure further provides methods for attenuating or reducing felt recoil such that relatively large weight payloads can be launched while the launcher is handheld or mounted in any manner. Examples of payloads that can be deployed with the disclosed launcher apparatus include chemical, biological, pyrotechnic, marker, tracer, signaling, non-lethal, anti-personnel, explosive, smoke, and similar payloads.

Abstract: A front sight assembly that can be mounted to a barrel and a gas block is disclosed. The front sight assembly has a barrel mount that allows the front sight assembly to pivot about the barrel. The front sight assembly also has a gas block mount that allows the user to pivot and set the front sight left or right to allow for windage. The front sight assembly may also have a front sight disposed over the gas block mount.

Abstract: An automatic machine gun capable of being quickly reconfigured to fire different calibers of ammunition. The elements necessary to reconfigure the weapon are all stored and contained within the stock of the weapon. The reconfiguration process does not require any external tools.

Abstract: A firearm handguard assembly attachable to a receiver of a barrel of a firearm is disclosed. The firearm handguard assembly includes a barrel nut member, a locking sleeve member, a firearm handguard member and a plurality of fasteners. The locking sleeve member is disposed within an axial passage formed by the barrel nut member. A plurality of radial passages of the locking sleeve member are aligned with a plurality of radial passages of the barrel nut member. The firearm handguard member is arranged about the barrel nut member and the locking sleeve member such that the barrel nut member and the locking sleeve member are arranged within an axial passage of the firearm handguard member. The plurality of fasteners join the firearm handguard member to the barrel nut member and the locking sleeve member.

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 reciprocating sensory sighting system with a movable cheek weld member is translationally received by a firearm frame which defines a firing chamber and a passageway from an ammunition supply to the chamber. The cheek weld member includes a body, and a frame engagement portion extending therefrom. The frame engagement portion translationally couples to the frame, reciprocating between charging and firing positions to move an ammunition round from the supply, through the passageway, and to the firing chamber. The body has an exterior surface defining a cheek seat for shooter engagement when in the firing position, and an optional rear sight. A reciprocating sensory system, with or without the reciprocating sighting system, is provided with a sensory assisting element supported by the body. A firearm having such a reciprocating cheek weld member and/or a reciprocating sensory system, are also provided, along with a retrofit charging handle system for a firearm.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating and locking a first longitudinal member with respect to a second longitudinal member. One end of the first longitudinal member includes a locking mechanism having a generally arcuate outer surface with a plurality of deep and shallow notches formed therein. The notches correspond to different positions of rotation of the first and second members. One end of the second longitudinal member includes a yoke rotatably connected to the locking mechanism with a pivot pin. A locking plunger in the second longitudinal member engages the notches in the locking mechanism and is translatable between fully locked and fully unlocked positions. In the fully locked position, the first and second members are not rotatable with respect to each other.

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 projectile package loaded in a firearm includes a projectile having a rod attached to its rear region. The rod is attached to a drag member or vanes having elastic properties. When fired, the projectile is expelled from the barrel of the firearm. Upon exiting the barrel and until the projectile reaches its effective range, reactionary air forces caused by the projectile traveling through the air result in the elastic vanes orienting themselves in a tight formation behind the rear region of the projectile. As a result, the vanes do not detrimentally affect the aerodynamics of the projectile's flight within the effective range of the projectile. However, once the effective range of the projectile has been exceeded, the slower velocity of the projectile causes the elastic vanes to laterally fan or spread out so as to impede the forward progress of the projectile.

Abstract: A system includes an incomplete cartridge for a firearm and a field-selectable capsule for the cartridge. The capsule contains a product that may tag a person for tracing, induce sleep, cause disease, or have other effects. Capsules are preferably removably adhered to a strip with each strip of capsules potentially serving a different purpose. The incomplete cartridge includes a bullet that has an opening at the payload end. The opening receives and retains a capsule upon insertion. The capsule is made of a frangible material that releases the product upon impact. The capsule may be formed with a snap-in ridge extending from its exterior wall, which snaps into a complementary recess in the bullet opening. Alternatively, the capsule may be coated with a contact adhesive so that it sticks to the bullet wall defining the opening. A peel-off covering atop the strip shields the contact adhesive from contamination.

Abstract: An indirect gas operating system for a semi-automatic or automatic rifle is provided, the indirect gas operating system having: a gas block secured to the rifle; a barrel secured to the rifle; a bolt carrier slidably received within a receiver of the rifle; a means for moving the bolt carrier within the receiver using gases discharged into a bore of the barrel of the rifle, wherein the means for moving is removably secured to the gas block such that the means for moving can be removed from the rifle through a forward end of the gas block without removing the gas block from the rifle; and an externally threaded barrel nut for securing the barrel to the receiver.

Abstract: A bolt carrier for use with the AR15/M16 family of firearms is provided. The bolt carrier includes an integrally formed carrier key and spherical strike face surrounded by a cylindrical counterbore made with a downward angle to act against the tilting force imparted by the operating rod of the firearm's gas operating system. The outer surface of the carrier includes upper and lower running rails that all extend fully to the front face of the carrier to lengthen the carrier's rail support or bearing surfaces against the receiver. To improve the robust operation of the firearm in over the beach operations, the bottom and rear of the receiver extension has drain holes formed through which water is forced out of the receiver extension by the reciprocating action of the bolt carrier when the weapon is fired.

Abstract: A Seebeck active cooling device for use in conjunction with a weapon to cool the barrel, in order to reduce its weight, to remove the need for a second barrel, and to prolong its useful life. In particular, the cooling device employs a plurality of thermoelectric devices that convert the energy from the heat produced by the hot barrel during the operation to an electric current. The electric current powers a series of electric fans, which in turn, cool the barrel.

Abstract: Provided is a barrel insert for use with a barrel containing a plurality of axially stacked projectiles. The barrel insert has a proximal and a distal end, the distal end adapted to engage a proximally disposed projectile disposed in the barrel. The barrel insert also defines an expansion volume for propellant gases for launching the proximally disposed projectile at a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: An adapter is described for use in attaching a shoulder stock to a handgun with a bottom opening handgrip recess. The adapter includes an upright member having upper and lower ends and a longitudinal slot to attach a stock. A lower arm extends forward from the upright member lower end, and a brace arm extends forward from the upright member upper end. A recess insert extends upwardly from the distal end of the lower arm. A latching member releasably secures the insert in the handgrip recess. Also described is a grip plate module to replace the grip plates on a handgun handgrip that does not include a recess. The module includes first and second replacement grip plates for attachment in place of the original grip plates, and a replacement grip plate connector extending between the replacement grip plates. The connector includes a bottom opening recess to receive an adapter insert.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an extension barrel, which comprises an outer tube and a dye coating module. The outer tube is provided at the rear end thereof with a connector portion adapted for connection to a front end of a pneumatic gun. The dye coating module is mounted within the outer tube, so that a bullet projected from the pneumatic gun is coated with dye having a desired color when passing through the dye coating module. As a result, the object hit by the bullet is stained with the color and can be easily identified.

Abstract: A magazine release assist tool is described comprising of a generally U-shaped clip having an integrated arm extension. The tool is used to assist in the release of a magazine from a firearm that is equipped with a magazine release blocking mechanism. The clip is removably secured to the lower receiver of a firearm and the arm extension is provided to form a resilient flat spring having a pivot at its proximate end and a push pin at its distal end. When attached to the firearm, a user can depress the flat spring such that the push pin will engage the magazine release button of the firearm allowing quick removal of the magazine.

Abstract: A firearm is provided that includes a receiver, a stock, an elongated barrel and a muzzle. The barrel extends from the receiver to the muzzle and has a rectangular internal bore extending from the receiver to the muzzle. The internal bore has two short sides and two long sides. A plurality of teeth extends along one of the short sides within the internal bore. A disk-shaped bullet fitting within the internal bore may be fired from the firearm. A bullet case having a rectangular orifice is provided to chamber the disk-shaped bullet for propulsion through the rectangular internal bore of the firearm.