Abstract: A multi-column box magazine for rimmed ammunition cartridges of varied lengths has an elongated housing with a neck portion where cartridges are arranged in a single column and a mouth at an upper feed end through which cartridges are inserted and extracted. In a multi-column portion, cartridges are arranged in laterally alternating columns, and in a transition portion the alternating columns are transitioned into the single column as the cartridges are moved toward the mouth within the housing. A follower is biased by a spring toward the mouth. The multi-column portion has a forward interior surface limiting forward movement position of cartridges, which varies depending on individual cartridge length, and the neck portion having a forwardly sloped rearward wall which confronts the cartridge rim and shifts the cartridge forward, as needed, as cartridges are moved upwardly within the housing to the mouth.

Abstract: A barrel nut assembly for use on a variety of firearms is provided. The assembly is made up of a barrel nut, generally cylindrical in shape with a threaded central bore, and an externally threaded locknut which is used in conjunction with the barrel nut to secure a barrel to a firearm upper receiver. The barrel nut has an integral bushing on its exterior constructed to support either the gas tube or piston of the host firearm's operating system. The barrel nut is configured so that it may be independently and non-rotationally held within a vice or other fixture during installation of the barrel and while the locknut is tightened to a preset torque to hold the barrel in place. The barrel nut assembly affords the user a method and apparatus that aligns a central bore in the bushing with the opening in the upper receiver that receives an operating system component of the firearm while the barrel nut is independent of the torque applied to the locknut to properly secure the barrel to the upper receiver.

Abstract: Trigger assemblies are provided for initiating the discharge of a firearm. The triggers assemblies include a first and a second lever mounted for rotation within a housing. The first lever is configured to be rotated by the user, and rotation of the first lever imparts rotation to the second lever to initiate the discharge of the firearm. The trigger assemblies have a safety mechanism that includes an interfering member configured to be positioned in proximity to the first and the second levers on a selective basis so that the interfering member simultaneously interferes with movement of both the first and the second levers, and thereby provides multiple points of interference that each prevent discharge of the firearm.

Abstract: A firearm component including a barrel having a bore extending to a generally circular aperture at a forward end of the barrel. The barrel has a series of compensator slots spaced at equal intervals along the bore. Each slot has an oblong cross section extending through the barrel from an interior surface to an exterior surface having a major axis and a minor axis. The cross section also has a length measured along the major axis and a width measured along the minor axis that is shorter than the length. The interval between each adjacent pair of slots in said series of compensator slots has a width greater than the width of each slot in the adjacent pair. At least a portion of the cross section extends below the central bore axis.

Abstract: Firearm handguard systems are disclosed, including rail alignment systems and anti-rotational firearm handguard systems. Also disclosed is a method of aligning a rail portion provided on an upper outer surface of a handguard using a handguard key that aligns the rail portion of the handguard with a rail portion of a firearm. Also disclosed is a firearm having a rail alignment system, and a handguard having a handguard key, wherein the handguard key is integrally formed with the handguard or is a modular handguard key configured to be removably attached to the handguard.

Abstract: A barrel assembly for use in a semiautomatic firearm, including a barrel and a takedown lever. A rear portion of the barrel includes a follower lug and a rear lug extending from an underside of the rear portion. A pin of the takedown lever includes a notch with a vertical face configured to contact a vertical face of the follower notch when the firearm is in the locked position. The rear lug is configured to be supported by a portion of a locking block of the firearm prior to firing and during a portion of the recoil period. A fitting pad extending downward from a rear lug of the barrel can be adjusted to provide a customized fit of the barrel to a frame of the firearm. The modifications to the barrel assembly result in increased dwell time and accuracy of the firearm.

Abstract: A firearm grip with selector switch lock includes a handgrip for engaging a firearm receiver having a selector switch. A switch engagement unit is positioned within the handgrip. The switch engagement unit including a motor, piston, spring and detent for selectively engaging the selector switch of the receiver to which the handgrip is located. An RFID interrogator is positioned within the handgrip and communicates with a portable RFID chip. Upon detecting the presence of the RFID chip, the switch engagement unit moves the piston to the retracted position for manual free operation of the selector switch. Upon detecting the RFID chip is not within the proximity of the handgrip, the switch engagement unit moves the piston to the extended/SAFE position. A replacement selector switch having a torque limiter is provided.

Abstract: Pistols with frame inserts have a frame having a grip, the frame having spaced apart upper sidewall portions having upper edges defining a slide interface plane, the upper sidewall portions being planar elements each having inner faces facing each other and exterior faces facing away from each other, each upper sidewall portion defining a side opening adjacent to the slide interface plane and having a perimeter spaced apart from the slide interface plane, a frame insert including pistol action components connected to the frame, and the frame insert having opposed insert sidewalls, each frame insert sidewall having a selected portion registered with and occupying a respective one of the side openings of the frame. The frame may define a cavity width between selected portions of the inner faces adjacent to the frame side openings, and wherein the frame insert has a width at the selected portion greater than the cavity width.

Abstract: A shroud may include a hood component, faceplate component, floorplate component and/or other fitments which may partially or completely cover or extend beyond certain constituents of a firearm. Each of the components and fitments may include various functional and/or aesthetic features that prevent a firearm's reciprocating mechanism from malfunctioning by being moved out-of-battery, not cycling completely or being fouled by debris. Additionally, the components, fitments, functions and features improve: the distribution of weight on a firearm, the ability to grip and operate a firearm, and the options for using a firearm, both in its traditional and new alternative ways, collectively to enhance a firearm operator's defensive and/or combative capabilities.

Abstract: A dry-fire magazine for use with a firearm is disclosed. The dry-fire magazine includes a controller and a plurality of sensors connected to the controller. The dry-fire magazine uses the plurality of sensors for collecting data associated with one or more operations of the firearm and thereafter the data is transmitted, using a communication unit embedded within the controller, to an end-point device such as a smartphone.

Abstract: A follower for an ammunition magazine comprises an elongated platform which has a spring anchor extending from an underside surface of the platform. The spring anchor comprises a hook-like appendage which defines a central transverse slot which leads to a catch portion from a restricted access portion. An opening is defined in the platform in general longitudinal alignment with a portion of the spring anchor. The follower spring has a mounting end portion. The follower spring passes through the access slot and is received in the catch for assembly to the platform.

Abstract: The speed drum is a storage container for spare ammunition for squad automatic weapons or machine guns. It is comprised of a bottom wall, front wall, back wall, side walls, side braces, connecting clips, and a flexible cord. Users can store, access, and replace ammunition single handedly, in a quick manner without removing both hands from their weapon. The side walls are curved, in the middle, to increase tension on the ammunition placed inside the speed drum and curved at the top, to reduce friction and snagging of the ammunition. Side braces secure the front wall and back walls. Connecting clips secure the device to equipment straps on the user's clothing or tactical vest. A flexible cord, attached to both the front wall and back wall, may be placed over the ammo drum inside the speed drum for additional stability and security until the spare ammunition drum is required.

Abstract: A rifle platform with semi-automatic, select fire, and/or fully automatic shooting options uses a pistol cartridge. The rifle barrel includes an extension having a ramp for loading the cartridges and having a key way for the shell extractor. The magazine of the rifle is mounted to the lower receiver so as to load the cartridges in a direction perpendicular to the rifle barrel. The magazine follower automatically locks the bolt after the last cartridge is fired. The bolt and bolt carrier are integrally machined, and fully enclose the cartridge to preclude out of battery firing.

Abstract: A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) deploys wire-tethered electrodes after generation of an ignition signal. The ignition signal is provided to a deployment unit. The deployment unit includes a primer material adjacent a conductor. The conductor conducts the ignition signal outside the primer material. A temperature of the conductor increases in response to receiving the ignition signal. The primer material ignites in response to the increase in temperature of the conductor.

Abstract: An automatic magazine ejection system is disclosed. The automatic magazine ejection system comprises a modified bolt catch, a release switch, and a pivotable magazine catch. The modified bolt catch pivots from a first position to a second position. When in the second position the bottom of an external part of the modified bolt catch moves toward the firearm. The release switch is connected to the modified bolt catch. The bottom of the release switch engages the end of the pivotable magazine catch to pivot the end of the magazine catch out of the magazine well and permit the automatic removal of the magazine. If the release switch is slid to an “off” position then the bottom of the release switch does not engage the pivotable magazine catch when it moves and the magazine is not removed from the magazine well.

Abstract: One embodiment of a gun configured with soft recoil system comprises a plurality of recoiling parts that initially moves in the direction of the projectile being fired before moving in a direction opposite to that of a projectile during the firing of the round. The soft recoil system throttles the movement of the recoiling parts such that the energy expended during the firing of the round is spread over a longer time period and a longer distance than would normally occur. The soft recoil system stores at least a portion of the energy transferred to the recoiling parts and the user may selectively release at least a part of that portion of energy to offset the energy imparted to the gun during the firing of the next round.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a firearm comprises a lower receiver, a bolt carrier, a buffer sleeve and a buffer. The lower receiver is arranged to support a hammer and an auto-sear. The bolt carrier comprises a body and a striker moveable with respect to the body between a first position and a second position. The buffer sleeve is arranged to contact the bolt carrier and to contact a buffer spring. The buffer sleeve defines an internal cavity and comprises open ends. The buffer is oriented in the internal cavity and extends through the buffer sleeve. The buffer is arranged to contact the striker and move the striker to the second position.

Abstract: An insensitive munition (IM) feature for a lightweight LW 30 MM ammunition projectile utilizing combustible vent plugs for the projectile, which plugs feature an exclusively nitrocellulose material sheet fused to a metal foil sheet, to plug vent holes in the projectile.

Abstract: Threaded metal inserts for polymer lower receivers and hybrid polymer lower receivers comprising one or more of such inserts, as well as kits and methods therefor are disclosed. A threaded metal insert has a substantially circular aperture configured with screw threads to releasably yet connectively interface with a separate traditionally threaded firearm component such as a buffer tube or a pistol grip screw. Inserts can be any overall shape so long as it can be integrally embedded within a traditionally threaded portion of a polymer lower receiver in a way that does not interfere with normal operation of an assembled firearm and leaves exposed the internal threading of the insert. Inserts can also comprise textural features on the exterior surface configured to permanently interface with and embed the an insert into molded polymer.

Abstract: A system includes a variable choke coupled to a barrel of a shot gun, and a mechanical mechanism coupled to the variable choke and configured to adjust an amount of choke constriction of the variable choke. The system further includes a motor coupled to the mechanical mechanism, and a control system configured to determine a desired size of a shot cone of shot fired from the shot gun, determine a choke constriction position of the variable choke that produces the identified size of the shot cone, and apply control signals to the motor to cause, via movement of the mechanical mechanism, automatic adjustment of the variable choke based on the determined choke constriction position of the variable choke.