Abstract: An adapter for a QD socket is disclosed. The adapter has a connection post having a plurality of tabs movable relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration defines a maximum effective outer diameter of the connection post, and the second configuration defines a minimum effective outer diameter of the connection post. A method of modifying a quick disconnect attachment is also disclosed.

Abstract: The bolt hold-open system is a firearm bolt locking or holding mechanism for an AK-47 or similar firearm capable of automatically keeping the bolt of the firearm in an open position when the firearm magazine is empty. The bolt hold-open system includes a locking assembly and a modified magazine. The bolt hold-open system also provides a manual control for keeping the bolt in an open position and for releasing the bolt. The system prevents the bolt carrier from closing while there is an empty magazine in the gun, but can be easily activated to release the bolt when the magazine is removed or a non-empty magazine is in the magazine receiver. The system requires minimal modifications to the firearm and magazine and is easily adaptable to firearms similar to the AK-47 that fire ammunition in a wide range of calibers and configurations.

Abstract: A bullet resistant shield for electric power equipment constructed from standardized modular sections configured for easy erection in the field into walls and enclosures. The modular sections may be constructed at a factory and transported to the desired location where the sections are assembled together into walls and enclosures. The modules are sized for transportation by trucks over public roadway, rail, barge and so forth. Concrete foundations may be installed prior to arrival of the modular sections to ready the site for erection of the shied structure upon arrival of the modular sections. Unlike conventional bullet resistant enclosures, these sections provide adequate ventilation to avoid overheating of air-cooled electric power equipment, such as large substation transformers. One or more electric fans may be mounted in the section to provide forced air ventilation. The wall may be positioned to allow walk-up maintenance access without the use of doors.

Abstract: A paintball grenade that disperses a marking fluid upon impact. In one embodiment, the paintball grenade includes a flexible, resilient tube sealed at both ends. The tube includes a distended portion containing pressurized marking fluid and a side discharge port for discharging the marking fluid along a discharge axis that is approximately transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tube. A blocking member is disposed in the tube that is movable between a closed position that prevents fluid communication between the distended portion of the tube and the discharge port and an open position that allows fluid communication between the marking fluid and the discharge port. When the paintball grenade is thrown and impacts an object, this results in hydrostatic shock through the marking fluid, which moves the blocking member from the closed position to the open position, thereby discharging the marking fluid through the discharge port onto surrounding objects.

Abstract: A kit for use with a modular weapon having a barrel and having an upper receiver defining a gas port and a barrel opening. The kit comprises an upper receiver plate for attaching to the upper receiver, and a barrel plate. The weapon barrel passes though concentric openings in the upper receiver plate and the barrel plate and is secured in the opening within the barrel plate. Another opening in the barrel plate receives a primary gas tube such that a rearward segment of the primary gas tube extends rearwardly from that opening and a forward segment of the primary gas tube extends forwardly from that opening. A forward end of a gas tube extension couples to a rearward end of the primary gas tube and a rearward end of the gas tube extension is received within the gas port when the kit is in use with the modular rifle.

Abstract: A firearm with safety mechanism in one embodiment comprises a receiver, a trigger-actuated firing mechanism with movable trigger operable to discharge the firearm, and a safety mechanism configured to arrest the firing mechanism. The safety mechanism is movable between a first position preventing movement of the trigger and a second position allowing movement of the trigger for discharging the firearm. In one embodiment, an elongated stock bolt attaches a buttstock to the receiver. The stock bolt passes through a portion of the safety mechanism to engage the receiver. This allows an operating button of the safety to be ergonomically mounted on a top surface of the firearm above the stock bolt. In one implementation, the firing and safety mechanisms may each be operably mounted in a fire control module disposed in the receiver and removable therefrom as a separate self-supported unit.

Abstract: A suppressor for reducing muzzle blasts in firearms includes mounting apparatus with a rear end designed to mate with a firearm barrel. A blast cap includes aligning and joining features mating the blast cap with the mounting apparatus. A plurality of baffles each includes aligning and joining features mating one baffle with the blast cap and the remaining baffles to each other. Each baffle includes a plate having gas ports therethrough positioned within a cylindrically shaped sidewall. The gas ports are positioned intermediate a central aperture and an outer edge of the plate. An end cap includes aligning and joining features mating the end cap with the adjacent baffle. The mounting apparatus, the blast cap, the plurality of baffles, and the end cap are affixed together using the aligning and joining features to form a suppressor and each includes a central aperture longitudinally aligned with the firearm barrel.

Abstract: A follower for a firearm magazine is disclosed, with a platform that may support a cartridge and has a top surface defining a plane and a bottom surface. The front end may be coupled to a front portion of the platform and engage a spring and a magazine body. The interior surface of the front end may be substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the platform and form an obtuse angle with the plane of the platform. The rear end may be coupled to a rear portion of the platform and engage the spring and the magazine body. The interior surface of the rear end may be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the platform and form an acute angle with the plane of the platform. The front end may extend further below the platform than does the rear end.

Abstract: A firearm with barrel extension comprises a receiver, a barrel supported by the receiver that defines an ammunition shell chamber, and a rotatable locking bolt having radial bolt lugs. The bolt is carried by a slide disposed in the receiver for forward and rearward movement. A barrel extension is mounted on a rear end of the barrel which includes radial bolt locking lugs that rotatably engage the bolt lugs when the bolt is in a closed locked breech position in battery with the head of a chambered shell. The barrel extension includes a rear facing annular rim seating surface formed integrally on the barrel extension as a unitary structural part thereof. The rim seating surface extends radially inwards from an interior surface of the barrel extension to engage and support the rear rim of the chambered shell. The headspacing is defined entirely by the barrel extension independently of the barrel.

Abstract: One or more ram accelerator devices may be used to form one or more holes in geologic or other material. These holes may be used for drilling, tunnel boring, excavation, and so forth. The ram accelerator devices propel projectiles which are accelerated by combustion of one or more combustible gasses in a ram effect to reach velocities exceeding 500 meters per second. An endcap may be deployed within a tube of the ram accelerator device to prevent incursion of formation pressure products such as oil, water, mud, gas, and so forth into a guide tube of the ram accelerator. During operation the projectile penetrates the endcap and at least a portion thereof impact a working face. In some implementations a purge gas may be used to form a ullage between the endcap and the working face.

Abstract: A retro fit capable super & subsonic gas regulator assembly designed to interface with an auto-loading gas operated host firearm is provided to replace existing gas systems. The gas regulator assembly optimizes gas flow into the host firearm's operating system. The gas regulator has a spring actuated gas regulator and cross-pin including a flat that disengages with the gas regulator when the gas regulator is rotated to allow the gas flow to be set to one of a plurality of gas settings e.g., four. In embodiments, setting one is optimal for using supersonic ammunition with a silencer, setting two is optimal for using supersonic ammunition without a silencer, setting three is optimal for subsonic ammunition, and setting four turns the gas flow off optimizing sound reduction and providing for manual operation of the host firearm. The system works by precisely metering gas entering the operating system and not by exhausting excess gas into the atmosphere.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing subsonic ammunition articles from conventional supersonic ammunition articles are provided. The apparatus includes devices for controllably introducing a filler material to reduce the inner volume of a conventional supersonic ammunition article. Method are also provided for converting a conventional supersonic ammunition article to a subsonic ammunition article including defining a new subsonic propellant volume within said conventional supersonic ammunition article and controllably introducing a filler material therearound.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for firing a belt-fed closed-bolt firearm by delivering an impulse from an impulse source along a first axis to a firing pin on a second axis. The first axis and second axis are not coaxial, allowing the impulse source to be disposed away from and not in direct contact or alignment with the firing pin.

Abstract: Magazine floor plates have a tubular body defining an elongated passage and having a lower end and an upper end, a floor plate element connected to the lower end, a follower movable within the elongated passage, a spring within the passage having a first end contacting the floor plate element, and having an opposed second end contacting and biasing the follower toward the upper end of the body. Downward force exerted by the spring on the floor plate element retains the floor plate element in an installed position relative to the lower end of the body. The floor plate element may have a width narrower than the elongated passage. The floor plate element may be connected to the lower end of the body by rails on the lower end of the body. The floor plate element may have an upward protrusion.

Abstract: A quick-attach/quick-detach coupler assembly used for mounting a hand guard around a rifle barrel, allowing prompt barrel change. The coupler assembly has a generally cylindrical barrel nut with a plurality of external rail-mounting teeth centrally around its exterior circumference, interior threads for connection to the upper receiver of a rifle, and multiple fastener holes allowing set screws to contact a two-piece separable extension and provide anti-rotational engagement between it and the barrel nut. The barrel nut's interior threads also connect it to the extension. A tool configured as a hand guard fastener and stored/carried on the hand guard is easily accessed to tighten/release the set screws. The tool's handle may also be configured to engage notches on the extension's barrel end and facilitate its release from the barrel nut. The coupler assembly will mount almost every hand guard currently marketed to the upper receiver of the AR family of rifles.

Abstract: A method of autonomously tailoring a detonation delay time of a gun launched munition by utilizing target impact signatures including but not limited to a MOUT target set; earth and timber bunker, triple brick wall, double reinforced concrete, and light armor. While the present method is applicable to countless munition configurations, the projectile architecture used to develop the discrimination algorithm includes a tandem warhead configuration. Upon target impact the forward warhead detonates and pre-damages the target to allow the rear warhead to break through. Target impact data is used to set a detonation delay in the rear warhead providing increased performance behind the target.

Abstract: A bipod kit for a firearm has a bipod leg mounting body and a firearm structural component. The bipod leg mounting body has a substantially round central passage defining an interior side surface thereof and has two leg mounting structures on an exterior side surface thereof generally opposite the interior side surface. The firearm structural component can be mounted on the firearm at an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) mounting structure thereof. The firearm structural component includes a bipod mounting portion integral therewith. The bipod mounting portion is cylindrical and is rotatably mounted within the central passage of the bipod leg mounting body. The bipod mounting portion is configured such that a barrel of the firearm extends through a central passage thereof when the firearm structural component is mounted on the firearm at the OEM mounting structure thereof.

Abstract: This invention describes an ergonomic combination sight for small arms. According to one embodiment, the combination sight comprises a reflector sight mounted on top of a telescopic sight. A refracting wedge prism is included in the optical layout of the telescopic sight to tilt the viewing axis of the telescopic sight towards the viewing axis of the reflector sight. This feature provides better ergonomics since a shooter can aim through the reflector sight or the telescopic sight using the same head position.

Abstract: An ambidextrous rifle system, method and apparatus are provided. The rifle system may comprise a receiver configured to receive and carry a switch bolt system. The switch bolt system may comprise a first bolt and a second bolt. The first bolt may be configured for a right handed shooter. The second bolt may be configured for a left handed shooter. The first bolt and the second bolt may be moveable within the receiver between the battery and out of battery positions.

Abstract: A firearm flash hider can include a base module and at least one vented flash control module. The base module can have a longitudinal boreline which is fluidly coupleable to a muzzle end of a firearm to allow a projectile to pass therethrough. The base module can also have an inlet port which is operable to receive at least a portion of a flash generated by firing the projectile. The vented flash control module can be arranged along the longitudinal boreline distal to the muzzle end. The vented flash control module can also have a flash chamber bounded by at least one wall that at least partially defines a geometry of the flash chamber and extends both radially and longitudinally from the boreline and translates circumferentially as it extends longitudinally. The flash chamber terminates at a circumferential angle of rotation from the inlet port where the circumferential angle of rotation being less than 180 degrees.