Abstract: A fiber optic sight for a gun is disclosed that allows for increased illumination to the shooter's eyes by the use of an angled cut at the forward end of the fiber optic rod. The angled cut is positioned on the underside of the rod, and the fiber optic rod is exposed to the ambient light through the exterior surface of the rod onto the angled cut. The angled cut may be polished or be provided with a reflective surface that may be applied to, bonded to or positioned adjacent to the angled cut. The ambient light is directed along the major axis of the fiber optic rod towards the shooter's eyes. A reflector may also be positioned against the angled cut to enhance the reflectivity down the major axis of the fiber optic rod. The illumination may be further increased through the positioning of a light source alongside the fiber optic rod, with the light being directed onto the angled cut, and along the major axis of the fiber optic rod.

Abstract: A firearm suppressor includes at least one baffle disposed within a cylindrical housing. The baffle includes a distal-facing conical baffle having a wider end and an opposing narrower end; and a proximal-facing conical baffle intersected by the distal-facing conical baffle such that the narrower end of the distal-facing conical baffle extends beyond a wider end of the proximal-facing baffle, wherein a central bore extends through both the distal-facing conical baffle and the proximal-facing conical baffle.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: A latch for mounting a suppressor to a firearm is disclosed that allows interfacing with and securely attaching to the weapon's flash hider without the need to use threads and the rotational movement commonly associated with attaching suppressors to a firearm. The latch consists of a primary latch and a secondary latch. The primary latch moves in a vertical plane, fits into the grooves on a standard flash hider, and is rotationally indexed to the flash hider when locked. The secondary latch attaches to the top of the primary latch, securing the primary latch when it is fully locked by pivoting around and downwards, and locking to the suppressor. The primary latch compensates for the considerable tolerance range of the outside diameter of the flash hider. The latch has minimal thermal coupling to the suppressor and engaging/disengaging the primary latch plate and the secondary latch can be accomplished with one hand.

Abstract: New and unique improvements of prior known fiber optic sights for firearms with day and night time capabilities are disclosed that comprise (A) a sight base, (B) a fiber optic rod mounted in said base having an angle cut at the distal end which is positioned on the underside of the rod, and (C) an artificial light insert that is positioned in a cavity in the fiber optic rod. The cavity is sealed with a fiber optic rod plug and epoxied using an optically clear epoxy. The sight provides increased light output, co-located day and night sight views with increased illumination during the day, and uses a low power tritium insert for night time use. At night the sight achieves a transition from a bright ring during the day to a small central dot at night while maintaining the same color light for both.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: Automatic and semi-automatic firearms of remarkably reduced mass yet capable of long-range accuracy because of unique recoil reduction are characterized by (A) a temporary combination of a barrel, an integral breech and a separable chamber that in operation of the firearm is moved by a compressed spring distally before and while a chambered cartridge is fired, (B) run-out of such temporary operative combination diminishes firearm recoil, (C) recoil of the temporary operative combination recompresses the spring and (D) the separable chamber is loaded with a round while spatially separated from the breech and barrel.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and covered by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: Gas-operated automatic and semi-automatic guns are improved by providing their barrels with unique exterior surface configurations to reduce the weight of their barrels while retaining the barrels' original stiffness and to cause the barrels to dissipate heat faster.

Abstract: Grenade launchers for attachment to gas-operated service rifles and carbines such as the M16 and M4 are improved by providing them with a trigger assembly that enables the shooter to deliver repeated hammer strikes to the primer of the loaded grenade without having to open the breach to reset the hammer and signals final aim indication via added trigger pull force.

Abstract: A projectileless ammunition system (20; 320) includes a metallic case (22; 322). A propellant charge (26; 326) is carried by the case and cover by an over-powder member (24; 324) in the absence of a separate projectile. The ammunition is advantageously used with an industrial ballistic tool operating so that each spent case serves as the effective projectile to be propelled by firing of the next round of ammunition.

Abstract: New and improved bolt assemblies for M4/M16 firearms capable of firing a remarkably greater number of rounds than previously available M4/M16 firearms are, disclosed that have right and left compression springs that are parallel to each other, straddle the firing pin bore and are retained in partial bores that have proximal and distal ramps descending from their open ends. Additionally, these bolt assemblies advantageously (A) have the extractor pivot pin receiving lug is positioned at the longitudinal center of the mass of the extractor, (B) walls of bolt lugs on the firearm bolt are angled tangent to full radius fillets joining adjacent bolt lugs, (C) the extractor contains a ceramic ball and a captive rubber spring to bias such ball against the extractor pivot pin to retain it in the receiving lug and (D) lugs on the barrel extension are angled tangent to substantial radius fillets joining them.

Abstract: Detachable ammunition magazines for firearms, particularly conversions of M16/M4 series rifles to utilize AK47 magazines, are provided with improved bolt catch actuators. These new bolt catch actuators have an elliptical opening though the upper end of the proximal wall that extends into the rectangular cross-section passage within the firearm magazine. A wire spring defined by an upper free-end and a lower fixed-end is cantilevered by its fixed-end to the right side plate of the magazine follower for movement with the follower in a manner that enables the free-end of such wire spring to project through the opening when the follower reaches its apogee. As the wire's free-end passes through the opening it engages the bolt catch of the firearm causing the bolt to be retained in its open position after all the ammunition in the magazine has been fired.

Abstract: New multifunctional muzzle attachments for firearms providing substantial improvement in shooting accuracy in comparison with prior known muzzle attachments are disclosed that simultaneously provide a combination of four different functions, namely, (1) compensate for gun rise (aka muzzle climb), (2) serve to reduce recoil (aka muzzle braking), (3) reduce flash around the muzzle when the firearm is fired (flash hiding) and (4) an interface for a suppressor. This is made possible by the unique combination of (a) a slotted baffle fixed in the distal end of the new cylindrical attachments and (b) a plurality of longitudinal narrow slots between the distal and proximal ends spaced apart around and through the peripheral cylindrical wall.

Abstract: Reduced propellant ammunition cartridges, particularly subsonic cartridges for clandestine use of weapons which normally fire supersonic projectiles, include a length of pliable tubing that has an outside diameter just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the cartridge neck portion that holds the projectile with such tubing having a length that allows it to snugly fit between the base of the cartridge case and the cartridge neck portion. Such a sized tube is inserted through the neck portion and then its distal end is expanded below the cartridge neck portion to be held captive in the cartridge case. The propellant charge is contained inside the pliable tube by the rear end portion of the casing at its distal end and the projectile at its proximal end.

Abstract: A firearm safety device for a magazine type firearm structured for insertion into the cavity opened in said firearm when the magazine of said firearm is removed has a lock base, a locking bar and a pair of locking rods. The lock base is formed of a first half and a second half fastened together defining therebetween a quadrilateral space and the locking bar is moveably retained in that quadrilateral space with its proximal end extending outside the lock base to enable it to be reciprocated relative to the lock base and the locking rods are moveably retained in the lock base to be moved by the distal end of the locking bar between a latching position to lock the safety device in the firearm cavity and an unlatching position to allow the safety device to be removed from such cavity.

Abstract: Cable and wire cutters of new design have an outside cutter member containing an arcuate cavity within which an inside cylinderical cutter member rotates about a common pivot axis so separate cutting slots in the outside and inside cutter members cross during the cutting operation within the circumference of the inside cutter thereby remarkably improving the mechanical advantage in these new cutters as compared to the prior art because cutting of the work piece occurs closer to the common pivot axis of the cutting slots than has been possible with prior known cable and wire cutters. A variety of specific embodiments of the new cutter design are disclosed.

Abstract: Improved rail adapter systems which enable firearms, including M16 type rifles and carbines, without any changes to the weapon except the handguard, to support accessory devices effectively even under combat conditions are provided via the invention by modification of the top semicylinderical part of the rifle's handguard attachment to include an elongated leaf spring arrangement in the front end and a unique rear clamp arrangement at the back end thereof so the leaf spring and rear clamp combination operate to compensate for thermal dimensional changes and combat abuse problems to maintain proper alignment of accessory devices attached to the weapon.