Abstract: A firearm (10) is provided which is light weight, safe and simple to operate. The firearm (10) comprises a bolt-barrel-receiver assembly (12), a grip assembly (14) and a magazine assembly (16). the bolt-barrel-receiver assembly (12) comprises a barrel assembly 41, a receiver assembly, (42) and a bolt assembly (44). The grip assembly (14) comprises a grip body (110) and a fire control assembly (112). Plastic is incorporated into the barrel assembly (41), the fire control assembly (112) and the grip body (110). The firearm (10) incorporates several safety features through a safety actuator (222) and a disconnect (148). These safety features include a surface (243) for blocking movement of a sear (120), a blocking surface (248) for blocking movement of the disconnect (148) and a hammer passage (246) allowing blocking of the hammer (118). Due to the design of the various assemblies, the firearm (10) is comparatively simple to disassemble for cleaning or repair.

Abstract: A fire control assembly (400) is provided with increased safety features. A set porch (470) is formed on a disconnect (404) to hold a firing window (416) of the disconnect (404) out of contact with a sear pin (412). A pin (458) engages a safety surface (460) on the disconnect (404) to hold the disconnect (404) in a direction (494) until the firing window (416) passes under the sear pin (412) and the sear pin (412) engages the set porch (470). Once the sear pin (412) is on the set porch (470), the trigger (402) must be pulled to engage the sear pin (412) with the firing window (416).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for orienting and loading a plurality of unoriented rim-fire cartridge into a magazine are provided. An orienter apparatus employs gravity to orient rim-fire cartridges by hanging a plurality of cartridges from a number of parallel rails. The orienter is repositioned to a second or vertical configuration so that gravity can be used to feed the columns of oriented cartridges through a chute. In another embodiment, a collector apparatus is used to pick up a plurality of cartridges and hold the cartridges in a holding portion. The orienter or collector operatively engages with a loader which employs a camming mechanism to move cartridges one at a time into a magazine. The cartridges are placed in a first angular relationship with respect to the magazine opening and are moved through the opening while changing the angular relationship of the cartridge with the magazine opening.

Abstract: A tool for rotating a barrel bushing or a spring plug, such as in a .45 pistol, is provided. The tool has a wide flange to prevent uncontrolled ejection of the freed plug and spring. The tool includes a recess for partially receiving the ejected plug. Studs are positioned to control the amount and/or direction of rotation of the bushing or plug.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for orienting and loading a plurality of unoriented rim-fire cartridges into a magazine are provided. An orienter apparatus employs gravity to orient rim-fire cartridges by hanging a plurality of cartridges from a number of parallel rails. The orienter is repositioned to a second or vertical configuration so that gravity can be used to feed the columns of oriented cartridges through a chute. The orienter operatively engages with a loader which employs a camming mechanism to move cartridges one at a time into a magazine. The cartridges are placed in a first angular relationship with respect to the magazine opening and are moved through the opening while changing the angular relationship of the cartridge with the magazine opening.