In some embodiments, a firearm mechanism comprises a bolt carrier comprising a bolt carrier cavity, a buffer comprising a buffer cavity and a weight arranged to travel between the bolt carrier cavity and the buffer cavity. The buffer cavity comprises a damping mechanism comprising a reduction in a cross-sectional size of the buffer cavity. In some embodiments, the damping mechanism and weight comprise a valve arrangement arranged to pressurize the buffer cavity and damp kinetic energy carried by the weight.

A weapon which has a modular design. The weapon is subdivided into weapon-specific modular assemblies which are designed as carrier units of the components. The modular assemblies include a weapon housing into which a breech system of the weapon and a striking mechanism is provided, a weapon cradle that connects with the weapon housing, and a weapon barrel module. The modular assemblies are connected to each other by rails and guides, by binders and holders, by pins, or by bolts and quick release fasteners.

A forward assist that includes at least some of a plunger; a partially rotatable, spring biased pawl extending from a portion of the plunger; a projection extending from a first end of the plunger; and at least one head having a recess formed in at least a portion of the, wherein the head recess is mateable with the projection of the plunger, and wherein the head is secured to a first end of the plunger via interaction of the projection and the head recess.

A handgun subassembly includes a frame with a distal frame portion and a proximal frame end portion, where the frame has frame rails extending longitudinally along a top of the frame. A slide is displaceable along the frame rails between a recoil position and a battery position. The slide defines a catch surface adjacent a bottom portion of the slide. A forward assist assembly is disposed between the slide and the frame or grip module. The forward assist assembly provides a force on the slide in a distal direction when the slide is within a predetermined distance from the battery position.

A handgun subassembly includes a frame with a distal frame portion and a proximal frame end portion, where the frame has frame rails extending longitudinally along a top of the frame. A slide is displaceable along the frame rails between a recoil position and a battery position. The slide defines a catch surface adjacent a bottom portion of the slide. A forward assist assembly is disposed between the slide and the frame or grip module. The forward assist assembly provides a force on the slide in a distal direction when the slide is within a predetermined distance from the battery position.

A weapon which has a completely modular design. For this purpose, the weapon is subdivided into weapon-specific assemblies which are designed as carrier units of the components and/or of the modular assemblies of the weapon. A first assembly can be a modular weapon housing. Said weapon housing has a carrier unit into which a breech system of the weapon and its components are built. Another modular assembly is a weapon cradle. Into this modular assembly the weapon housing module with breech system is integrated. The weapon housing module can be complemented with the weapon barrel module. The components are connected to the modular assemblies and the modular assemblies to each other by means of rails and guides and complementary rails and guides for the assemblies, by binders and holders, by pins, bolts and quick release fasteners.

A forward assist assembly movable between a standby position and an engaged position in a forward assist bore of a firearm. The assembly includes a button and an single-piece pawl. The single-piece pawl includes an integrally-formed pivot boss supporting the pawl in the button for pivotal movement with respect to the button. The pivot boss also transfers a linear actuation force from the button to the pawl to move the assembly into the engaged position. The single-piece pawl also includes an integrally-formed finger having an engagement surface for engaging a ratchet tooth on the bolt carrier in the engaged position. The single-piece pawl also includes an integrally-formed retaining surface to retain the forward assist assembly in the standby position in the forward assist bore. The single-piece pawl also includes an integrally-formed stop surface to abut a portion of the button in the standby position. The forward assist assembly also includes a return spring for biasing the button and pawl toward the standby position. The single-piece pawl also includes an integrally-formed biasing member seat receiving an end of the return spring.

A firearm weapon loading system includes a handgun loading and cocking assistant device having a slidable alignment guide and a body holder. The slidable alignment guide is coupled with the body holder, and the handgun selectively engages the device when the magazine is ready to load into the handgun. The device is selectively positioned on the handgun to facilitate loading and cocking the handgun with one hand.

A weapon which has a completely modular design. For this purpose, the weapon is subdivided into weapon-specific assemblies which are designed as carrier units of the components and/or of the modular assemblies of the weapon. A first assembly can be a modular weapon housing. Said weapon housing has a carrier unit into which a breech system of the weapon and its components are built. Another modular assembly is a weapon cradle. Into this modular assembly the weapon housing module with breech system is integrated. The weapon housing module can be complemented with the weapon barrel module. The components are connected to the modular assemblies and the modular assemblies to each other by means of rails and guides and complementary rails and guides for the assemblies, by binders and holders, by pins, bolts and quick release fasteners.

For an externally powered weapon, in particular a machine weapon and a machine gun, having at least one barrel, a recoil intensifier at the front end of the barrel is proposed to intensify a weapon return of the returning masses of the weapon and to generate and intensify a signal for monitoring, in particular functionally monitoring, the weapon. The recoil intensifier is of a flared form. The signal intensified by the intensification is used for example for counting the number of shots fired, initiating an emergency stop function, etc. Depending on the further use, the mechanically intensified signal may be converted into an electrical signal.