Stoppage-inducing ammunition cartridges have a case having a rear head surface, a circumferential extractor groove forward of the rear head surface, a body portion forward of the circumferential extractor groove defining a case axis perpendicular to the rear head surface, and a forward mouth, a primer received in the case, a propellant within the case, a bullet received in the forward mouth, and the circumferential extractor groove being defined in part by a rear extractor surface angularly disposed with respect to a plane perpendicular to the case axis, such that an extractor adapted to engage a groove surface perpendicular to the case axis will have limited effect at extracting the cartridge from a firearm chamber after discharge. The rear extractor surface may be a frustoconical surface. The rear extractor surface may be a tapered surface acutely angled with respect to the case axis.

A cap that is intended to obturate a duct for ejecting cartridges of a turret. This cap includes a circular base that is intended to allow it to be fastened to the duct, and a body shell having a spherical dome profile including a concave face and a convex face, the body shell being divided into at least four sectors by radial slits that are regularly distributed angularly, the sectors being contiguous pairwise. Another subject of the invention is a turret including a duct for ejecting cartridges equipped with such a cap.

A weapon for firing cased telescoped (CT) ammunition includes a barrel. a chamber cavity aligned with the barrel, and a translating chamber member defining a chamber for holding a CT round for firing. The chamber member moves between a firing position in the chamber cavity and an ejection/loading position for ejecting a spent CT round and receiving a next CT round. A breech member closes a rear end of the chamber. A carrier performs a counter-recoil operation in which (1) the chamber member is moved from the ejection/loading position to the firing position with the next CT round therein, and (2) the breech is urged into a closed position against the next CT round in the chamber to remove headspace before the next CT round is fired from the weapon.

A firearm for firing cased telescoped (CT) ammunition cartridges that includes a split chamber configured to fully support a CT cartridge when it is fired, and that includes i) a dynamic rear chamber portion defining a pocket in a face of a bolt, and ii) a static front chamber portion that is integral to the barrel and separate from the bolt. A cartridge extraction mechanism engages the CT cartridge prior to the CT cartridge being fired, and holds the CT cartridge in the pocket in the bolt face as the bolt moves rearward to pull the CT cartridge out of the static front chamber portion and into an ejection position. An ejector is operable to eject the CT cartridge from the pocket in the face of the bolt when the CT cartridge reaches the ejection position.

Stoppage-inducing ammunition cartridges have a case having a rear head surface, a circumferential extractor groove forward of the rear head surface, a body portion forward of the circumferential extractor groove defining a case axis perpendicular to the rear head surface, and a forward mouth, a primer received in the case, a propellant within the case, a bullet received in the forward mouth, and the circumferential extractor groove being defined in part by a rear extractor surface angularly disposed with respect to a plane perpendicular to the case axis, such that an extractor adapted to engage a groove surface perpendicular to the case axis will have limited effect at extracting the cartridge from a firearm chamber after discharge. The rear extractor surface may be a frustoconical surface. The rear extractor surface may be a tapered surface acutely angled with respect to the case axis.

A weapon for firing cased telescoped (CT) ammunition includes a barrel, a chamber member and a carrier assembly. The chamber member defines a chamber for a CT round for firing, and translates between a firing position aligned with the barrel and an ejection/loading position. The chamber member is spring-biased toward the firing position. The carrier assembly carries the firing pin and (1) performs a recoil in which a carrier and rammer move rearward from a battery position to bring the next CT round into a ramming position and to move the chamber member from the firing position to the ejection/loading position, and (2) performs a counter-recoil to return to the battery position and cause the rammer to push the next CT round into the chamber. The chamber member is released for biased return to the firing position for a next firing cycle.

A 5.56 mm class bolt for a firearm including a first ejector housing to receive, through a first ejector opening, a first ejector and a second ejector housing to receive, through a second ejector opening, a second ejector.

Stoppage-inducing ammunition cartridges have a case having a rear head surface, a circumferential extractor groove forward of the rear head surface, a body portion forward of the circumferential extractor groove defining a case axis perpendicular to the rear head surface, and a forward mouth, a primer received in the case, a propellent within the case, a bullet received in the forward mouth, and the circumferential extractor groove being defined in part by a rear extractor surface angularly disposed with respect to a plane perpendicular to the case axis, such that an extractor adapted to engage a groove surface perpendicular to the case axis will have limited effect at extracting the cartridge from a firearm chamber after discharge. The rear extractor surface may be a frustoconical surface. The rear extractor surface may be a tapered surface acutely angled with respect to the case axis.

Improved firearms including one or more of a removable and/or interchangeable top cover, an improved extractor mechanism, a striker safety mechanism with a direct trigger interface, a sear with direct striker interface, and/or a striker with integral striker spring retention features.

Improved firearms including one or more of a removable and/or interchangeable top cover, an improved extractor mechanism, a striker safety mechanism with a direct trigger interface, a sear with direct striker interface, and/or a striker with integral striker spring retention features.