An improved gas impingement system including an upper receiver incorporating a barrel. A gas block is secured to a forward location of the barrel and includes a rearward extending portion shrouding a forward portion of a gas tube connected to the gas block. The gas tube is in communication with a gas port defined in the gas block extending to an interior of the barrel. The gas tube extends rearwardly from the gas block and communicates at a rear end with a key of a bolt carrier positioned within a firing chamber of the upper receiver. Upon discharging a ballistic from a cartridge contained within the chamber, pressurized gas resulting from the discharge is diverted through the gas port, gas block, and gas tube to the key, causing the bolt carrier to move rearward, with the rearward extending portion of the gas block both structurally supporting the gas tube and externally sinking heat from the gas tube.

A suppressor shielding system suppressor shielding system having a heat shield element, a thermal barrier, a heat shield mount, and a mounting collar. In certain exemplary embodiments, the mounting collar is formed so as to be attached or coupled to a firearm handguard. Alternatively, the mounting collar is formed so as to be attached or coupled to a firearm barrel.

A heat dissipation assembly for use with a barrel forming a part of a firearm upper receiver. An annular shaped barrel nut is adapted to secure the barrel to the upper receiver. An elongated handguard is affixed to the barrel nut at a heat conducting location, the handguard adapted to surround a proximal extending portion of the barrel, the handguard having a plurality of apertures defined therethrough. At least one cooling element is located on an exterior of the handguard. A thermoelectric generator is incorporated into the handguard for transferring heat from the barrel nut to the cooling element. A fan component is integrated into the handguard and operated by the thermoelectric generator for drawing air through the apertures in order to provide additional cooling to the barrel.

A gun barrel assembly includes an outer barrel tube, an inner barrel liner, a barrel breech cap and a barrel muzzle cap. The barrel tube and the barrel liner each longitudinally extend from a muzzle end to a breech end, and have axial through bores, with the barrel liner being disposed within and coaxial with the barrel tube bore. The breech cap and the muzzle cap each longitudinally extend from a front end to a rear end and have through axial through bores. The breech cap is mounted to the barrel liner breech end portion and contacts the barrel tube breech end. The muzzle cap is mounted to the barrel liner muzzle end portion and contacts the barrel tube muzzle end. The inside diameter of the barrel tube bore is greater than the outside diameter of the barrel liner whereby the barrel tube does not contact the barrel liner.

A gun barrel assembly includes an outer barrel tube, an inner barrel liner, a barrel breech cap and a barrel muzzle cap. The barrel tube and the barrel liner each longitudinally extend from a muzzle end to a breech end, and have axial through bores, with the barrel liner being disposed within and coaxial with the barrel tube bore. The breech cap and the muzzle cap each longitudinally extend from a front end to a rear end and have through axial through bores. The breech cap is mounted to the barrel liner breech end portion and contacts the barrel tube breech end. The muzzle cap is mounted to the barrel liner muzzle end portion and contacts the barrel tube muzzle end. The inside diameter of the barrel tube bore is greater than the outside diameter of the barrel liner whereby the barrel tube does not contact the barrel liner.

Disclosed are examples of an apparatus for cooling a barrel 12 of a firearm 10 and examples of a cooled barrel assembly 32 for installation into an existing firearm 10. When assembled with the barrel 12, a contact surface 16 of a shell 14 is proximate to, and in thermal communication with, the outer surface of the barrel 18. The shell 14 is formed of commercially available or modified graphite foam.

Disclosed are examples of an apparatus for cooling a barrel 12 of a firearm 10 and examples of a cooled barrel assembly 32 for installation into an existing firearm 10. When assembled with the barrel 12, a contact surface 16 of a shell 14 is proximate to, and in thermal communication with, the outer surface of the barrel 18. The shell 14 is formed of commercially available or modified graphite foam.

An upper receiver assembly includes a barrel, a suppressor body operable to couple to a muzzle end of the barrel, and a first sleeve disposable about the barrel and the suppressor body, wherein the barrel includes one or more longitudinally oriented ribs extending radially from a barrel body having a bore formed therein, and a second sleeve surrounding the first sleeve, the second sleeve comprising a fibrous thermally insulating material.

A barrel having a monolithic body, formed of an elongate structure extending from a breach end to a muzzle end; a projectile bore extending from a projectile chamber to the muzzle end; and a sleeve material positioned around at least a portion of the barrel to encompass at least a portion of the barrel, wherein the sleeve material includes filler particles embedded or dispersed within the sleeve material.

A barrel having a monolithic body, formed of an elongate structure extending from a breach end to a muzzle end; a projectile bore extending from a projectile chamber to the muzzle end; and a sleeve material positioned around at least a portion of the barrel to encompass at least a portion of the barrel, wherein the sleeve material includes filler particles embedded or dispersed within the sleeve material.