A gun barrel that has a proximal chamber end, a distal muzzle end, and an internal bore bounded by a bore wall where the internal bore has a cartridge chamber at the proximal chamber end of the barrel, a first rifled bore section distal to the cartridge chamber, a second rifled bore section at the distal muzzle end of the barrel, and a reducing section distal to the first rifled bore section and connecting the first rifled bore section and the second rifled bore section.

A sub-mass projectile for a standard, unmodified firearm, comprising a core formed from a malleable core material with at least a portion of the core material being a non-metal material. The core has a lower mass than a standard projectile for the standard, unmodified firearm. An outer surface associated with the core has a diameter that is sized less than an outer diameter of a standard cartridge and larger than an inner diameter of a standard, unmodified barrel bore of the standard, unmodified firearm such that the outer surface associated with the core contacts the inner diameter of the standard, unmodified barrel bore to generate forces in the firearm that approximate operational forces of a standard mass projectile on the standard, unmodified firearm during operation.

Embodiments of the invention include a firearm system and method of assembly of the firearm system including a receiver complex including a receiver coupled to a forward receiver. A feed port is positioned between the receiver and the forward receiver, and a striker coil assembly is positioned proximate the receiver, and includes a plurality of strikers each extending at least partially through a coil. An interchangeable barrel is coupled to the forward receiver forming a breech. In some embodiments, the firearm system includes a breech that includes a plurality of side-by-side bores of the barrel. Some embodiments include a magazine coupled to the receiver complex adjacent the feedport to simultaneously feed more than one dischargeable projectile into the feedport with a single charge block. In some embodiments, the charge block includes a plurality of chambers and a plurality of projectiles positioned within the plurality of chambers.

Embodiments of the invention include a firearm system and method of assembly of the firearm system including a receiver complex including a receiver coupled to a forward receiver. A feed port is positioned between the receiver and the forward receiver, and a striker coil assembly is positioned proximate the receiver, and includes a plurality of strikers each extending at least partially through a coil. An interchangeable barrel is coupled to the forward receiver forming a breech. In some embodiments, the firearm system includes a breech that includes a plurality of side-by-side bores of the barrel. Some embodiments include a magazine coupled to the receiver complex adjacent the feedport to simultaneously feed more than one dischargeable projectile into the feedport with a single charge block. In some embodiments, the charge block includes a plurality of chambers and a plurality of projectiles positioned within the plurality of chambers.

The installation space dimensions of a weapon system in the tower are complied with, and a loading space diameter of a caliber-larger weapon barrel is approximately maintained in relation to the smaller caliber. The required larger loading space volume for the caliber increase is predominantly achieved by an extension of the loading space of the caliber-larger weapon barrel relative to a loading space of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel itself. Since the loading space diameter of a larger caliber remains virtually unchanged, the outer dimensions of the caliber-larger weapon barrel also remain virtually unchanged compared to the outer dimensions of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel in the region of the loading part.

The installation space dimensions of a weapon system in the tower are complied with, and a loading space diameter of a caliber-larger weapon barrel is approximately maintained in relation to the smaller caliber. The required larger loading space volume for the caliber increase is predominantly achieved by an extension of the loading space of the caliber-larger weapon barrel relative to a loading space of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel itself. Since the loading space diameter of a larger caliber remains virtually unchanged, the outer dimensions of the caliber-larger weapon barrel also remain virtually unchanged compared to the outer dimensions of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel in the region of the loading part.

A projectile launching system can include a projectile launcher and a projectile. The projectile launcher can include at least one barrel, a projectile, a firing pin mechanism, an activator, and a power system. The barrel can extend along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends, with an exit port at the second end. The projectile can be positioned in the barrel and include primer, propellant, and a sub-projectile. The firing pin mechanism can be selectively project into the barrel to engage the primer, whereby the propellant is ignited and the projectile is launched out of the barrel. The activator can be engaged with the firing pin mechanism and engageable by a user to control the firing pin mechanism. The power system can rotate the barrel or the projectile as the firing pin mechanism is projecting into the barrel and engaging the primer of the projectile.

A sub-mass projectile for a firearm includes a core having a relatively lower mass than a standard projectile for the firearm. A force inducer is associated with the core. The force inducer has an interface that interacts with the firearm. The interface includes a bearing surface with a relatively larger outer diameter than a standard projectile for the firearm. The bearing surface bears against a surface of the firearm during operation so as to increase resistive forces between the sub-mass projectile and the firearm to a magnitude sufficient to approximate the kinetic forces of a standard mass projectile on the firearm during operation.

A method and apparatus for producing gun barrels having a grooved or ribbed inner surface with straight or helical grooves or ribs, by providing a metallic hollow cylindrical pre-form, placing the pre-form on a core mandrel being part of a flow forming machine having a main machine axis, the core mandrel having a structured outer surface comprising ribs and/or grooves extending straightly parallel to and/or helically around the main axis; and applying forming rollers, in a roller arrangement, to the outside surface of the pre-form so as to apply radial pressure on the pre-form such that its material begins to flow. As the rollers apply force upon the pre-form, a relative motion between the pre-form and the rollers is performed by moving the pre-form in axially parallel to the main axis through the roller arrangement or by moving the roller arrangement alongside the pre-form.

A method and apparatus for producing gun barrels having a grooved or ribbed inner surface with straight or helical grooves or ribs, by providing a metallic hollow cylindrical pre-form, placing the pre-form on a core mandrel being part of a flow forming machine having a main machine axis, the core mandrel having a structured outer surface comprising ribs and/or grooves extending straightly parallel to and/or helically around the main axis; and applying forming rollers, in a roller arrangement, to the outside surface of the pre-form so as to apply radial pressure on the pre-form such that its material begins to flow. As the rollers apply force upon the pre-form, a relative motion between the pre-form and the rollers is performed by moving the pre-form in axially parallel to the main axis through the roller arrangement or by moving the roller arrangement alongside the pre-form.