A shell loading system for a firearm in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, reciprocating slide and bolt assembly, tubular magazine, tilting carrier operable to receive and feed shells from the magazine into the action, a spring-biased carrier latch laterally moveable to engage the carrier, and a pawl pivotably mounted on the carrier. A carrier latch disconnect is movable between an unblocking and blocking position that prevents engagement of the carrier latch with carrier. To prevent bouncing of the carrier after firing a shot, a first detent feature on carrier assembly automatically engages a second detent feature in the receiver as the carrier returns downward from an upward position when the action is cycled by discharging the firearm. The detent features automatically disengage when the slide moves rearward to permit normal operation of the carrier when cycling the action.

A pistol with a frame, including a trigger mechanism and a movable slide, in which a barrel, a recoil spring, and a firing mechanism comprising a firing pin are located. The firing pin is movably mounted in a firing pin guide, where the firing pin guide has a holding plate on the end, which is pivoted in a holding notch in the slide, the slide being affixed in one angle of rotation of the holding plate and not in one other angle of rotation, and that the holding plate has a stop retainer, which abuts against a stop level in the frame and prevents the firing pin guide (spacer sleeve) and the firing pin from moving forward with the slide when the slide is removed from the frame.

A firearm bolt assembly for a self-loading firearm has an elongated frame defining a frame axis, a bolt connected to a forward end of the frame, a plurality of separate weights connected to the frame, and the weights being movable at least slightly with respect to the frame and to each other for movement along the axis. There may be a resilient spacer element between adjacent weights. There may be a resilient spacer element between one of the weights and a portion of the frame. The spacer element may be an O-ring. The weights may be connected to a rear portion of the frame. The weights may be tubular bodies each defining a bore. A portion of the frame may be received within the bore. The frame may define a rear portion having a first diameter, and a flange forward of the rear portion having a larger second diameter.

An automatic weapon system comprising a bolt driven gas operated machine gun operable in either an open bolt configuration or a closed bolt configuration including a reciprocating bolt assembly operable in either a semi-automatic mode or an automatic mode movable between a rear or open position and a forward or closed position and a firing chamber in combination with an ammunition magazine to automatically feed cartridges from the ammunition magazine to the gas operated machine gun for continuous fire of cartridges from the automatic weapon system including a cartridge feed mechanism to convert the linear motion of the reciprocating bolt assembly into rotary motion to incrementally position a cartridge from the ammunition magazine through a cartridge feed opening formed in the ammunition magazine into the firing chamber as the reciprocating bolt assembly moves between the rear or open position to the forward or closed position.

A self-loading shotgun includes a lock movable inside a lock housing between an open position and a closed position, a barrel, a magazine disposed below the barrel, a lock catch for holding the lock in the open position, and a feeder system for lifting a cartridge delivered from the magazine to the height of the barrel. The feeder system includes a feeder that swivels about a transverse axis and a magazine hatch that interacts with the lock catch. To allow the self-loading shotgun to be fully loaded even when the lock is open, the swivel movement of the feeder generated by the lock is controlled by a control element separate from the lock catch.

A pistol with a frame, including a trigger mechanism and a movable slide, in which a barrel, a recoil spring, and a firing mechanism comprising a firing pin are located. The firing pin is movably mounted in a firing pin guide, where the firing pin guide has a holding plate on the end, which is pivoted in a holding notch in the slide, the slide being affixed in one angle of rotation of the holding plate and not in one other angle of rotation, and that the holding plate has a stop retainer, which abuts against a stop level in the frame and prevents the firing pin guide (spacer sleeve) and the firing pin from moving forward with the slide when the slide is removed from the frame.

A shell loading system for a firearm in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, reciprocating slide and bolt assembly, tubular magazine, tilting carrier operable to receive and feed shells from the magazine into the action, a spring-biased carrier latch laterally moveable to engage the carrier, and a pawl pivotably mounted on the carrier. A carrier latch disconnect is movable between an unblocking and blocking position that prevents engagement of the carrier latch with carrier. To prevent bouncing of the carrier after firing a shot, a first detent feature on carrier assembly automatically engages a second detent feature in the receiver as the carrier returns downward from an upward position when the action is cycled by discharging the firearm. The detent features automatically disengage when the slide moves rearward to permit normal operation of the carrier when cycling the action.

A shell loading system for a firearm in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, reciprocating slide and bolt assembly, tubular magazine, tilting carrier operable to receive and feed shells from the magazine into the action, a spring-biased carrier latch laterally moveable to engage the carrier, and a pawl pivotably mounted on the carrier. A carrier latch disconnect is movable between an unblocking and blocking position that prevents engagement of the carrier latch with carrier. To prevent bouncing of the carrier after firing a shot, a first detent feature on carrier assembly automatically engages a second detent feature in the receiver as the carrier returns downward from an upward position when the action is cycled by discharging the firearm. The detent features automatically disengage when the slide moves rearward to permit normal operation of the carrier when cycling the action.

A firearm bolt assembly for a self-loading firearm has an elongated frame defining a frame axis, a bolt connected to a forward end of the frame, a plurality of separate weights connected to the frame, and the weights being movable at least slightly with respect to the frame and to each other for movement along the axis. There may be a resilient spacer element between adjacent weights. There may be a resilient spacer element between one of the weights and a portion of the frame. The spacer element may be an O-ring. The weights may be connected to a rear portion of the frame. The weights may be tubular bodies each defining a bore. A portion of the frame may be received within the bore. The frame may define a rear portion having a first diameter, and a flange forward of the rear portion having a larger second diameter.

A firearm may include a receiver and a barrel coupled to the receiver having a chamber at a breech end thereof for receiving a round of ammunition, as well as a magazine that supplies rounds of ammunition to the chamber. The firearm may further include a bolt assembly movable about the receiver to direct the rounds of ammunition towards the chamber, and the firearm may also include a trigger plate assembly that may have a trigger, a hammer movable upon activation of the trigger, a carrier operable to direct the rounds of ammunition from the magazine towards the chamber, a feed latch operable to release the rounds of ammunition from the magazine to the carrier, and a latch release operable to engage the feed latch to facilitate the release of the rounds of ammunition.