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 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.

A novel firearm is lightweight, compact, and the method of manufacture is easy. A single or dual tubular magazine positioned below the barrel of a firearm includes the novel use of an inverted U-shaped stamped receiver cover with a cavity for housing a loading and ejection port. The present invention advances the art of firearm manufacture by disclosing a tubular magazine and stamped sheet metal receiver cover that encloses the major parts of a firearm. The firearm is simple to manufacture, lightweight, approximately 25 to approximately 27 inches in length, and affords an ammunition capacity that is at least twice the capacity of a comparable firearm, such as the Remington 870 shotgun.