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 shell loading system for a firearm in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, reciprocating slide and bolt assembly, tubular magazine, 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 also pivotably mounted to the carrier and operated by the pawl. The carrier latch disconnect and pawl are movable independently of each other in one embodiment. The carrier latch disconnect is operable to block the carrier latch from engaging the carrier in a first position. In a second position when activated by the pawl, the carrier latch disconnect releases the carrier latch to engage the carrier which is locked in a downward position to receive a shell from the magazine.

A shell loading system for a firearm in one embodiment includes a barrel, receiver, reciprocating slide and bolt assembly, tubular magazine, 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 also pivotably mounted to the carrier and operated by the pawl. The carrier latch disconnect and pawl are movable independently of each other in one embodiment. The carrier latch disconnect is operable to block the carrier latch from engaging the carrier in a first position. In a second position when activated by the pawl, the carrier latch disconnect releases the carrier latch to engage the carrier which is locked in a downward position to receive a shell from the magazine.

A charger for a firearm comprises a body, a movable internal diverter and an advancing member. The body has at least first and second cartridge holding areas that are arranged parallel to each other and are configured to receive and store cartridges in an end-to-end orientation. A first end of the body has a cartridge opening through which cartridges can be loaded into and unloaded from the charger and a receiver insert shaped to fit into a receiver of the firearm. The movable internal diverter is positioned in the body and extends at least partway between the first and second cartridge holding areas to separate the first and second cartridge holding areas from each other. The advancing member is accessible from an exterior of the body and has an engaging member extending within the body and configured to contact a cartridge in one of the first and second cartridge holding areas. The advancing member is movable toward the first end in an advancement direction to urge cartridges from a selected one of the first and second cartridge holding areas and out of the cartridge opening, and in a reverse direction toward a second end of the body to withdraw the engaging member and move the internal diverter so that the engaging member is aligned with the other of the first and second holding areas.

A charger for a firearm comprises a body, a movable internal diverter and an advancing member. The body has at least first and second cartridge holding areas that are arranged parallel to each other and are configured to receive and store cartridges in an end-to-end orientation. A first end of the body has a cartridge opening through which cartridges can be loaded into and unloaded from the charger and a receiver insert shaped to fit into a receiver of the firearm. The movable internal diverter is positioned in the body and extends at least partway between the first and second cartridge holding areas to separate the first and second cartridge holding areas from each other. The advancing member is accessible from an exterior of the body and has an engaging member extending within the body and configured to contact a cartridge in one of the first and second cartridge holding areas. The advancing member is movable toward the first end in an advancement direction to urge cartridges from a selected one of the first and second cartridge holding areas and out of the cartridge opening, and in a reverse direction toward a second end of the body to withdraw the engaging member and move the internal diverter so that the engaging member is aligned with the other of the first and second holding areas.

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 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 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 resetting magazine cut-off control system for a firearm includes a magazine and a control cuff that has a cuff cam surface and a cuff stop surface and is operable between a first position and a second position relative to the magazine. The system also includes an action member having a first portion and a second portion, with the second portion having an action stop surface. Contact between the cuff stop surface and the action stop surface prevents longitudinal movement of the action member when the control cuff is in the first position, and the first portion applies a force to the cuff cam surface, with the force moving the control cuff from the first to the second position, when the action stop surface is moved away from the cuff stop surface. The system allows a shooter to automatically switch between shooting modes by using the firearm's action.