A feed tray assembly for a belt-fed weapon includes a bottom tray portion configured for mounting at a top of the weapon. The feed tray assembly further includes a feed tray cover mounted to the bottom tray portion and configured for lateral sliding opening and closing movement, such as on laterally extending pins riding in corresponding channels of the bottom tray portion. The feed tray cover has (1) a closed position in which it covers the bottom tray portion to retain the belt of ammunition during operation, and (2) an open position laterally displaced from the closed position to enable insertion of the belt of ammunition. Due to this lateral sliding movement of the feed tray cover, a sighting optic may be mounted on the weapon with a forward portion directly above the feed tray assembly without any undesired mechanical interference.

A feed tray assembly for a belt-fed weapon includes a bottom tray portion configured for mounting at a top of the weapon. The feed tray assembly further includes a feed tray cover mounted to the bottom tray portion and configured for lateral sliding opening and closing movement, such as on laterally extending pins riding in corresponding channels of the bottom tray portion. The feed tray cover has (1) a closed position in which it covers the bottom tray portion to retain the belt of ammunition during operation, and (2) an open position laterally displaced from the closed position to enable insertion of the belt of ammunition. Due to this lateral sliding movement of the feed tray cover, a sighting optic may be mounted on the weapon with a forward portion directly above the feed tray assembly without any undesired mechanical interference.

A belt-fed weapon includes an upper part defining a feed tray cavity, and a feed tray in the feed tray cavity, wherein the feed tray and feed-tray cavity are co-configured for lateral sliding insertion and removal of the feed tray to and from an installed position in the feed tray cavity. The arrangement enables insertion and removal of the feed tray without interference with an installed scope or similar optic, enabling maintenance or field stripping without requiring removal or re-sighting of the scope.

A belt-fed weapon includes an upper part defining a feed tray cavity, and a feed tray in the feed tray cavity, wherein the feed tray and feed-tray cavity are co-configured for lateral sliding insertion and removal of the feed tray to and from an installed position in the feed tray cavity. The arrangement enables insertion and removal of the feed tray without interference with an installed scope or similar optic, enabling maintenance or field stripping without requiring removal or re-sighting of the scope.

One example control element for controlling a breechblock stop lever that can move about a first axis of rotation, which can be moved between a standby position for releasing a breechblock carrier and a retaining position for retaining the breechblock carrier, includes a first arm (15) that can rotate about a second axis of rotation (B), a first control section on the first arm, the first control section including a first contact surface (11a) and a second contact surface (11b) facing away from the first contact surface (11a), which can be rotated about the second axis of rotation (B) for the control element (10) by a control curve (36, 37, 38) on the breechblock carrier (30); and a second control section (13) on the first arm, wherein the second control section can be controlled by a control surface (55a) on a trigger (50). Other examples are possible.

A recoil assembly for a rifle includes a barrel assembly, a bolt, bolt actuator, and a buffer assembly. The barrel assembly includes a barrel secured to a barrel extension. The barrel assembly is configured to be movably received through the fore end of a receiver and to move axially relative to the upper receiver when the rifle is fired. The barrel extension is coupled to a hydraulic buffer assembly located below the barrel extension and counteracts recoil forces acting on the barrel extension when the rifle is fired. An op-rod spring is coupled to an op rod extending from a gas piston assembly on the barrel. The op-rod spring counteracts recoil forces acting the bolt actuator when the rifle is fired.

A recoil assembly for a rifle includes a barrel assembly, a bolt, bolt actuator, and a buffer assembly. The barrel assembly includes a barrel secured to a barrel extension. The barrel assembly is slidably received in the receiver and the barrel extension is coupled to a hydraulic buffer assembly located below the barrel extension. The hydraulic buffer assembly is configured and arranged to arrest rearward movement of the barrel assembly when the rifle is fired. An op-rod spring is coupled to an op rod extending that can be actuated by a gas piston assembly on the barrel. The op-rod spring is configured and arranged to arrest rearward movement of the bolt assembly.

A firearm, top cover, and feed lever. The feed lever includes a feed lever body having a feed lever track, wherein the feed lever body is configured to be pivotally mounted within a topcover assembly, and wherein the feed lever body is configured to pivot in response to a force transmitted by a roller of an operating group to the feed lever track during cycling of the firearm. The feed lever further includes a feed lever track first end, wherein the feed lever track first end comprises a feed lever track exit portion configured to receive the roller of the operating group after the roller exits the feed lever track via the feed lever track exit portion as the firearm cycles.

Ammunition storage and feeding system for light weapons that facilitates a continuous loading of the weapon, thereby relieving the user from multiple magazine replacements, and reducing potential weapon stoppages, thus providing more reliable and significantly uninterruptable use of the weapon with respect to operating the weapon with conventional magazines. According to an embodiment of the invention, the system is configured to automatically receive interlinked cartridges from a carrying device (e.g., a backpack or other convenient device harnessed to the user's body) through a flexible or semi-flexible leading means, to successively extract the cartridges from the linking arrangement and to successively feed each extracted cartridge into a dedicated magazine in a First In First Out (FIFO) manner.

A simulated ammunition belt is captured in and released from a feedway of an imitation machine gun by selectively extending and retracting a retaining projection into the space between adjacent simulated rounds of the ammunition belt. The retaining projection is operably connected to a cover of the gun housing and is concealed within the housing when the cover is closed.