Apparatus and method for preventing the bolt carrier of a firearm from moving forward after firing the last round of ammunition, and signaling when the firearm has run out of ammunition.

Abstract

The invention is designed to be fitted into the AK47-type semiautomatic firearms to provide a missing but vital feature of locking the reciprocating bolt assembly of said firearm after having chambered, fired and ejected the last cartridge from its removable magazine. The invention is designed to be installed into the receiver portion of the firearm as well as incorporating a modification into the removable magazine housing and follower. The invention consists of a number of components that will work in cooperation with each other to provide the above desired feature.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0001] The AK47-type firearms have a number of weaknesses. On of these is the lack of a bolt stop or bolt catch feature that prevents the bolt and the bolt carrier assembly from moving forward to battery upon firing and ejecting the last round from the ammunition feeding device or magazine. This shortcoming often leads to the users unanticipated running out of ammunition unless the user counts the number of bullets fired from the magazine. In most cases, this results in a dry fire, where the trigger is pulled on an empty chamber. This slows down the operators response time to refresh the firearms magazine. [0002] The unmodified rifle and its operation is fully described in a publication entitled The AK-47 Assault Rifle edited by Wyant La Mont (Normount Technical Publications, Wickenburg, Ariz., Copyright 1969 by Donald B. Mclean). This type of rifle is also described in the World patent NO. WO9905467. Therefore, its operation will not be described in detail h...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] A mechanism in accordance with this invention automatically locks the bolt carrier in the semi-rearward position after having chambered, fired and ejected the last round from the magazine. This invention also allows the user to manually lock the bolt carrier in the semi-rearward position by use of a thumb release, and manually release the locked bolt carrier from the semi-rearward position to battery by the thumb release, with or without an empty or charged magazine installed in the receiver. Further, upon having locked the bolt carrier semi-rearward by the use of this invention, it also allows the magazine to be removed and replaced without releasing the bolt carrier. Furthermore, this invention allows the release of the bolt carrier when a fully charged magazine is installed, by pulling on the charging handle of the bolt carrier rearward until the bolt catch (or bolt stop) is disengaged. This allows the bolt carrier to move forward to battery, stripping a bullet from the magazine and chambering it. Also, this invention allows the manual release of the bolt carrier either with the thumb release or the bolt carrier charging handle when there is no magazine installed, allowing the bolt carrier to move forward to battery.

[0006] The invention, therefore, provides a visual indication of the last cartridge fired by keeping the bolt carrier in the open or semi-rearward position, provides for quicker removal of empty magazine and installation of a fresh magazine, and allows quicker charging of the firearm by the use of an external thumb release.

Problems solved by technology

This shortcoming often leads to the users unanticipated running out of ammunition unless the user counts the number of bullets fired from the magazine.

In most cases, this results in a dry fire, where the trigger is pulled on an empty chamber.

This slows down the operators response time to refresh the firearms magazine.

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