Carrier guide and firearm

Abstract

Firearms having a carrier assembly, buffer systems, and methods, having a carrier spindle, carrier saddle, or both, to reduce carrier tilt or wobble, reduce wear, or both. A carrier spindle can be located forward of the buffer spring, buffer weight, or both, and aft of the carrier assembly, and can slidably engage the carrier assembly. A spindle spring can bias the carrier spindle aft from the carrier assembly. In some embodiments, a taper on the carrier spindle facilitates separation of the lower receiver from the upper receiver. In some embodiments, the spindle spring is a helical spring that is loaded in compression and pushes the carrier spindle aftward. Some embodiments include a carrier saddle that supports the aft end of the carrier assembly. The carrier saddle can be raised, have a concave top surface, be made of a softer material, have dimensions within certain ranges, or a combination thereof.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 936,022, filed on Feb. 5, 2014, titled CARRIER GUIDE AND FIREARM, which has at least one inventor in common with the current patent application and the same assignee. The contents of this priority provisional patent application are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]Various embodiments of this invention relate to firearms. Particular embodiments relate to firearms having carrier assemblies.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Firearms have been used for several centuries for various purposes including as weapons for warfare, law enforcement, self defense, hunting, and target practice. Although many new weapons and weapon systems have been developed, firearms are still widely used and soldiers are trained in firearm use and carry firearms in essentially all armies throughout the world. Over time, firearms have been improved in many ways, but opp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]This invention provides, among other things, firearms with improved systems and methods of reducing tilt or wobble of the bolt assembly, carrier assembly, or bolt carrier group, for example, within the buffer tube. In a number of firearms, as the bolt carrier group, for example, moves aft, the tilt downward of the aft part or end of the bolt carrier group is reduced, wobble within the upper receiver is reduced, or both. In a number of embodiments, this reduces misalignment,

Problems solved by technology

This has caused misalignment, for example, of the bolt carrier group.

Further, in some cases, tilt or wobble has occurred when the buffer spring returns the bolt carrier group forward.

Carrier tilt and wobble and misalignment of the bolt carrier group has caused accelerated wear, for example, of the upper receiver, the lower receiver, the buffer tube, the bolt carrier gr

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