Conversion of firearms to fire reduced-energy ammunition

• US 6,625,916 B1
• Filed: 11/04/1999
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems - Canada, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SNC Technologies, Inc. (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Dionne, Sylvain
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W.
• Application Number:
  US09/434,151
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 42/16, 42/25, 102/444, 102/469, 102/470
• US Class Current: 42/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 11/02 Modular concepts, e.g. weapon-family concepts
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 3/54 Bolt locks of the unlocked type, i.e. being inertia operated
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003

Abstract

A training kit is designed for use with a firearm normally having a standard bolt that is provided at the forward end with a bolt recess for receiving and embracing the head end of a standard cartridge. The training kit is provided with a training bolt having a circular recess of a diameter that will not receive and embrace the head end of the standard cartridge thereby limiting placement of a standard cartridge beyond the reach of the firing pin. Rounds of reduced-energy training ammunition are provided with a head end of complementary dimensions that permits the head end to be seated within the recess of a conversion bolt, and therefore fired.

Claims

1. A firearm having:

a) a standard barrel and standard chamber of respective given diameter that are dimensioned to fire standard ammunition, the standard ammunition having a cartridge with a head end and a case that are of a diameter that is substantially equal to the diameter of said chamber;

b) a standard upper receiver assembly for connection to said standard barrel;

c) a standard lower receiver buttstock assembly;

d) a magazine; and

e) a training bolt carrier assembly comprising a training bolt carrier and a training bolt with a firing pin and training bolt recess with a base through which the firing pin will operate by advancement into said recess upon firing,

said training bolt recess being dimensioned or shaped to exclude the seating of the head end of said standard ammunition in said bolt recess whereby the firing of standard ammunition is precluded, said training bolt carrier assembly being dimensioned for mounting in the firearm with said training bolt and training bolt carrier being free to recoil upon firing so as to effect cycling of the firearm through a blow-back operation, said firearm being in combination with a reduced-energy cartridge having;

f) a case dimensioned to allow said reduced-energy cartridge to seat fully in the standard barrel chamber of said firearm,

g) a head end which is dimensioned or shaped to seat fully in the training bolt recess, within reach of said firing pin upon firing, and

h) a case that is divided into two portions that expand longitudinally upon firing to effect cycling of the weapon through blow-back operation.

2. A firearm as in claim 1 wherein the training bolt recess is circular and is of a reduced diameter that will exclude the reception and seating of the head end of a standard cartridge, and the head end of the reduced-energy cartridge is circular and of a diameter that will allow said reduced energy cartridge head end to seat in said training bolt recess.

3. A firearm as in claim 2 wherein the training bolt is fixed to the training bolt carrier for recoil of said training bolt and training bolt carrier as a unit upon firing as part of said blow-back operation.

4. A firearm as in claim 1 wherein the base of the training bolt recess comprises a protrusion which will preclude the seating of a standard cartridge the training bolt recess, and the reduced-energy cartridge is provided at its head end with a recess that is of complementary shape to said protrusion to permit the head end of the reduced-energy cartridge to seat in said training bolt recess.

5. A firearm as in claim 4 by wherein the training bolt is fixed to the training bolt carrier for recoil of said training bolt and training bolt carrier as a unit upon firing as part of said blow-back operation.

6. A firearm as in claim 1 wherein the training bolt is fixed to the training bolt carrier for recoil of said training bolt and training bolt carrier as a unit upon firing as part of said blow-back operation.

7. A standard firearm in combination with a training kit for use in converting the standard firearm into a training configuration for firing reduced energy ammunition, the standard firearm having:

a) a standard chamber of a given diameter fitted within a standard barrel and

b) a standard bolt provided at its forward end with a standard bolt recess for receiving and embracing the head end of a standard cartridge having a casing and head end both of a diameter that is substantially the same as the chamber diameter,

c) a standard receiver with a bolt carrier assembly that receives said standard bolt, and standard bolt carrier,

wherein said training kit comprises;

d) a training bolt with a training bolt firing pin and a training bolt recess fitted within a training bolt carrier wherein the training bolt firing pin and training bolt recess are dimensioned or shared to exclude the reception and seating of the head end of said standard cartridge, whereby, with the standard cartridge loaded in said chamber and the training bolt installed in the firearm, the training bolt recess will not embrace the head end of the standard cartridge so that when said firing pin is released to advance into the training bolt recess, the head end of the standard cartridge is beyond the reach of the training bolt firing pin, said training bolt and training bolt carrier being dimensioned for mounting in the standard receiver of the firearm in a position to serve in place of the standard bolt and standard bolt carrier, but with said training bolt being free to recoil upon firing so as to effect cycling through a blow-back operation, and

e) a reduced-energy cartridge having a casing that is dimensioned to be chambered in said standard chamber and having a head end that is dimensioned or shaped to be received and embraced by the training bolt recess to permit firing of said reduced-energy cartridge by said firing pin, said reduced-energy cartridge being provided with a case that is divided into two portions that expand longitudinally upon firing to effect cycling of the weapon through blow-back operation whereby the standard firearm is convertible to fire said reduced energy cartridge, excluding the chambering of a standard cartridge.

8. A standard firearm in combination with a training kit as in claim 7 wherein the training bolt recess is circular, having a reduced diameter that will exclude the reception and seating of the head end of a standard cartridge, and the head end of the reduced-energy cartridge is of a circular diameter that will allow said reduced-energy cartridge head end to seat in the training bolt recess.

9. A standard firearm in combination with a training kit as in claim 8 wherein the training bolt is fixed to the training bolt carrier for recoil of said training bolt and training bolt carrier as a unit upon firing as part of said blow-back operation.

10. A standard firearm in combination with a training kit as in claim 7 wherein a base of the training bolt recess comprises a protrusion which will preclude the seating of a standard cartridge in the training bolt recess, and the reduced-energy cartridge is provided at its head end with a recess that is of complementary shape to said protrusion to permit the head end of the reduced-energy cartridge to seat in the training bolt recess.

11. A standard firearm in combination with a training kit as in claim 10 wherein the training bolt is fixed to the training bolt carrier for recoil of said training bolt and training bolt carrier as a unit upon firing as part of said blow-back operation.

12. A standard firearm in combination with a training kit as in claim 7 wherein the training bolt is fixed to the training bolt carrier for recoil of said training bolt and training bolt carrier as a unit upon firing as part of said blow-back operation.