Firearm bolt assembly with fully-supported bolt face

Abstract

An improved bolt carrier for a firearm is provided that improves the overall reliability and performance of the firearm bolt assembly. The bolt carrier includes a bolt with a body having a number of lugs extending therefrom. The bolt includes an extractor recess sized and configured to avoid any undercut of the lugs adjacent the recess. The bolt also includes an extractor pivotably engaged in a recess formed in the bolt. The extractor has a pair nipples on flanges configured to engage a pair of integrally buffered springs disposed on a tapered spring well on either side of a firing pin bore extending through the bolt.

1 . A bolt for a firearm, the bolt comprising:
 an elongate body having a proximal end and an opposite distal end along a longitudinal axis, said body defining a generally cylindrical portion and a firing pin bore along said longitudinal axis between said proximal and distal ends, said body further including a number of bolt lugs adjacent said distal end integrally connected to and radially extending from said body about said longitudinal axis, said bolt lugs including at least a first bolt lug and an adjacent second bolt lug;   a recess formed in said body extending between said first and second bolt lugs wherein the first and second bolt lugs are not undercut by the recess;   said body further defining a pair of spring wells, a spring disposed within each of said spring wells; and   an extractor residing within said recess pivotably coupled to said body.   
     
     
         2 . The bolt of  claim 1 , wherein said extractor comprises:
 a first portion for releasably engaging a cartridge extending between said first and second bolt lugs;   a second portion having a pair of oppositely disposed flanges extending therefrom, and   a body extending between said first portion and said second portion.   
     
     
         3 . The bolt of  claim 2 , wherein said first portion of said extractor includes a guide flange extending therefrom. 
     
     
         4 . The bolt of  claim 2 , wherein each of said pair of flanges of the second portion includes a spring stabilizing nipple engaging a corresponding one of said springs to bias said extractor to a first position. 
     
     
         5 . The bolt of  claim 1 , wherein each of said spring wells includes a spring bearing surface, said spring bearing surface positioned proximate said firing pin bore, said spring wells oppositely disposed about said firing pin bore wherein the spring wells are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the firing pin bore. 
     
     
         6 . The bolt of  claim 5 , wherein each of said spring wells is tapered. 
     
     
         7 . The bolt of  claim 5 , wherein the spring has a base coil larger than the rest of the spring coils. 
     
     
         8 . The bolt of  claim 7 , wherein each of said springs is integrally buffered. 
     
     
         9 . The bolt of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body includes an extractor bearing portion within said recess adjacent said distal end, said bearing portion including a mating surface, said mating surface defining a curved plane extending substantially parallel to an outer surface of said cylindrical body portion; and   said extractor includes a bottom surface configured to engage said mating surface in form fitting relation.   
     
     
         10 . The bolt of  claim 9 , wherein the mating surface defines a flat plane, and said extractor includes a bottom surface configured to engage said mating surface in form fitting relation. 
     
     
         11 . An extractor for extracting a cartridge in an autoloading firearm, the extractor comprising:
 a first portion for releasably engaging a cartridge;   a second portion having oppositely disposed flanges extending therefrom;   a spring stabilizing nipple extending from the underside of each of said flanges;   a body extending between said first portion and said second portion, said body having a pin bore therethrough to pivotably couple said extractor to a firearm bolt.   
     
     
         12 . A bolt carrier assembly for a firearm, the bolt carrier, comprising:
 a bolt having a cylindrical body defining a firing pin bore therethrough;   
       said cylindrical body having an extractor recesses for accommodating an extractor pivotably coupled to said bolt, said extractor defining a pair of flanges extending therefrom, said flanges having a spring stabilizing nipple extending therefrom; and
 a pair of integrally buffered springs oppositely disposed about said firing pin bore within said bolt, wherein each of said nipples engages a corresponding one of said springs. 
 
     
     
         13 . The bolt carrier assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said body includes an outer surface thereabout and a proximal end and distal end along a longitudinal axis; and
 a number of lugs extending radially from said body about said longitudinal axis such that a first and second lug adjacent the extractor recess are not undercut.   
     
     
         14 . The bolt carrier assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said bolt includes a parallel pair of tapered spring wells on either side of a firing pin bore, each of said spring wells defining a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt.