Revolver for firing high velocity ammunition

Abstract

A revolver for firing high velocity ammunition includes a frame, a cylinder, a barrel, and a firing mechanism. The revolver may include one or more of the following, each of which is especially adapted for use in the context of firing high velocity ammunition: spacers for adjusting a barrel-cylinder gap, for eliminating broaching of the rearward surface(s) of the barrel; a forcing cone formed in the rearward opening of the barrel for accommodating deformed projectiles; a reflective surface (e.g., mirrored surface) provided on the cone and/or barrel rearward surfaces, for reducing erosion resulting from using high velocity ammunition; gain-twist rifling in the barrel for a smoother transition to full projectile velocity; a larger diameter, hardened firing pin bushing for minimizing brass flow in the rearward direction; and a front sight assembly that minimizes lateral shift or drift of the sight pin during firing.

1 . A firearm for firing high velocity ammunition, the firearm comprising:
 a frame;   a barrel connected to the frame; and   at least one chamber connected to the frame and in operative alignment with the barrel for housing a round of ammunition;   wherein a surface of a rearward end of the barrel facing the chamber is provided with a reflective finish for reducing erosion from hot gases when the firearm is discharged.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the reflective finish is at least a highly reflective finish. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the rearward end of the barrel has a forcing cone formed therein for facilitating the movement of a projectile from the chamber into the barrel, a surface of said forcing cone being provided with the reflective finish. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the forcing cone has a slightly larger entry diameter as compared to a diameter of said barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the forward and rearward edges of the forcing cone each have a radius for facilitating the movement of a projectile from the chamber into the forcing cone. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective finish is a mirrored finish. 
     
     
         7 . A firearm for firing high velocity ammunition, the firearm comprising:
 a frame;   a barrel connected to the frame; and   a front sight assembly connected to at least one of the frame and barrel, wherein the front sight assembly includes a sight pin and a dumbbell-shaped locating pin cooperative with the sight pin for minimizing lateral shift or drift of the sight pin during the firing of high velocity ammunition from the firearm.   
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 7  wherein the front sight assembly further comprises:
 a receiving slot provided in the at least one of the frame and barrel, said receiving slot extending longitudinally in the direction of a longitudinal firing axis of the firearm, wherein the locating pin is positioned laterally across the receiving slot perpendicular to the longitudinal firing access. 
 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 8  wherein the front sight assembly further comprises:
 an anchor disposed in the receiving slot, and a first connection member connecting the anchor to the sight pin, said first connection member being narrower than both the sight pin and anchor, wherein the anchor and first connection member define a fore-facing angle there between. 
 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 9  wherein the front sight assembly further comprises:
 a spring mounted in a rearward portion of the receiving slot and urging the anchor against the locating pin. 
 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 10 , wherein the locating pin comprises first and second protrusions interconnected by a second connection member, and the second connection member is received in a vertex of the angle upon the spring urging the anchor against the locating pin, said first and second protrusions retaining at least one of the anchor and first connection member there between. 
     
     
         12 . A revolver for firing high velocity ammunition, the revolver comprising:
 a frame;   a cylinder rotatably connected to the frame and having a plurality of chambers therein for housing ammunition; and   a barrel connected to the frame in operative alignment with the cylinder and having an inner wall defining a longitudinal, cylindrical bore extending through the barrel, wherein the inner wall is provided with gain-twist rifling comprising a plurality of alternating lands and grooves in the inner wall, said grooves having a twist rate that varies along the length of the barrel from a slow rate at a rearward end of the barrel to a higher rate at a forward end of the barrel, and wherein the width of the lands increases as the twist rate increases.   
     
     
         13 . The revolver of  claim 12 , wherein said lands adjacent said rearward end of the barrel are provided with more rounded edges than said lands adjacent said forward end of said barrel. 
     
     
         14 . The revolver of  claim 13 , wherein an electromechanical process is used to produce said rounded edges