Firearm for use with ordnance of varying lengths

Abstract

A firearm system is provided. A pump-action firearm, such as a shotgun, includes a buffer attached to a trigger housing. The buffer consists of a resilient or semi-resilient material and is positioned such as to face towards an opening the receiver in which the magazine tube is partially received. The buffer includes a contoured bottom surface and an upper surface, configured in a way which shortens the space available within an opening of a receiver while accommodating the loading of shells into a magazine tube. Upon moving a shell into the opening, such as by pumping the action, the shell impacts the buffer, which stabilizes the shell prior to being lifted by an elevators. For shorter shells, this reduces the risk of a jamming event. For longer shells, the buffer is configured to compress to accommodate the additional length.

1 . A firearm comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel coupled to and extending forward of said receiver;   a magazine tube for holding ammunition for the firearm coupled to and extending forward of said receiver; and   a buffer located within said receiver, said buffer including a front face;   wherein as the ammunition is dispensed from said magazine tube, the ammunition impacts said front face of said buffer; and   wherein the ammunition impacts said front face of said buffer proximate to a mid area of the ammunition.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the ammunition impacts said front face of said buffer above a center of gravity of the ammunition. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein said buffer reduces torque experienced by the ammunition as the ammunition is dispensed from said magazine tube into said receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein said buffer absorbs the impact of the ammunition as the ammunition is dispensed from said magazine tube into said receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein said buffer comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein said buffer comprises a flexible material having a Shore 00 hardness of no more than about 100. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein said buffer is made from multiple components. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein said buffer is attached to a trigger assembly of said firearm. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein said buffer is attached to said receiver. 
     
     
         10 . A buffer for a firearm, the buffer comprising:
 a main body with a front face;   wherein said front face is configured to be impacted by ammunition dispensed into the firearm such that the impact occurs proximate to a mid area of the ammunition; and   wherein said buffer absorbs the impact of the ammunition and reduces torque experienced by the ammunition as the ammunition is dispensed into the firearm.   
     
     
         11 . The buffer of  claim 10  wherein the ammunition impacts said front face of said buffer above a center of gravity of the ammunition. 
     
     
         12 . The buffer of  claim 10 , wherein said buffer comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         13 . The buffer of  claim 10 , wherein said buffer comprises a flexible material having a Shore 00 hardness of no more than about 100. 
     
     
         14 . The buffer of  claim 10 , wherein said buffer is made from multiple components. 
     
     
         15 . A firearm comprising:
 a receiver;   a barrel coupled to said receiver;   a magazine for holding ammunition for the firearm coupled to said receiver; and   a buffer means located within said receiver, said buffer means configured to reduce torque experienced by the ammunition as the ammunition is dispensed into said receiver from said magazine.   
     
     
         16 . The firearm of  claim 15  wherein said buffer means is further configured to absorb the impact of the ammunition as the ammunition is dispensed into said receiver from said magazine. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm of  claim 15  wherein said buffer means includes a face that is configured to be impacted by the ammunition dispensed into the firearm such that the impact occurs proximate to a mid area of the ammunition. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 17  wherein the ammunition impacts said face of said buffer means above a center of gravity of the ammunition. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said buffer means comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         20 . The buffer of  claim 15 , wherein said buffer means comprises a flexible material having a Shore 00 hardness of no more than about 100.