Apparatus for converting a semi-automatic weapon into a single shot weapon. In one embodiment, the lower receiver of the weapon is replaced by a lower receiver that has no magazine well. The replacement receiver contains a loading block that can be loaded through the ejection chamber of the weapon. A spring biased plunger is provided in the replacement receiver for moving the bolt catch into a holding position when the bolt is moved into a battery position. In a second embodiment of the invention a dummy magazine is permanently secured in the magazine well and contains a loading block that can be loaded with a cartridge through the ejection port of the weapon. A spring biased plunger is mounted in the dummy magazine behind the loading block that is arranged to bias the bolt catch of the weapon into a bolt retaining position when the bolt is in a battery position.
A bolt catch assembly including a bolt engagement leg, a sliding member engagement leg, a contact member and an arrangement for enabling the bolt catch assembly to pivot about a pivot axis. The bolt engagement leg is configured for engaging a bolt of a firearm to hold the bolt in an open position. The sliding member engagement leg is connected to the bolt engagement leg. The contact member resiliently mounted on the sliding member engagement leg. The contact member is configured for being displaced between a static position and a displaced position whereby a catch engagement force is generated in response to the contact member being moved from the static position toward the displaced position. The arrangement for enabling the bolt catch assembly to pivot is disposed between the bolt engagement leg and the sliding member engagement leg thereby enabling the bolt engagement leg and the sliding member engagement leg to be pivoted in unison about the pivot axis of the bolt catch assembly.
A firearm including a barrel, an upper receiver, a lower receiver, a cartridge magazine top, a magazine follower, and a magazine spring. The upper receiver has the barrel attached thereto. The lower receiver is pivotably attached to the upper receiver. The lower receiver comprises a one piece frame member forming a magazine well with an integral substantially closed bottom end. The magazine top is stationarily attached to the lower receiver. The magazine top comprises inward projecting rear cartridge retaining ears and front cartridge feeding lips at a top aperture through the magazine top. The magazine follower is movably located in the magazine well of the lower receiver. The spring is located between the closed bottom end of the magazine well and the magazine follower.
An M-4 firearm having a lower receiver assembly and an upper receiver assembly. The upper receiver assembly is connected to the lower receiver assembly. The lower receiver assembly has a fire control assembly. The upper receiver assembly has a barrel and a hand guard. The hand guard has a venting features for allowing cooling air to pass therethrough. The hand guard has a heat shield mounted therein. The hand guard has at least one peripheral device mounting rail. The hand guard has an upper portion and a removable lower portion. The removable lower portion has at least one peripheral device mounting rail. The removable lower portion may be removed and replaced with a different second removable lower portion without the removal of fasteners.
