US3667147A

US3667147A - Rising block rifle and feed mechanism therefor

Info

Publication number: US3667147A
Application number: US5002A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris Goldin; Leonard W Price
Original assignee: US Department of Army
Current assignee: US Department of Army
Priority date: 1970-01-22
Filing date: 1970-01-22
Publication date: 1972-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-06

Abstract

A rifle for use in either full automatic or semiautomatic mode in which a cam system is reciprocated in a direction parallel to the rifle axis either manually or by a gas driven system. The cam system cocks the firing hammer and vertically reciprocates a rifle breech block containing the firing chamber. In the uppermost position, the firing chamber is aligned with a firing pin, which detonates the primer charge in a cartridge, actuated by the hammer when a sear is released by the rifle trigger. When the breech block is in a lowered position the firing chamber is aligned with apertures in a magazine through which a rammer is driven by the cam system for movement of cartridges into the chamber. A spring-biased gate closes the rear end of the firing chamber when the block is in the lowered position, but opens to allow ejection of a round which has not been fired when the next cartridge is driven into or an ejector tube is driven through, the chamber.

Description

[ 1 June 6, 1972 [54] RISING BLOCK RIFLE AND FEED MECHANISM THEREFOR [72] lnventors: Morris Goldin, Orange; Leonard W. Price,

Marina Del Rey, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army [22] Filed: Jan. 22, 1970 [2 Appl.No.: 5,002

[52] US. Cl. ..42/15, 42/ 395, 89/33 A, 89/33 MC [51] lnt.Cl. ..F4lc 13/00, F410 1 H04, F41d 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..42/1 5, 27, 39.5; 89/17, 24,

89/33 MC, 33 A 3,547,001 12/1970 Stoner ..42/39.5

Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Att0rneySmyth, Roston & Pavitt 57 ABSTRACT A rifle for use in either full automatic or semiautomatic mode in which a cam system is reciprocated in a direction parallel to the rifle axis either manually or by a gas driven system. The cam system cocks the firing hammer and vertically reciprocates a rifle breech block containing the firing chamber. in the uppermost position, the firing chamber is aligned with a firing pin, which detonates the primer charge in a cartridge, actuated by the hammer when a sear is released by the rifle trigger. When the breech block is in a lowered position the firing chamber is aligned with apertures in a magazine through which a rammer is driven by the cam system for movement of cartridges into the chamber. A spring-biased gate closes the rear end of the firing chamber when the block is in the lowered position, but opens to allow ejection of a round which has not been fired when the next cartridge is driven into or an ejector tube is driven through, the chamber.

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures RISING BLOCK RIFLE AND FEED MECHANISM THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention described was made in the course of or under a contract or subcontract (or grant) with the Department of the Army.

Large advances have been made in the field of ammunition, particularly with the advent of caseless cartridges. Such cartridges, basically comprising a projectile mounted within a tube of gunpowder, have been formed with the projectile extending beyond the end of the gunpowder tube and also with the projectile completely within the limits of the tube. The former cartridge has become known as the Frankfort Arsenal Caseless type; the latter has become known as the Fully Telescoped Caseless type and is more completely described in a the copending United States patent application Ser. No. 5031 filed 22 Jan. 70, entitled FULLY TELESCOPED CASELESS CARTRIDGE, and assigned to the assignee hereof.

In firearms which have been modified so as to be suitable for firing such cartridges, problems have arisen in that the cartridges are more fragile than Standard Brass Cartridges and the gunpowder tube will break when a relatively low stress is exerted on it. In such firearms in which the cartridge must be moved along an angle relative to its axis, or ramped as it is being removed from a magazine when it is being delivered to a firing chamber, it has been found that pieces of the gunpowder tube are easily broken off, decreasing the efficiency of the cartridge and increasing both potential damage to the components of the firearm and obturation thereof.

Additionally, no known firearms have been devised prior to this invention which provide for as positive an ejection from the firing chamber of a cartridge which has not been fired either because it was a dud or because it is desired to clear the block. Systems have been devised which grip the cartridge either at the front or rear end thereof and draw or pull it from within the firing chamber. However, it has been found that such devices tend to break the gunpowder tube. When breakage occurs, it is possible that the projectile will remain within the firing chamber and be removable therefrom only by disassembly of the firearm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a rifle which can be fired in the semi-automatic or full automatic mode. The concepts embodied in the rifle can be used with any type of cartridge desired but are particularly favorably embodied in a firearm which fires caseless cartridges of the type described in the previously cited U. S. patent application Serial No. 5,031.

A plurality of such cartridges may be stored within a magazine such as that described in the U. S. application Serial No. 885,036, filed Dec. 15, 1969, entitled SEALED CAR- TRIDGE MAGAZINE, and assigned to the assignee hereof. Such a magazine, or any other type desired, is releasably mounted on the rifle so as to co-operate with a rammer unit which passes through the magazine to positively inject a cartridge into the firing chamber within a rising block.

The rising block is displaced at right angles to the rifle bore for loading and clearing by a cam system which may be moved manually, by conventional gas reciprocation, or any other desired system. When the block is in the lowered position, the chamber is aligned with the magazine; as the rammer unit passes therethrough, the chamber receives a cartridge from the magazine. Thus, the cartridge is loaded into the firing chamber in a straight line and avoids unacceptable bending loads with the resultant possibility of damaging the cartridge.

If, for some reason, the cartridge is not fired, when the block is returned to the lowered position, the next cartridge being injected into the firing chamber exerts a positive driving or pushing force upon the unfired cartridge, ejecting it from the firing chamber. Thus, ejection of an unwanted cartridge is also performed in a straight line, preventing damage to the gunpowder tube of either the cartridge being injected or that being ejected.

The reciprocation of the cam system also serves to cock the firing hammer so that it is ready to be released either by pulling the rifle trigger or by an automatic sear release mechanism.

The present invention comprises a firearm system in which the combustion chamber is independent of the barrel and may be displaced from the normal firing position. Since the firing chamber is thereby separated from the hottest portion of the barrel, the rate of temperature rise in the chamber wall is thereby diminished and the probability of undesirable cartridge ignition or cook-off" is also reduced.

As an added feature of the invention, a firing pin has been provided which is integral with the rear portion of the breech. In this manner, the problem of sealing the portion of the rifle has been obviated and a more effective heat dissipation path has been provided, thereby reducing firingpin erosion.

When the rifle is fired, a pair of sealing rings at the ends of the firing chamber serve to seal the chamber to both the firing pin and the rifle bore.

The firing pin comprises a spring-biased member having a primer impact portion which is surrounded by an integral breech ring to cooperate with the sealing ring in the adjacent portion of the rising block to produce an effective seal in that area.

In summary therefore, the present invention results in a firearm which allows a straight line feeding of cartridges, thereby obviating potential damage through undesirable bending stresses. Additionally, the invention allows a positive, straight line ejection of cartridges from the firing chamber whether a new cartridge is being driven into the chamber or the chamber is being cleared entirely.

Other objects, advantages, modes, and embodiments of the invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art through perusal of the Detailed Description and the accompanying drawings which illustrate what is presently considered to be a preferred embodiment of the best mode contemplated for utilizing the concepts and novel principles which are set forth in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a portion of a preferred embodiment of a rifle utilizing the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the positions of the operating parts of the rifle during one portion of the firing cycle;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, broken away to more clearly illustrate portions of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the rifle taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A firearm utilizing the concepts of the present invention is generally illustrated at 11 in FIG. 1. Basically, the firearm comprises a barrel 13 having a rifled bore 15 extending from the front of the barrel to a breech section generally illustrated at 17.

A trigger 19, within a finger guard 21, actuates a firing hammer 23, biased by a spring 25, through a release of a scar mechanism 27 in a well known manner. When released, the firing hammer 23 impacts the rear end 29 of a firing pin 31. A conical head 33, integral with pin 31, has a sealing ring 35 which extends completely around the periphery of the head at the forward face thereof. A cartridge impact point 37 is mounted in the center of the leading face of the conical head for detonation of a cartridge primer when the rear end 29 of the rod 31 is impacted by the hammer 23. The conical head 33 is held in the breech section 17 within a conical bore 39. A spring 41 acting against a washer-like member 43 which is firmly fixed on the pin 31, and against the bottom of a bore 45 in the breech section, permits the firing pin to detonate the cartridge by moving to the right, as shown in the figure. Then the spring causes the pin to be withdrawn to the left until the conical head 33 is seated against the conical bore 39.

Elongated cam plates 47 on either side of the rifle, are reciprocated in a manner to be described, so that trailing cam surfaces 49 thereon, acting against corresponding cam followers 51 on either side of the hammer 23, will serve to cock the hammer to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein it is maintained by the sear 27 until the trigger 19 is pulled.

The cam plates 47 are guided for reciprocation past the breech section 17 by an upper track 53 and a lower track 58 which are fixed to the breech section and may extend forward therefrom as desired. The forward ends of the cam plates 47 are fastened to a cartridge ramrod 57 by any suitable means, suc as pins 59 extending into a block 61 which may be adjustably mounted on the forward end of the rod 57. An intermediate portion of the cam plates may be fastened by pins 63 to a block 65 which is fastened to the piston rod 67 of a well known gas actuation system 69 for operation of the firearm in the automatic mode. When necessary, the cam plate 47 can also be reciprocated by exerting a manual force on the pins 63.

The cam plate 47 is continuously biased toward the forward position illustrated in FIG. 1 by a spring 71 acting against the gas actuation block 65 and, to some extent, by a spring 73 acting against the cartridge ramrod block 61. Thus, when the cam plates 47 are moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to that illustrated in FIG. 2, and beyond as shown in phantom, the cam surfaces 49, acting against the cam followers 51, will serve to cock the hammer 23. When the gas pressure in the system 69 becomes reduced, or when the pins 63 are released by the operator, springs 71 and 73 will return the cam plates to the position of FIG. 1.

A cam slot 75 in an intermediate section of each of the cam plates 47 acts upon a cam follower pin 77 which is formed integral with, or fixed to, a breech block 79 which may be vertically reciprocated in a close tolerance fit within a pathway 81. Reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 together with illustrate that reciprocation of the cam plate 47 will cause the breech block to move from the position shown in FIG. 1, in which the firing chamber 83 therein is aligned with the bore 15, to the vertically lower position illustrated in FIG. 2 in which the firing chamber 83 is aligned with an aperture 85 and an aperture 87 in the forward and rear walls of the pathway 81, respectively. The apertures 85 and 87 are positioned coaxially and have the same diameter as the firing chamber 83 so that, when the breech block 79 is in the vertically lower position, the firing chamber 83 and apertures 85 and 87 form a continuous passage of constant diameter.

A magazine 89 is positioned and held within a receiver 91 in any suitable, well known fashion, such as a latch member 125. Although the firearm may be utilized with any desired magazine and any suitable cartridge, the description of this embodiment is being directed toward the use of a sealed cartridge magazine of the type disclosed in the previously cited copending application Ser. No. 885,036, and containing fully telescoped, case-less cartridges as disclosed in the previously cited copending application Ser. No. 5,031. When the magazine 89 is positioned within the receiver, a rear aperture 93, having a diameter which is identical to that of aperture 85, is coaxially aligned with the apertures 85 and 87. A forward aperture 95 in the magazine is also positioned coaxially with the apertures 93, 85, and 87, but has a slightly smaller diameter. A spring 97 (FIG. 2) within the magazine 89 forces cartridges 99 upwardly within the magazine until each one, in turn, is coaxially aligned with the front and rear apertures 93 and 95.

A tubular cylinder 111, mounted in the forward end of the receiver 91 slidingly receives an ejector tube 113 through which the cartridge ramrod 57 slidably passes. The tube 111 and aperture 85 form a guidepath for cartridge movement structure to be described.

The ejector tube 113 is mounted upon an enlarged portion 115 of the ramrod 57 and is forced against a shoulder 117 thereon by the spring 73. The relative diameters of the tube 1 13 and enlarged section 115 are such that section 115 of the ramrod will pass through the front opening of the magazine 89; the ejector tube will not, but will be stopped when the structure moves to the left by contact with the front surface of the magan'ne about the aperture 95.

Within the breech section 17, and behind the rear wall of pathway 81, an ejection gate 119 is biased by a spring 121 about a pivot 123 to close the aperture 87. Although illustrated as acting about a vertical pivot, the gate may move in any desired plane.

In operation, a magazine 89 is positioned in the receiver and locked in place, for example by the latching means 125. A manual force, toward the rear of the rifle, is exerted on the pins 63 to draw the cam plates 47 from the position illustrated in FIG. 1 toward the rear of the rifle. When the ejection tube 1 13 contacts the front surface of the magazine about the aperture 95, its movement will be stopped. The enlarged section of the ramrod 57 will continue to move toward the rear of the rifle, passing through the aperture 95 to abut the front surface of a cartridge 99.

The movement of the cam plates will cause the breech block 79 to be moved from the position of FIG. 1 to that of FIG. 2 so that the firing chamber 83 will be aligned with the rear opening 93 of the magazine and the forward aperture 85 of the vertical pathway 81. Continued movement of the ramrod toward the rear of the rifle will drive the uppermost cartridge in the magazine into the firing chamber 83. When the cam plates have been moved to the extreme leftward position, beyond that illustrated in FIG. 2, the cartridge injection into the firing chamber will be complete. The pins 63 are then released, and the cam plates 47 travel back to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 under the influence of springs 71 and, partially, 73. If the adjustment of the ramrod stroke has been such that the cartridge 99 has been driven partially into the aperture 87 at the rear of the pathway 81, the spring 121, acting on the gate 11 9,will cause the cartridge to be moved slightly forward, until it is in the proper position completely within the firing chamber, as soon as the forward portion of the cartridge is no longer in contact with the ramrod section 1 15.

As the pin 77 enters the portion of cam slot 75 having a vertical component, vertical motion is transmitted to the breech block 79, causing it to return to the position shown in FIG. 1 wherein the firing chamber 83 is coaxially aligned with the bore 15 and the firing pin cartridge impact point 37. The hammer 23, which has been cocked to the position illustrated by the rearward movement of the cam plates 47 in the manner previously described, is now released by exerting a force on trigger 19, causing the firing pin to impact upon the primer in the cartridge 99 in the firing chamber, to fire the projectile within the cartridge through the rifled bore 15 and out of the forward end of the barrel 13.

A pair of expansion rings 127 and 129, about the periphery of the firing chamber 83 at the rear and forward portions thereof, respectively, are expanded momentarily by the rapid increase in pressure within the firing chamber when the cartridge is acted upon by the firing pin. The rear expansion ring 127 expands against its mounting surfaces within the breech block 79 and also against the sealing ring 35 on the leading face of the firing pin. The forward expansion ring 129 expands against its seating surfaces and the forward surface of the pathway 81 about the periphery of the firing chamber. Thus, the pressure of the combustion gases within the firing chamber are all exerted on the projectile rather than being lost through leakages in the breech section 17.

If the projectiles 99 are of the caseless cartridge type, the firing chamber 83 will be completely empty when the combustion has been completed. With the gun set for semi-automatic operation, the cycle is repeated, except for actuation of the hammer 23 by the gas actuation system 69. If, on the other hand, the gun is set for automatic operation, the gas actuation system 69 will cause the entire cycle, including firing, to be repeated automatically.

If the concepts of this invention are used with Standard Brass Cartridges, a casing will remain within the firing chamber which must be ejected before the next cartridge can be inserted therein. On the other hand, in instances where a caseless cartridge or a Standard Brass Cartridge happens to be a dud, the entire cartridge must be ejected from the firing chamber. In either of these instances, the cam plates are once again moved toward the rear of the rifle, by the system 69 if a cartridge was fired or manual actuation if the cartridge was not fired, so that the rarnrod section 115 causes a new cartridge 99 to move into the firing chamber 83 of the lowered breech block 79. With particular reference to FIG. 2, it can be seen that as a new cartridge 99 is injected into the firing chamber, the shell or dud cartridge 99 is ejected through the aperture 87, past the ejection gate 1 19, and allowed to fall vertically to the ground or, other surfaceThe breech block is then raised so that the newly injected cartridge is positioned as shown in FIG. 1.

When the last cartridge in the magazine is injected into the firing chamber 83, the rarnrod 115 will not be able to eject a shell or dud cartridge from the firing chamber 83 since its travel distance is restricted to passage through the magazine and it cannot extend into the firing chamber. Therefore, when the last cartridge has been a dud, or when it is desired to ensure that the firing chamber has been completely cleared and no further firing is to take place, the magazine 89 may be removed from the receiver 91 and the cam plates moved toward the rear of the rifle. Since the travel of the ejector tube 113 can no longer be restricted clue to contact with the forward surface of magazine 89, it will pass through the receiver section 91 and the firing chamber 83 of the lowered breech block 79, causing anything within the chamber to be expelled through the ejection aperture 87 at the rear of the pathway 81 and past the ejection gate 119.

In this manner, as the cam plates 47 are driven from the position of FIG. 1, past the position of FIG. 2, until they have reached the limit of their travel, new cartridges are injected into the firing chamber 83 and rejected cartridges or casings are ejected from the rifle. In this way, obturation problems are eliminated and the cartridges are kept relatively cool until such time as they are to be fired, thereby decreasing the probability of undesired cartridge ignition since the separation of the firing chamber from the hottest portion of the barrel diminishes the rate of temperature rise in the walls of the firing chamber within the breech block.

Thus, one embodiment of a firearm utilizing the concepts of the present invention has been disclosed and illustrated as yielding a true advance in the weaponry art. Many modifications and alterations of the disclosed embodiment within the scope of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art, wherefore it is claimed as the invention is:

We claim:

1. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough, a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore, a breech block having a firing chamber therein,

means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto,

including cam means for moving said breech block between a first position for injection of cartridges into said firing chamber and a second position for firing of cartridges in said firing chamber,

receiver means mounted thereon for holding a cartridge magazine on said rifle, and

means mounted on said movable means for injecting a cartridge from a magazine in said receiver means into said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position.

2. The rifle of claim 1 including means for properly axially positioning an injected cartridge in said firing chamber if said injecting means improperly axially positions a cartridge therein. 3. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough,

a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore,

a breech block having a firing chamber therein,

means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto,

including cam means for moving said breech block between a first position for injection of cartridges into said firing chamber and a second position for firing of cartridges in said firing chamber, and

means mounted on said movable means for ejecting a cartridge from said firing chamber, when said breech block is in said first position, by exerting an axially directed pushing force through said firing chamber.

4. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough, a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore, a breech block having a firing chamber therein, means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto,

means mounted on said movable means for passage through said receiver means comprising first means for injecting a cartridge from a magazine into said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position and second means for clearing said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position.

5. The rifle of claim 4 wherein said second means includes obstruction means for preventing passage of said second means through said receiver means when a cartridge magazine is mounted in said receiver means.

6. The rifle of claim 4 wherein said second means includes means mounted coaxially with said first means and in abutment therewith and biasing means acting between said first and second means to tend to maintain them in abutment.

7. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough, a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore, a breach block having a firing chamber therein, means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto,

including cam means for moving said breech block between a first position for injection of cartridges into said firing chamber and a second position for firing of cartridges in said firing chamber, and gate means on said rifle for substantially closing one end of said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position.

8. The rifle of claim 7 including biasing means acting upon said gate means to maintain it in said firing chamber closing position, and

means mounted on said movable means for clearing said firing chamber, when said breech block is in said second position, and for moving any matter therein past said gate means against the force of said biasing means.

9. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough a breech block mounted for movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said bore adjacent the rear end of said barrel, including a firing chamber therein having an axis which is parallel to the axis of said bore, and a cam follower thereon,

a firing pin adjacent said breech block on the opposite side thereof from said barrel,

a movable cam plate mounted on said rifle having cam means thereon cooperating with said cam follower to produce movement of said breech block between a first position in which said firing chamber may receive cartridges and be cleared and a second position in which said firing chamber is coaxially aligned with said bore and said firing pin,

a pathway extending radially from the axes of said bore and said firing pin for guiding the movement of said breach block,

a magazine receiver adjacent said pathway including a guidepath therethrough having an axis which is parallel to the axis of said bore, and

cartridge moving means fixed to said cam plate for movement therewith through said guide path.

10. The rifle of claim 9 wherein said cartridge moving means comprises means for injecting a cartridge into said firing chamber and ejecting any other matter therefrom when said breech block is in said first position and a magazine is in said receiver, and means for ejecting all matter from said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position and a magazine is not in said receiver. 11. The rifle of claim 10 including a magazine in said receiver means including a first aperture in a side thereof adjacent said pathway,

said first aperture having a first diameter which is great enough to permit passage of a cartridge therethrough and a second aperture in the opposite side of said magazine,

said second aperture having a second diameter which is smaller than said first diameter to prevent passage of said ejecting means therethrough while permitting passage of said injecting means therethrough, said first and second apertures being coaxial with one another and with a cartridge in said magazine.

Claims

1. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough, a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore, a breech block having a firing chamber therein, means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto, including cam means for moving said breech block between a first position for injection of cartridges into said firing chamber and a second position for firing of cartridges in said firing chamber, receiver means mounted thereon for holding a cartridge magazine on said rifle, and means mounted on said movable means for injecting a cartridge from a magazine in said receiver means into said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position.

2. The rifle of claim 1 including means for properly axially positioning an injected cartridge in said firing chamber if said injecting means improperly axially positions a cartridge therein.

3. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough, a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore, a breech block having a firing chamber therein, means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto, including cam means for moving said breech block between a first position for injection of cartridges into said firing chamber and a second position for firing of cartridges in said firing chamber, and means mounted on said movable means for ejecting a cartridge from said firing chamber, when said breech block is in said first position, by exerting an axially directed pushing force through said firing chamber.

4. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough, a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore, a breech block having a firing chamber therein, means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto, including cam means for moving said breech block between a first position for injection of cartridges into said firing chamber and a second position for firing of cartridges in said firing chamber, receiver means mounted thereon for holding a cartridge magazine on said rifle, and means mounted on said movable means for passage through said receiver means comprising first means for injecting a cartridge from a magazine into said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position and second means for clearing said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position.

7. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough, a firing pin coaxially aligned with said bore, a breach block having a firing chamber therein, means mounted on said rifle, and movable relative thereto, including cam means for moving said breech block between a first position for injection of cartridges into said firing chamber and a second position for firing of cartridges in said firing chamber, and gate means on said rifle for substantially closing one end of said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position.

8. The rifle of claim 7 including biasing means acting upon said gate means to maintain it in said firing chamber closing position, and means mounted on said movable means for clearing said firing chamber, when said breech block is in said second position, and for moving any matter therein past said gate means against the force of said biasing means.

9. A rifle comprising a barrel having a bore extending therethrough a breech block mounted for movement in a direction perpendicular to the axis of said bore adjacent the rear end of said barrel, including a firing chamber therein having an axis which is parallel to the axis of said bore, and a cam follower thereon, a firing pin adjacent said breech block on the opposite side thereof from said barrel, a movable cam plate mounted on said rifle having cam means thereon cooperating with said cam follower to produce movement of said breech block between a first position in which said firing chamber may receive cartridges and be cleared and a second position in which said firing chamber is coaxially aligned with said bore and said firing pin, a pathway extending radially from the axes of said bore and said firing pin for guiding the movement of said breach block, a magazine receiver adjacent said pathway including a guidepath therethrough having an axis which is parallel to the axis of said bore, and cartridge moving means fixed to said cam plate for movement therewith through said guide path.

10. The rifle of claim 9 wherein said cartridge moving means comprises means for injecting a cartridge into said firing chamber and ejecting any other matter therefrom when said breech block is in said first position and a magazine is in said receiver, and means for ejecting all matter from said firing chamber when said breech block is in said first position and a magazine is not in said receiver.

11. The rifle of claim 10 including a magazine in said receiver means including a first aperture in a side thereof adjacent said pathway, said first aperture having a first diameter which is great enough to permit passage of a cartridge therethrough and a second aperture in the opposite side of said magazine, said second aperture having a second diameter which is smaller than said first diameter to prevent passage of said ejecting means therethrough while permitting passage of said injecting means therethrough, said first and second apertures being coaxial with one another and with a cartridge in said magazine.