Limited use firearm

Abstract

A method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm including replacing a former portion of a firing mechanism of the firearm with a new portion, and constructing the new portion of the firing mechanism with a mechanical strength weaker than the former portion so that the new portion mechanically fails after significantly less rounds have been fired from the firearm than with the former portion.

1 . A method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm comprising:
 replacing a former portion of a firing mechanism of the firearm with a new portion, and constructing said new portion of the firing mechanism with a mechanical strength weaker than the former portion so that said new portion mechanically fails after significantly less rounds have been fired from the firearm than with the former portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein constructing said new portion of the firing mechanism with the weaker mechanical strength comprises constructing said new portion of a material whose yield strength is weaker than that of the former portion. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein constructing said new portion of the firing mechanism with the weaker mechanical strength comprises constructing said new portion with dimensions that obtain a smaller moment of inertia than that of the former portion. 
     
     
         4 . A method for controlling a lifetime of a firearm comprising:
 placing an element in the firearm, wherein after a certain number of rounds has been fired from the firearm, said element moves to a position that prevents a firing mechanism of said firearm from firing a round.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein after the certain number of rounds has been fired, said element moves to a position that prevents a round from being chambered for firing. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising providing said firearm with a shot counter that causes said element to move to the position that prevents the firing mechanism of said firearm from firing a round. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising providing a warning before the certain number of rounds has been fired that the firearm will soon be rendered unfit for firing. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising providing a processor that controls deployment of said element, said processor being programmable by a user to set the certain number of rounds to a user-selected number. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising providing a processor that controls deployment of said element, said processor being programmable by a user to set the certain number of rounds to a user-selected number. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein said shot counter is programmable by a user to set the certain number of rounds to a user-selected number. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising providing said firearm with a remote-controllable element that renders said firearm unfit for use after the certain number of rounds.