Dual action shotgun

Abstract

The dual action shotgun includes a receiver that has an auto-loading mechanism coupled to a magazine. The magazine extends outwardly from the receiver to facilitate sliding movement of an action arm thereon relative to the receiver. A manually operable foregrip also slidable along the magazine is positioned to manually operate the action arm to prepare a cartridge and the firing mechanism of the shotgun independent of the operation of the auto-loading mechanism.

1 . A dual action shotgun, comprising:
 a receiver having an auto-loading mechanism for automatically preparing a cartridge to be fired from the shotgun;   a magazine coupled to and extending outwardly from the receiver;   an action arm coupled to the magazine and slidable relative to the receiver; and   a manually operable foregrip slidable along the magazine and positioned to manually operate the action arm to prepare the cartridge and firing mechanism of the shotgun independent of the operation of the auto-loading mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The shotgun of  claim 1 , wherein the action arm includes a coupling disposed about and slidable relative to the magazine. 
     
     
         3 . The shotgun of  claim 2 , including a spring positioned between the coupling and the receiver to bias the action arm away from the receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The shotgun of  claim 1 , including an alignment member slidable along the magazine and coupled to the foregrip. 
     
     
         5 . The shotgun of  claim 4 , wherein the alignment member includes a flange that slidably resides within a channel in the foregrip. 
     
     
         6 . The shotgun of  claim 4 , including a detent that pivots relative to the alignment member to selectively engage a barrel retaining ring coupled to the magazine. 
     
     
         7 . The shotgun of  claim 6 , wherein the detent selectively locks the alignment member to the barrel retaining ring. 
     
     
         8 . The shotgun of  claim 7 , including a spring disposed between the alignment member and an engagement block of the foregrip. 
     
     
         9 . The shotgun of  claim 8 , wherein the spring biases the detent toward engagement with the barrel retaining ring. 
     
     
         10 . The shotgun of  claim 8 , wherein the engagement block is positioned to selectively engage or disengage the detent from the barrel retaining ring with movement of the foregrip. 
     
     
         11 . The shotgun of  claim 8 , wherein the alignment member is disposed between the engagement block and the action arm. 
     
     
         12 . The shotgun of  claim 1 , wherein the auto-loading mechanism comprises a gas operated mechanism, a blow-back mechanism, a recoil mechanism, or an inertia driven mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The shotgun of  claim 1 , wherein the magazine comprises a tube disposed below a barrel of the shotgun. 
     
     
         14 . A dual action shotgun, comprising:
 a receiver for receiving a cartridge to be fired from the shotgun;   a magazine coupled to and extending outwardly from the receiver;   an action arm coupled to an auto-loading mechanism and movable thereby within the receiver, wherein the action arm includes a coupling disposed about and slidable relative to the magazine;   a manually operable foregrip slidable along the magazine and positioned to manually operate the action arm to prepare the cartridge and firing mechanism of the shotgun independent of the operation of the auto-loading mechanism;   an alignment member slidable along the magazine and coupled to the foregrip;   a detent pivotable relative to the alignment member to selectively engage a barrel retaining ring coupled to the magazine; and   a spring disposed between the alignment member and an engagement block of the foregrip.   
     
     
         15 . The shotgun of  claim 14 , including a second spring positioned between the coupling and the receiver to bias the action arm away from the receiver, wherein the alignment member is disposed between the engagement block and the action arm. 
     
     
         16 . The shotgun of  claim 14 , wherein the alignment member includes a flange that slidably resides within a channel in the foregrip and the engagement block is positioned to selectively engage or disengage the detent from the barrel retaining ring with movement of the foregrip. 
     
     
         17 . The shotgun of  claim 14 , wherein the detent selectively locks the alignment member to the barrel retaining ring and the spring biases the detent toward engagement with the barrel retaining ring. 
     
     
         18 . The shotgun of  claim 14 , wherein the auto-loading mechanism comprises a gas operated mechanism, a blow-back mechanism, a recoil mechanism, or an inertia driven mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . A dual action shotgun, comprising:
 a receiver;   a magazine coupled to and extending outwardly from the receiver;   an action arm coupled to an auto-loading mechanism and movable thereby within the receiver;   a manually operable foregrip slidable along the magazine and positioned to manually operate the action arm to prepare a cartridge for firing independent of the operation of the auto-loading mechanism;   an alignment member slidable along the magazine and including a flange that slidably resides within a channel in the foregrip, wherein the alignment member is disposed between an engagement block of the foregrip and a coupling of the action arm;   a detent pivotable relative to the alignment member to selectively engage a barrel retaining ring coupled to the magazine; and   a spring disposed between the alignment member and the engagement block, wherein the engagement block is positioned to selectively engage or disengage the detent from the barrel retaining ring with movement of the foregrip.   
     
     
         20 . The shotgun of  claim 19 , including a second spring positioned between the coupling and the receiver to bias the action arm away from the receiver, wherein the detent selectively locks the alignment member to the barrel retaining ring, the spring biases the detent toward engagement with the barrel retaining ring and the auto-loading mechanism comprises a gas operated mechanism, a blow-back mechanism, a recoil mechanism, or an inertia driven mechanism.