Side handle firearm actuation system

Abstract

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, a firearm actuation system is provided. The firearm actuation system, comprising a housing, a guide, a countoured actuation handle, and a bolt. The system provides an actuation mechanism for an AR-15 which is engagable by a shooter where the AR-15 is in a shouldered firing position. The contoured actuation handle may be retained in the retaining slot to provide an action-open-position. The housing may also comprise a mounting rail with a plurality of grooves, where each groove may be configured with a unique indicator.

1 . A firearm actuation system, comprising:
 a housing defining an internal cavity;   a mounting rail coupled to said housing, said mounting rail configured with a plurality of grooves, wherein at least a portion of the grooves comprise unique indicators;   a guide defining a guide slot, said guide is retainably installed within said housing such that said slot provides access to said internal cavity;   a contoured actuation handle slidably installed within said guide slot, wherein said contoured actuation handle protrudes from a side of said housing;   a bolt installed within said housing and an engagable by said contoured actuation handle;   a first feed ramp; and   a second feed ramp, said first feed ramp and said second feed ramp operatively coupled to said housing, wherein said bolt is configured to engage and advance a plurality of alternatively arranged rounds of ammunition such that said plurality of alternatively arranged rounds of ammunition are advanced by said bolt along said first feed ramp and said second feed ramp.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said contoured handle is engagable by a shooter from a shouldered firing position. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said contoured actuation handle is coated with a corrosion resistant coating. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing further comprises a retaining slot. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said contoured actuation handle is retained in said retaining slot to provide an action-open-position. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is at least a portion of an upper receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a barrel assembly coupled to said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said firearm is an AR-15. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is provided without a forward assist mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting rail is a picatinny rail. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said picatinny rail conforms to a military specification. 
     
     
         12 . A gas operated semi-automatic firearm, comprising;
 an upper assembly comprising:
 a first housing defining an internal cavity; 
 a guide defining a guide slot, said guide is retainably installed within said first housing such that said slot provides access to said internal cavity; 
 a contoured actuation handle slidably installed within said guide slot, wherein said contoured actuation handle protrudes from a side of said first housing; 
 a bolt installed within said housing and an engagable by said contoured actuation handle;
 a mounting rail operatively coupled to said housing and is configured to receive an accessory, said mounting rail configured with a plurality of grooves, wherein at least a portion of the grooves comprise unique indicators; 
 
 a first feed ramp; and 
 a second feed ramp; 
   a barrel assembly coupled to said first housing;   a lower assembly, comprising:
 a second housing defining a magazine well, said magazine well; 
 a trigger mechanism installed within said second housing; 
   said first housing operatively coupled to said second housing, wherein said first feed ramp and said second feed ramp of said first housing are adjacent to said magazine well, and wherein said bolt is configured to engage and advance a plurality of alternatively arranged rounds of ammunition provided in a magazine removably installed at said magazine will such that said plurality of alternatively arranged rounds of ammunition are advanced by said bolt from said magazine along said first feed ramp and said second feed ramp.   
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein said contoured handle is engagable by a shooter from a shouldered firing position. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein said mounting rail comprises a plurality of grooves, and wherein each of said plurality of grooves comprises a unique indicator. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein said first housing further comprises a retaining slot. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein said contoured actuation handle is retained in said retaining slot to provide an action-open-position. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating a firearm, comprising:
 providing a an firearm comprising an upper receiver, said upper receiver comprising a housing slidably coupled to a contoured actuation handle such that said contoured actuation handle protrudes from said side of said housing of said upper receiver;   applying a first force to said handle, wherein said first force causes a spring loaded bolt assembly to travel to an action-open-position;   applying a second force to said handle, wherein said handle is rotated into a retaining slot of said upper receiver and wherein said handle retains said spring loaded bolt assembly in an action open position;   applying a third force to said handle, wherein said handle is rotated out of said retaining slot, and wherein said spring loaded bolt assembly travels to an action-closed-position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said contoured handle is engagable by a shooter from a shouldered firing position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said upper receiver further comprises a mounting rail, said mounting rail comprises a plurality of grooves, and wherein each of said plurality of grooves comprises a unique indicator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said upper receiver further comprises a first feed ramp and a second feed ramp, said first feed ramp and said second feed ramp, and wherein said spring loaded bolt assembly is configured to engage and advance a plurality of alternatively arranged rounds of ammunition such that said plurality of alternatively arranged rounds of ammunition are advanced by said spring loaded bolt assembly along said first feed ramp and said second feed ramp in alternating fashion as said spring loaded bolt assembly travels from said action-open-position to said action-closed-position.