Rifle action with blind pocket for mechanical type case ejector

Abstract

A rifle action for a firearm includes a receiver, a breech bolt and a mechanical case ejector. The receiver has a receiver bore, a first sidewall with an opening for ejecting shell casings, and a second sidewall with a blind pocket on a side facing the receiver bore. The ejector is rotatably mounted by a pin that extends vertically between top and bottom surfaces of the blind pocket. The ejector has a base that fits into the blind pocket and a finger that extends into the receiver bore. The ejector has a first position in which the finger is located out of a path of movement of the breech bolt, and a second position in which the finger extends into a path of movement of the breech bolt upon rearward movement of the bolt to eject shell casings from the receiver bore. The blind pocket can be formed by EDM.

1 . A firearm comprising:
 a receiver comprising an integral machined structure having a receiver bore extending therethrough, and first and second sidewalls on opposite sides of said receiver bore, said first sidewall having an opening for ejecting shell casings, and said second sidewall having a blind pocket which is open on a side facing said receiver bore and closed on a side facing away from said receiver bore, wherein said blind pocket comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and front and rear sides, wherein said blind pocket is located completely within said integral machined structure, and wherein said blind pocket is closed on said front and rear sides;   a breech bolt supported in the receiver bore between said first and second sidewalls for reciprocal movement longitudinally into and out of breech closing position; and   a mechanical case ejector rotatably mounted in said blind pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm according to  claim 1 , wherein said blind pocket is located in said second sidewall rearward of said opening in said first sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The firearm according to  claim 3 , wherein said case ejector is rotatably mounted by a pin that extends vertically through said blind pocket between said top and bottom surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm according to  claim 1 , wherein said case ejector comprises a base that fits into said blind pocket, a finger that extends from said base into said receiver bore, and a pivot axis that extends vertically through said base. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm according to  claim 5 , wherein said case ejector has a first position in which said finger of said case ejector is located out of a path of movement of said breech bolt, and a second position in which said finger extends into a path of movement of said breech bolt to engage and eject a shell casing from said receiver bore. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm according to  claim 6 , wherein said case ejector is arranged to move from said first position to said second position upon rearward movement of said breech bolt within the receiver bore of said receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm according to  claim 7 , wherein said blind pocket has a surface profile that corresponds in shape to an outer profile of a base of said case ejector so that a front portion of said base nests in a front part of said blind pocket when the case ejector is in said first position, and a rear portion of said base nests within a rear part of said blind pocket when the case ejector is in said second position. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm according to  claim 6 , wherein said finger is substantially thinner in a vertical direction than said base, said breech bolt has a front face with a slot, and said case ejector is arranged so that said finger extends into said slot when the case ejector is in said second position. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm according to  claim 6 , wherein said base of said case ejector has a front portion and a rear portion and said pivot axis is located between said front and rear portions, and said front portion of said base nests within a front part of said blind pocket when the case ejector is in said second position, and said rear portion of said base nests within a rear part of said blind pocket when the case ejector is in said first position. 
     
     
         11 . A receiver for a bolt action firearm, comprising:
 an integral machined structure having a receiver bore extending therethrough for receiving a breech bolt, a first sidewall having an ejection opening for ejecting shell casings, and a second sidewall on an opposite side of the receiver bore from said ejection opening; and   said integral machined structure having a blind pocket formed in said second sidewall for receiving a mechanical case ejector;   wherein said blind pocket comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and front and rear sides, wherein said blind pocket is located completely within said integral machined structure, and wherein said blind pocket is open on a side facing said receiver bore, closed on a side facing away from said receiver bore, and closed on said front and rear sides.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The receiver according to  claim 12 , wherein said blind pocket has bore holes in the top and bottom surfaces for receiving a pin for rotatably mounting the case ejector. 
     
     
         14 . A method of making a receiver for a bolt action firearm, comprising:
 providing an integral structure having a receiver bore for receiving a breech bolt, a first sidewall having an ejection opening for ejecting shell casings, and a second sidewall on an opposite side of the receiver bore from said ejection opening; and   forming a blind pocket in said second sidewall for receiving a mechanical case ejector, wherein said blind pocket comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and front and rear sides, wherein said blind pocket is located completely within said integral structure, and wherein said blind pocket is open on a side facing said receiver bore, closed on a side facing away from said receiver bore, and closed on said front and rear sides.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said blind pocket is formed by electrical discharge machining. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein said electrical discharge machining comprises passing an electrode through said ejection opening and across said receiver bore to said second sidewall to form said blind pocket in said second sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said electrode has a tip with a shape corresponding to a predetermined shape of said blind pocket. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein said blind pocket is formed rearward of said ejection opening by angling said electrode rearwardly through said ejection opening and across said receiver bore. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said blind pocket comprises top and bottom surfaces, and further comprising forming a vertical bore hole in said second sidewall that passes through the top and bottom surfaces of the blind pocket for receiving a pin for rotatably mounting the case ejector. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein a lower part of said vertical bore hole is open to an outer surface of said receiver to provide an access opening for inserting a pin into said vertical bore hole to rotatably mount the case ejector in said blind pocket.