Modified break-action firearm

Abstract

A break-action firearm for high caliber ammunition is described. In some arrangements, the firearm is a rifle. The higher caliber ammunition may be, for example, fifty caliber ammunition. The firearm includes a barrel that is hingedly coupled to a lower portion of the firearm. A latching mechanism secures the barrel in a firing position and releases the barrel from the firing position. The barrel includes a screw-on breech cap that is threadedly coupled to the end of the barrel. The breech cap includes a firing pin. When an ammunition cartridge is loaded into the barrel, the screw-on breech cap is installed, and the barrel is secured in the firing position, a user can pull a trigger that causes a firing hammer to hit the firing pin thereby firing the ammunition cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm comprising:
 a lower portion having a grip, a trigger, and a firing hammer;   a barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end, the barrel hingedly coupled to the lower portion such that the barrel is rotatable between a ready-to-fire position in which the breech end is adjacent to the lower portion, and a non-firing position in which the breech end is displaced from the lower portion; and   a screw-on breech cap threadedly coupled to the breech end of the barrel, the screw-on breech cap including a firing pin.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the screw-on breech cap rotates with the barrel when the barrel is rotated to the non-firing position so as to expose the screw-on breech cap for removal from the barrel. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 2 , wherein the firing pin of the screw-on breach cap is displaced from the firing hammer when the barrel is rotated to the non-firing position such that the firing pin cannot be struck by the firing hammer when the barrel is in the non-firing position 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion includes a spring loaded latch configured to secure a locking lug of the barrel when the barrel is in the ready-to-fire position. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the barrel is structured to receive a fifty caliber ammunition cartridge. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the screw-on breech cap includes wrench flats or protrusions structured to assist with removal of the screw-on breech cap from the breech end of the barrel. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the screw-on breech cap further includes an extraction mechanism structured to pull an ammunition cartridge from the barrel upon removal of the screw-on breech cap from the barrel. 
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the barrel defines an x-axis when the barrel is in the ready-to-fire position, wherein a y-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis, and a z-axis is perpendicular to the x-axis and the y-axis. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the barrel rotates with respect to the lower portion about the y-axis. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm of  claim 8 , wherein the barrel rotates with respect to the lower portion about the z-axis. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper receiver assembly coupled to the barrel. 
     
     
         12 . A firearm comprising:
 a lower portion having a grip, a trigger, and a firing hammer;   a barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end, the barrel coupled to the lower portion such that the barrel is slidable between a ready-to-fire position in which the breech end is adjacent to the lower portion, and a non-firing position in which the breech end is displaced from the lower portion; and   a screw-on breech cap threadedly coupled to the breech end of the barrel, the screw-on breech cap including a firing pin.   
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the screw-on breech cap slides with the barrel when the barrel is slid to the non-firing position so as to expose the screw-on breech cap for removal from the barrel. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 13 , wherein the firing pin of the screw-on breach cap is displaced from the firing hammer when the barrel is slid to the non-firing position such that the firing pin cannot be struck by the firing hammer when the barrel is in the non-firing position. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 12 , wherein the screw-on breech cap further includes an extraction mechanism structured to pull an ammunition cartridge from the barrel upon removal of the screw-on breech cap from the barrel. 
     
     
         16 . A firearm comprising:
 a lower portion having a grip, a trigger, and a firing hammer;   a barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end, the barrel coupled to the lower portion such that the barrel is slidable and rotatable between a ready-to-fire position in which the breech end is adjacent to the lower portion, and a non-firing position in which the breech end is displaced from the lower portion; and   a screw-on breech cap threadedly coupled to the breech end of the barrel, the screw-on breech cap including a firing pin such that the firing pin cannot be struck by the firing hammer when the barrel is in in the non-firing position.   
     
     
         17 . A firearm comprising:
 a lower portion having a grip, a trigger, and a firing hammer;   a barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end, the barrel hingedly coupled to the lower portion such that the barrel is rotatable between a ready-to-fire position in which the breech end is adjacent to the lower portion, and a non-firing position in which the breech end is displaced from the lower portion; and   a breech having a breech body and a sliding plate slidably received within the breech body, the sliding plate hingedly coupled to the lower portion such that, when the barrel rotates between the ready-to-fire position and the non-firing position, the sliding plate slides with respect to the breech body.   
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 17 , further comprising a link hingedly coupling the sliding plate and the lower portion, the link structured to slide the sliding plate to a closed position when the barrel is rotated to the ready-to-fire position. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 18 , wherein the link is further structured to slide the sliding plate to an open position when the barrel is rotated to the non-firing position. 
     
     
         20 . The firearm of  claim 19 , further comprising an extraction mechanism structured to pull an ammunition cartridge from the barrel upon the sliding plate being slid to the open position.