Modular magazine well insert system for firearm

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10677552-B2
Application number	US-201916241536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2019
Priority date	Jan 9, 2018
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

A modular magazine well insert system accepts and latches different types of magazines including front and side catch styles. The system includes a plurality of magazine well inserts each having a common mounting interface which interfaces with a mounting feature formed in a receptacle of the firearm stock. The inserts may have a common basic configuration with some different features adapted for use with different magazine catch features, such as latching levers for front catch magazines or lateral apertures to access side catch magazines. A universal latch stud slideably mounted in the stock comprises features which cooperate with each of the magazine well inserts to retain and release both catch styles of magazines in the insert.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular magazine well insert system for a firearm, the system comprising:
a longitudinal axis of the firearm;
a stock defining an open mounting receptacle;
an elongated magazine latch stud transversely disposed in the stock proximate to the receptacle, the latch stud slideably movable in a lateral direction between a locked position and an unlocked position;
a first magazine well insert configured for insertion and detachable mounting in the receptacle, the first magazine well insert comprising a walled body defining a downwardly open central cavity configured for receiving a first magazine therein having a front catch feature, and a pivotable first latch lever movable to selectively retain or release the first magazine when positioned in the central cavity; and
a second magazine well insert configured for insertion and detachable mounting in the receptacle, the second magazine well insert comprising a walled body defining a downwardly open central cavity configured for receiving a second magazine therein having a side catch feature;
wherein the first and second magazine well inserts each have a common first mounting interface configured to mate with a corresponding second mounting interface formed in the receptacle of the stock.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the latch stud includes a cam surface configured to operably engage the first latch lever when the first magazine well insert is positioned in the receptacle, wherein sliding the latch stud between the locked and unlocked positions correspondingly pivots the first latch lever between a latched position which retains the first magazine in the first magazine well insert and an unlatched position which releases the first magazine from the first magazine well insert.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the latch stud further includes a side latch protrusion configured to operably engage the side catch feature of the second magazine when the second magazine well insert is positioned in the receptacle, wherein sliding the latch stud between the locked and unlocked positions correspondingly moves the side latch protrusion between a latched position which retains the second magazine in the second magazine well insert and an unlatched position which releases the second magazine from the second magazine well insert.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the second magazine well insert includes a lateral aperture, the side latch protrusion insertable through the lateral aperture to engage the side catch feature of the second magazine when the side latch protrusion is in the latched position.

5. The system according to claim 2 , further comprising a third magazine well insert configured for insertion and detachable mounting in the receptacle, the third magazine well insert comprising a walled body defining a downwardly open central cavity configured for receiving a third magazine therein having a front catch feature different than the front catch feature of the first magazine, the third magazine well insert including a pivotable second latch lever movable to selectively retain or release the third magazine when positioned in the central cavity of the third magazine well insert.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the cam surface of the latch stud is further configured to operably engage the second latch lever when the third magazine well insert is positioned in the receptacle, wherein sliding the latch stud between the locked and unlocked positions correspondingly pivots the second latch lever between a latched position which retains the third magazine in the third magazine well insert and an unlatched position which releases the third magazine from the third magazine well insert.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the latch stud includes an operating button on a first end and a latch member on a second end configured to engage the side catch feature of the second magazine when the second magazine well insert is positioned in the receptacle.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the latch member of the latch stud includes an inwardly extending side latch protrusion which engages the side catch feature of the second magazine when the second magazine well insert is positioned in the receptacle.

9. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a spring acting on the latch stud and arranged to bias the side latch protrusion inwards towards the receptacle.

10. The system according to claim 7 , further comprising a laterally open aperture formed in each of a pair of opposing lateral sidewalls of the first and second magazine well inserts, the operating button received at least partially in a first one of the apertures and the latch member received at least partially in a second one of the apertures.

11. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising a spent cartridge ejector mounted to a rear wall of each of the first and second magazine well inserts.

12. The system according to claim 11 , further comprising a vertically elongated last round hold open actuator slideably mounted proximate to a front wall of each of the first and second magazine well inserts, the hold open actuator configured and arranged to engage a follower of the first or second magazine when positioned in the first or second magazine well inserts respectively.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the latch stud is slideably supported by a pair of laterally spaced apart support blocks disposed in a longitudinally-extending cavity of the stock forward of the receptacle.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the common first mounting interface of the first and second magazine well inserts comprises a pair of peripheral mounting flanges extending protruding laterally outwards from sidewalls of the first and second magazine well inserts.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the mounting flanges are arranged to engage corresponding upward facing longitudinal seating surfaces formed in the stock within the receptacle.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the first and second magazine well inserts are retained in the stock by a receiver removably mounted to the stock, the mounting flanges being trapped between the longitudinal seating surfaces of the stock and bottom surfaces of the receiver.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the mounting flanges each include a castellated configuration defining a plurality of top bearing surfaces on each mounting flange which engage the bottom surfaces of the receiver.

18. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the receptacle has a configuration which cannot retain the first or second magazine in the stock without the first or second magazine well inserts.

19. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second magazines are configured for holding ammunition cartridges of the same size.

20. A modular magazine well insert system for a firearm, the system comprising:
a longitudinal axis of the firearm;
a stock extending along the longitudinal axis and including a right sidewall, a left sidewall, and an upwardly open stock receptacle configured for mounting one of a plurality of interchangeable magazine well inserts therein each configured and operable to retain an ammunition magazine;
each of the plurality of magazine well inserts have a common mounting interface configured to mate with a corresponding upward facing mounting interface formed on the stock within the stock receptacle and a downward facing mounting interface formed on

Assignees

• Sturm Ruger & Co
• Sturn Ruger & Company Inc

Inventors

• Wilkinson Todd
• Saunders Frank J

Classifications

• F41A3/66

  Breech housings or frames; Receivers · CPC title

• F41A9/65

  Box magazines having a cartridge follower · CPC title

• F41A11/02 Primary

  Modular concepts, e.g. weapon-family concepts · CPC title

• F41A17/38

  {Magazine mountings, e.g. for} locking the magazine in the gun · CPC title