Patent Publication Number: US-10309736-B2

Title: Shell loading system for firearm

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/703,164 filed May 4, 2015, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/987,526 filed May 2, 2014; the entireties of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to firearms, and more particularly to ammunition shell feeding or loading systems suitable for shotguns. 
     In the design of a semi-automatic firearm such as shotgun, the energy or force needed to fully cycle the action (i.e. open and close the breech) is obtained via expelled gas, inertia, or some other force when the firearm is discharged. This energy or force moves the slide to the rear of receiver. The slide houses and supports the bolt which moves rearward and forward with the slide to form an open action or breech and a closed action or breech in different positions. As the slide travels backwards it must, first unlocking the bolt from the barrel, extract the chambered spent shell, compress the recoil spring, cock the hammer, rotate the carrier pawl, and interact with the carrier latch to correctly time the release of a fresh shell from the magazine tube into the action. 
     The two conventional ways of timing the release of the shell is to either: (1) allow the carrier latch to contact the slide, in which case this design would increase the friction and force needed to cycle the action; or (2) to release the shell from the magazine tube by pulling the trigger and allow the hammer to interact with the carrier latch, in which case this design would require an additional user operated button to release shells if the action is cycled by hand without pulling the trigger. Both of the foregoing scenarios are undesirable from an operational standpoint. 
     An improved shell loading system for a firearm is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A shell loading system is provided which overcomes the foregoing shortcomings. The shell loading system includes a carrier latch disconnect used in the firing and shell loading sequence to time the release of the carrier latch for locking the carrier into the downward loading position for receiving a shell from the magazine, and to block the carrier latch from engaging the carrier when required to upload the shell for chambering. In one non-limiting arrangement, the carrier latch disconnect is operated via the carrier pawl by interaction with the slide. This advantageously results in greater user convenience and smoother operation of the firing and shell loading mechanism. 
     In one aspect, a shell loading system for a firearm includes: a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and a chamber configured to hold a shell; a receiver coupled to the barrel; an axially reciprocating slide disposed in the receiver and movable between forward and rearward positions; a bolt carrier by the slide and axially aligned with the barrel for forming a closed breech; a magazine configured to retain and feed a plurality of shells into the receiver; a carrier pivotably mounted to the receiver and positioned to receive a shell from the magazine, the carrier movable between a downward loading position and upward feeding position, a pawl pivotably mounted to the carrier, the pawl positioned to alternatingly engage and disengage the slide; a carrier latch pivotably movable from an outward position to an inward position engaging and locking the carrier in the loading position; and a carrier latch disconnect operated by the pawl and pivotably movable into and out of engagement with the carrier latch; wherein rotating the pawl in a first direction disengages the carrier latch disconnect from the carrier latch, and rotating the pawl in a second direction engages the carrier latch disconnect with the carrier latch. 
     In another aspect, a shell loading system for a firearm includes: a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and a chamber configured to hold a shell; a receiver coupled to the barrel; an axially reciprocating slide and bolt assembly disposed in the receiver and movable between forward and rearward positions; a magazine configured to retain and feed a plurality of shells into the receiver; a carrier movably mounted to the receiver about a first pivot axis, the carrier movable between a downward loading position to receive a shell from the magazine and an upward shell feeding position; a pawl movably mounted to the carrier about a second pivot axis, the slide operable to rotate the pawl between an activated position engaged with the slide and a deactivated position disengaged from the slide; a spring-biased carrier latch pivotably mounted to the receiver and laterally movable to engage the carrier; and a pivotably movable carrier latch disconnect operated by the pawl and interposable between the carrier and carrier latch; wherein rotating the pawl in a first direction inserts a blocking portion of the carrier latch disconnect between the carrier latch and carrier thereby blocking the carrier latch from engaging the carrier, and rotating the pawl in a second direction removes the carrier latch disconnect from between the carrier and carrier latch thereby allowing the carrier latch to engage the carrier. 
     A method for loading ammunition into a firearm is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes steps of: providing a firearm including a barrel, a receiver, a reciprocating slide aligned with the barrel and movable in forward and rearward axial directions, a bolt carried by the slide and movable therewith into and out of battery with the barrel, a tubular magazine containing a shell, a shell carrier axially aligned with the magazine and pivotably movable between downward and upward positions, and a pivotably mounted carrier latch laterally movable in position to engage or disengage the carrier; placing the carrier in the downward position; positioning a blocking surface of a carrier latch disconnect between the carrier and the carrier latch, the carrier latch disconnect pivotably mounted to the carrier about a first pivot axis; moving the slide in the rearward direction; engaging the slide with a pawl pivotably mounted on the carrier about a second pivot axis to rotate an upper leg of the pawl downwards; rotating a lower leg of the pawl upwards about the second pivot axis; engaging the lower leg of the pawl with an operating arm of the carrier latch disconnect; rotating the operating arm of the carrier latch disconnect upwards about the first pivot axis; rotating the blocking surface of the carrier latch disconnect downwards, wherein the blocking surface is removed from the position between the carrier and carrier latch; and engaging the carrier latch with the carrier to lock the carrier in the downward position. 
     According to another aspect, a shell loading system including a carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism is provided. The detent mechanism is configured and operable to prevent carrier bounce when the carrier drops back downward from the upward feed position for chambering a new shell. This allows a new shell from the magazine to feed properly into the action, thereby advantageously allowing firing in rapid succession without shell feed jams as further described herein. 
     In one embodiment, a shell loading system for a firearm includes: a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and a chamber configured to hold a shell; a receiver coupled to the barrel and comprising a firing control housing supporting a trigger-actuated firing mechanism operable to discharge the firearm; an axially reciprocating slide disposed in the receiver and movable between forward and rearward positions; a bolt carried by the slide and axially aligned with the barrel for forming a closed breech; a magazine configured to retain and feed a plurality of shells into the receiver; a carrier assembly comprising: a carrier pivotably mounted in the receiver and positioned to receive a shell from the magazine, the carrier movable between a downward loading position for receiving shells from the magazine and upward feeding position for chambering the shells; a pawl pivotably mounted to the carrier and positioned to engage the slide; a first detent feature disposed on the firing control housing configured to selectively and slideably engage a second detent feature disposed on the carrier assembly; wherein the first and second detent features are fully engaged when the slide is in the forward position and releasably restrain the carrier in the downward loading position. In one embodiment, the first and second detent features are disengaged when the slide is in the rearward position allowing the carrier to move from the downward loading position to the upward feeding position. In one embodiment, the first detent feature may be a protrusion and the second detent feature may be a slot that releasably engages the protrusion. 
     According to another embodiment, a shell loading system for a firearm includes: a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and rear breech end defining a chamber configured to hold a shell; a receiver coupled to the barrel and supporting a trigger-actuated firing mechanism operable to discharge the firearm; an axially reciprocating slide disposed in the receiver and movable between forward and rearward positions; a magazine configured to retain and feed a plurality of shells into the receiver, a carrier pivotably mounted in the receiver, the carrier movable between a downward loading position for receiving the shells from the magazine and upward feeding position for chambering the shells with the slide; a pawl pivotably mounted to the carrier and positioned to engage the slide; and a carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism comprising a stationary first detent feature disposed on the receiver and a movable second detent feature disposed on the pawl, the first detent feature selectively engageable with the second detent feature; wherein rotating the pawl in a first direction disengages the first and second detent features, and rotating the pawl in a second direction mutually engages the first and second detent features. 
     According to another embodiment, a method for operating a shotgun having carrier detent mechanism includes: providing a shotgun including a barrel, a receiver, a reciprocating slide aligned with the barrel and axially movable into and out of battery with the barrel respectively, a tubular magazine containing a shell, a shell carrier assembly axially aligned with the magazine and pivotably movable between downward and upward positions, and a carrier detent mechanism movable to selectively engage or disengage the carrier assembly; firstly moving the slide to a forward closed breech position in battery with the barrel; mutually engaging a first detent feature on the receiver with a second detent feature on the carrier assembly, the engaged first and second detent features releasably holding the carrier assembly in the downward position; and secondly moving the slide to a rearward open breech position, the slide acting on the carrier assembly to disengage the second detent feature from the first detent feature on the receiver, the disengaged first and second detent features allowing the carrier to move from the downward position to the upward position. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description hereafter and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawings where like elements are labeled similarly, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a right partial cross sectional elevation view of one exemplary embodiment of a receiver portion of a firearm including a shell loading system according to the present disclosure, the firearm shown in a ready-to-fire position with a closed breech; 
         FIG. 2  is a right cross-sectional view thereof showing a shell partially extracted from the chamber and slide/bolt assembly moving rearwards with a partially open breech; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the carrier assembly of  FIG. 1  including the carrier, pawl, and carrier latch disconnect; 
         FIG. 4  is a right partial cross sectional elevation view of the firearm of  FIG. 1  showing the shell partially extracted from the chamber and slide/bolt assembly moving farther rearwards with a partially open breech; 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of the carrier assembly and carrier latch of  FIG. 1  in a first operating position; 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of the carrier assembly and carrier latch of  FIG. 1  in a second operating position; 
         FIG. 6  is a right partial cross sectional elevation view of the firearm of  FIG. 1  showing the shell ejected from the firearm and slide/bolt assembly moving farther rearwards with a fully open breech; 
         FIG. 7A  is a top plan view of the carrier and carrier latch in a first operating position engaging a shell; is a left side elevation view of the firearm showing an accessible shell release lever; 
         FIG. 7B  is a top plan view of the carrier and carrier latch in a second operating position disengaging and releasing the shell; 
         FIG. 8  is a right partial cross sectional elevation view of the firearm of  FIG. 1  showing the shell being lifted by the carrier upwards for loading into the barrel with a fully open breech, the carrier is in an upper tilted feeding position; 
         FIG. 9  is a right partial cross sectional elevation view thereof showing the shell being loaded into the barrel with a partially closed breech and the carrier returned to a downward horizontal loading position; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the shell loading system components in a first operating position with a cocked hammer; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view thereof in a second operating position with a released hammer for discharging the firearm; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a carrier latch disconnect and pawl that further includes a carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view thereof showing initial contact between the released hammer and the carrier latch disconnect with disconnect in an upward blocking position; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing full contact between the released hammer and the carrier latch disconnect with disconnect in a downward non-blocking position; 
         FIG. 15  is a further perspective view of the second embodiment of  FIG. 12  showing the interaction of the reciprocating slide with carrier pawl; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the lower receiver including a first detent feature of the detent mechanism; 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the pawl showing a second detent feature of the detent mechanism; 
         FIG. 18  is perspective view showing the action of the firearm and detent mechanism in a first position; 
         FIG. 19  is perspective view showing the action of the firearm and detent mechanism in a second position; 
         FIG. 20  is perspective view showing the action of the firearm and detent mechanism in a third position; 
         FIG. 21  is perspective view showing the action of the firearm and detent mechanism in a fourth position; and 
         FIG. 22  is perspective view showing the action of the firearm and detent mechanism in a fifth position; 
     
    
    
     All drawings are schematic and not necessarily to scale. Parts shown and/or given a reference numerical designation in one figure may be considered to be the same parts where they appear in other figures without a numerical designation for brevity unless specifically labeled with a different part number and described herein. References herein to a whole figure number (e.g.  FIG. 1 ) shall be construed to be a reference to all subpart figures in the group (e.g.  FIGS. 1A, 1B , etc.) unless otherwise indicated. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The features and benefits of the invention are illustrated and described herein by reference to exemplary embodiments. This description of exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. Accordingly, the disclosure expressly should not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features. 
     In the description of embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. 
     The term “action” is used herein in its conventional sense in the firearm art to connote the mechanism that loads and ejects shells into/from the firearm and opens and closes the breech (i.e. the area in the receiver between an openable/closeable breech face on the front of the bolt and the rear face of barrel chamber). 
       FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9  are longitudinal cross section elevation views of the receiver portion of a shotgun  20  showing sequential positions of the action as it is cycled using a shell loading system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The shotgun may be configured as an auto-loading inertia driven or expelled exhaust gas operated loading mechanism in some embodiments as disclosed herein. Although the present disclosure and drawings depict a shotgun, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited in its applicability to shotguns alone. Accordingly, the firearm may be a rifle using a carrier or lift to load ammunition cartridges into the action which may equally benefit from the present invention. 
     Shotgun  20  generally includes a receiver  40 , a barrel  50  supported by the receiver, a forearm  24  for grasping the shotgun, and a trigger-actuated firing mechanism  19  including a trigger  30  movably supported by the receiver. The forearm  24  may be supported by the barrel  50  and/or front end of the receiver  40 . The forearm  24  may be made of natural materials (e.g. wood) and/or synthetic materials (e.g. plastic, fiberglass, carbon-graphite composites, etc.), and is not limiting of the invention. 
     The receiver  40  includes a lower receiver  48  that supports the firing mechanism  19  and an upper receiver  49  axially aligned with and coupled to the barrel  50 . Lower receiver  48  may be considered and configured as a firing control housing  148  as shown which supports the trigger-operated firing mechanism components and portions of the shell loading system as described herein. The receiver  40  forms an internally open receptacle that houses the firing mechanism components, which may include an axially slidable slide  58 , rotatable locking bolt  42  which is carried by the slide and movable therewith to form a locked or unlocked breech, a spring-biased striker or firing pin  41  carried by the bolt and slide for detonating a chambered shell  60 , a spring-biased pivotable hammer  31  operable to strike an exposed rear end of the firing pin  41  protruding from the slide for detonating the shell (see, e.g.  FIGS. 8 and 9 ), a forwardly spring-biased sear  35  operable to hold and release the hammer from a cocked position for discharging the shotgun via a trigger pull, and other parts and linkages to form a fully functional firing and shell loading system. 
     Sear  35 , biased by sear spring  35   b , is positioned behind the hammer  31  and includes a downwardly extending hook  35   a  arranged to engage a sear notch  31   a  formed on the hammer for holding the hammer in the rearward cocked position. Spring  35   b  acts to create a positive engagement between the hook  35   a  and sear notch  31   a  in the absence of a trigger pull to avoid inadvertent firing. Slide  58  and bolt  42  are biased in a forward direction toward a closed breech position (i.e. bolt head in battery with barrel) by one or more recoil springs  59 . The slide  58  may include a laterally protruding operating handle  58   a  to manually cycle the action. 
     The barrel  50  has an open rear breech end  51  defining a chamber  53  configured for holding a shell and an opposite open front muzzle end. The area rear of the shell chamber  53  defines an openable/closeable breech in conjunction with the axially movable bolt  42 . The barrel  50  has an axially extending bore  54  forming a projectile pathway between the barrel ends which is coaxially aligned with and defines the longitudinal axis LA and corresponding axial direction. The barrel  50  may be coupled to the front end  45  of the receiver  40  at the upper receiver  49  in axial alignment with the bolt  42  and firing pin  41 . In one embodiment, barrel  50  may be threadably attached to the receiver  40 ; however, other modes of attachment may be used. 
     The bolt  42  has an exposed head  44  protruding forward from the slide  58  that includes radially protruding lugs configured to engage mating lugs at the rear end  51  of the barrel  50  for forming a locked or unlocked breech, as is well known in the art without further elaboration. The front end of the bolt head  44  defines a vertical breech face  43  that engages and supports the rear head  62  and integral rim or flange  64  of the chambered shell  60  when the breech is closed for firing (see, e.g.  FIGS. 1 and 7A -B indicating shell parts). The front end of firing pin  41  extends from inside the slide  58  through the breech face  43  of the bolt head  44  for contacting and detonating when the rear end of the firing pin is struck by the hammer  31 . 
     The shell loading system of shotgun  20  will now be further described. Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 , shotgun  20  further includes a tubular magazine  80  configured for holding a plurality of shotgun shells  60 . Magazine  80  defines a shell feeding axis Af, which in the illustrated embodiments is substantially parallel to longitudinal axis LA. Shells  60  include a metallic head  62  (typically formed from brass), a diametrically enlarged rear rim or flange  64  formed thereon, and case or hull  61  that contains the shot/projectile and wadding (see, e.g.  FIGS. 7A-B ). 
     The magazine  80  includes an elongated tubular body (also referred to as “magazine tube”) which may formed of a metal tube having cylindrical walls  81  that form an axially extending internal cavity  82  configured and dimensioned to hold the shells  60  in horizontally stacked end-to-end relationship. In other possible embodiments, a non-metal tube may be used (e.g. plastic or other). Magazine  80  includes a closed front end and an open rear end  85  for loading and dispensing shells  60 . A magazine spring  86  and follower  87  assembly is disposed inside the magazine tube. The spring  86  has a front end abutting the closed front end of the magazine and rear end engaging the follower  87 . The spring  86  biases the follower  87  rearward for feeding the stack of shells  60  into the receiver  40  (e.g. lower receiver  48 ). 
     The magazine  80  may be attached to and supported by the barrel  50  and lower receiver  48  in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, the rear end  85  of the magazine  80  may be threadably or slideably inserted into a forwardly open socket  46  formed on the front end  45  of the lower receiver  48  for coupling magazine tube to the receiver. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear end  85  of the magazine  80  has external threads  75  to rotatably engage an internally threaded socket  46  in lieu of a sliding slip fit. Other mounting arrangements and configurations are possible. 
     The forearm  24  of the shotgun  20  has an a longitudinally extending open channel  25  which receives and at least partially encloses the magazine  80 . Accordingly, the magazine  80  may be substantially concealed and disposed inside the forearm. The channel  25  may be open at the top for mounting over the magazine  70  giving the forearm  24  a generally U-shaped transverse cross-sectional shape. The magazine  80  is disposed below the barrel and arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis LA. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-11 , the shotgun  20  further includes a carrier  22  for uploading shells  60  to be chambered into the action. Carrier  22  rotates about its pivot axis  103  formed by transverse mounting pin  103   a  coupled to the receiver  40  (e.g. lower receiver  48  also considered a firing control housing). A carrier pawl  21  in turn is pivotably connected to the carrier  22  and operable to rotate about its pivot axis  102  formed by a second transverse mounting pin  102   a . Pivot axes  102  and  103  may be parallel in relationship with pivot axis  102  being located rearward of axis  103 . The carrier pawl  21  interfaces with and operates the carrier  22  and a carrier latch disconnect  200 , as further described herein. Carrier  22  is axially aligned with the shell feed axis Af defined by the tubular magazine  80  for dispensing shells  60  onto the carrier, as further described herein. 
     A spring  104  is connected to the rear of carrier pawl  21 . In one non-limiting embodiment, spring  104  may be a torsion spring as shown having one leg attached to the receiver  40  and the other leg attached to the pawl above and rearward of pivot axis  102 . A rearwardly extending spring mounting protrusion  104   a  may be provided for attachment of the spring to the pawl as shown. It will be appreciated that other types of springs may be used, such as helical compression springs or others. The direction of the spring force  105  rotates (clockwise) and biases the rear mounting portion  22   b  of the carrier  22  upwards and concomitantly the front loading portion  22   a  of the carrier  22  downwards, and also rotates the carrier pawl (clockwise) about axis  102  to a vertical or upright deactivated position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Accordingly, spring  104  acts to bias both the pawl  21  and carrier  22  to which the pawl is connected. 
     As the slide  58  moves toward the rear of the receiver when the action is cycled, either manually by hand or automatically under recoil by firing the chambered shell, a bottom surface  90  of the slide contacts the carrier pawl  21  causing it to rotate downwards in a counter-clockwise direction  101  about its pivot axis  102  to an activated position, as sequentially shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . In one embodiment, the bottom surface  90  of slide  58  may be obliquely angled with respect to the longitudinal axis LA (see, e.g.  FIG. 4 ) for smooth non-binding engagement with the carrier pawl. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the carrier pawl  21  and a carrier latch disconnect  200  both pivotably connected to the carrier  22 . In one embodiment, the carrier latch disconnect  200  may be pivotably mounted to the carrier  22  about the carrier pivot axis  103  and mounting pin  103   a  to conserve parts and space. In other embodiments, the carrier latch disconnect may be mounted on a separate pivot axis and pin. Both the carrier pawl  21  and carrier latch disconnect  200  are pivotably movable independently of each other and the carrier  22 . Accordingly, both the carrier pawl and carrier latch disconnect may move while the carrier remains stationary. 
     In one configuration, the carrier  22  includes a front end defining a front loading portion  22   a  configured as an open tray-like structure configured to hold a shell and a rear end defining a rear mounting portion  22   b  for coupling the carrier to the receiver  40 . The rear mounting portion  22   b  may have a bifurcated structure in one embodiment comprised of horizontally/laterally spaced apart right and left ear plates  23   a  and  23   b  as best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 7A -B. The ear plates  23   a ,  23   b  may have a substantially flat configuration and vertical orientation as shown. The carrier pawl  21  and carrier latch disconnect  200  may be connected to one of the ear plates  23   a  as shown preferably on the same side of the receiver  40  as the carrier latch  150 . The carrier mounting pin  103   a  extends through both ear plates  23   a ,  23   b  in one embodiment. 
     Carrier  22  is pivotably and vertically movable from a downward loading position for receiving shells  60  from magazine  80  (see, e.g.  FIG. 6 ) to an upward feeding position (see, e.g.  FIG. 8 ) for feeding shells into the breech area of the upper receiver  49  where the shells become positioned to be engaged and chambered by the sliding slide-bolt assembly as the breech and action closes. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 5A -B,  6 ,  10 , and  11 , carrier pawl  21  has an elongated body comprising a lower leg  106  positioned below pivot axis  102  (i.e. pin  102   a ) and an upper leg  200  positioned above pivot axis  102  when the pawl is in an upright vertical position. The lower leg  106  is rotatable upwards (counter-clockwise) about pivot axis  102  and positioned to engage a rearwardly extending actuating arm  201  of the carrier latch disconnect  108 . The upper leg  200  includes a terminal end  202  which is configured and positioned to engage the bottom surface  90  of slide  58  (see also  FIGS. 4, 6, and 8 ). Terminal end  202  may include a V-shaped extension  203  which is arranged to engage a pawl notch  114  disposed on the bottom surface  90  of slide  58  for holding the slide in a rearward position associated with a fully open breech for uploading shells into the upper receiver  49  (see, e.g.  FIGS. 6 and 8 ). In one embodiment, a rearwardly extending protrusion  201  may be provided for fastening one leg of spring  104  to the pawl  21 . The other end of spring  104  may be fastened to the lower receiver  48 . Spring  104  biases the carrier pawl  21  forward into a vertical upright position substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis LA, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The pawl  21  is pivotably movable rearwards (counter-clockwise) from the upright position to a downward position oriented at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis LA (see, e.g.  FIG. 6 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 5A -B,  6 ,  10 , and  11 , the carrier latch disconnect  108  has an elongated body comprising rearwardly extending actuating arm  201  positioned rearward of pivot axis  103  (i.e. pin  103   a ) and front blocking portion  204  extending forward from pivot axis  103 . Blocking portion  204  defines an outward facing front blocking surface  205   a  positionable by rotating the carrier latch disconnect  108  to engage a corresponding inward facing blocking surface  111   a  formed by an inward projecting carrier lock protrusion  111  on the rear of the carrier latch  150 . Accordingly, the blocking surface  205   a  is vertically oriented and interposable between the carrier  22  and carrier latch  150  for preventing engagement between the carrier lock protrusion  111  and carrier. In one embodiment, blocking surface  205   a  of the carrier latch disconnect  108  may be formed on a forwardly extending protrusion  205  of the blocking portion  204 . The carrier latch disconnect  108  is pivotably movable from an upper raised blocking position ( FIG. 5A ) laterally engaged with the carrier lock protrusion  111  on the rear end  150   b  of the carrier latch  150  to a downward lowered non-blocking position ( FIG. 5B ) disengaged from carrier lock protrusion  111 . When the carrier latch disconnect  108  is in a raised blocking position, the carrier latch  150  is blocked by the disconnect from rotating inwards to engage and hold down the carrier as further described herein. The carrier latch disconnect is biased upwards towards the blocking position by spring  115 . Spring  115  may be a helical compression spring in one embodiment; however, other types of springs may be used. The top end of the spring  115  may engage a downwardly projecting spring mounting tab  206  on the disconnect  108  to hold the spring in place (see, e.g.  FIGS. 10 and 11 ). 
     According to one aspect of the invention, it is advantageous to lock the carrier  22  down during firing to prevent the recoil of the firearm from affecting the position of the carrier during dispensing and loading of a shell  60  rearward from the magazine  80  onto the carrier. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by adding a hammer interface to the carrier latch disconnect  108 . The hammer interface comprises a laterally and inwardly extending cantilevered hammer stop arm  210  as best shown in  FIGS. 5A, 5B, 10, and 11 . Stop arm  210  may be disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis LA at a 90 degree angle (perpendicular) to the main body of the disconnect which is aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis. The stop arm  210  is arranged to engage the hammer  31  when released from the rearward cocked position. Upon firing as the hammer  31  rotates clockwise toward the firing pin, the hammer (spring biased in a forward clockwise direction) contacts the hammer stop arm  210  of the carrier latch disconnect  108 . This rotates and forces the front blocking surface  205   a  of the disconnect  108  downwards, thus disengaging the carrier latch  150  and allowing the rear carrier lock protrusion  111  on the rear end  150   b  of the latch to pivot inwards and engage the carrier  22  which is then locked in the downward loading position (see, e.g.  FIGS. 5B and 6 ). In the loading position, the carrier lock protrusion  111  on carrier latch  150  engages an upward facing horizontal surface  220  of the carrier  22  to retain and lock the carrier in the downward loading position. 
     Referring now generally to  FIGS. 1-11 , the carrier latch  150  cooperates with the carrier  22  to time and control the release of shells  60  from the magazine  80  so that only a single shell is loaded onto the carrier and raised into the breech area at a time to prevent jams. Carrier latch  150  is pivotably mounted to the right side of the receiver  40  (e.g. lower receiver  48 ) as illustrated via a transversely mounted vertical pin  154  that defines a pivot axis  110 . The carrier latch  150  has an elongated body extending between a front end  150   a  and rear end  150   b . A shell stop  152  is disposed on the front end  50   a  of the carrier latch  150  for retaining the shells in magazine  80  until dispensed. In one embodiment, the shell stop  152  may be pivotably mounted to a front portion of the carrier latch  150  about a vertically oriented pivot axis which may be formed by a pinned connection comprising transversely mounted vertical pin that defines a pivot axis  121 . The shell stop  152  includes an integral carrier latch operating button  120  (see, e.g.  FIGS. 7A-B ) which functions to both pivotably move the carrier latch  150  with respect to the receiver  40  and further to pivotably move the shell stop  152  with respect to the carrier latch to manually unload shells  60  from the magazine  80 . The pivot axes of the carrier latch  150  and shell stop  152  may each be vertical and parallel to one other in one embodiment. 
     The shell stop  152  has an elongated body and includes an inwardly hooked front end  152   a  positioned to engage the rear flange  64  of the rearmost shell  60  in the magazine  80  to retain the shell and control the further feed of shells into the breech in a conventional regulated fashion (see, e.g.  FIG. 7A ). When the action is cycled such as by firing the shotgun  20 , the carrier latch  150  is pivoted by the action to move the shell stop  152  laterally outwards away from the rear end  85  of magazine  80 . This disengages the shell stop  152  from the rearmost shell  60  which is then released to the carrier  22  by the spring-biased follower  87  for loading another round into the barrel chamber  53  (see, e.g.  FIG. 7B ). This process is repeated each time the shotgun is fired. 
     A method and process for operating the exemplary shell loading system will now be described. The process of loading a shell starts with  FIG. 1  showing shotgun  20  in the ready-to-fire condition. A shell  60  is chambered and the breech is closed with the bolt head  51  engaging and in battery with the head  62  of the shell. The rear end  150   b  of carrier latch  150  is pivoted outwards and front end  150   a  concomitantly pivoted inwards about the pivot axis  110  formed by pin  154  so that shell stop  152  engages the rim  64  of the shell to retain it in the tubular magazine  80  (see also  FIG. 7A ). The carrier latch disconnect  108  is in the raised blocking position preventing the carrier latch  150  from pivoting inwards to engage the carrier. Carrier  22  is held in the downward loading position by the upward biasing force  105  caused by spring  104  acting on the rear mounting portion  22   b  of the carrier through the carrier pawl  21  (see also  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 2  shows the shotgun  20  immediately after firing. The slide  58  and bolt  42  begin to move rewards under recoil as the spent (discharged) shell  60  is withdrawn from chamber  53  by the extractor  221  mounted on the bolt head  44 . 
     As the slide  58  continues to move toward the rear of the receiver  40 , the bottom surface  90  of the slide eventually contacts the terminal end  202  on upper leg  200  of the carrier pawl  21  as shown  FIG. 4  causing the pawl to rotate downwards in a counter-clockwise direction  101  about its pivot axis  102  (see directional arrow). In operation when the carrier pawl  21  is engaged by and rotates to pass underneath the slide  58  moving rearward, the lower leg  106  of the carrier pawl concomitantly rotates counter-clockwise and upward thereby contacting the underside of the rearward extending actuating arm  201  of the carrier latch disconnect  108 . This rotates the carrier latch disconnect  108  in a clockwise direction  107  about the carrier pivot axis  103  to lower the front blocking surface  205   a  of the disconnect which heretofore is laterally engaged with the inward projecting carrier lock protrusion  111  on the rear of the carrier latch  150  (see also  FIGS. 5A-B  and directional arrows). Once the front blocking surface  205   a  of the carrier latch disconnect  108  is no longer interspersed between the carrier and carrier latch and disengages protrusion  111  on the carrier latch  150 , the laterally acting carrier latch spring  109  now freely rotates the rear end  150   b  and protrusion  111  thereon of the carrier latch about its vertically oriented pivot axis  110  and over top of the carrier latch disconnect blocking surface  205   a , thus locking the carrier  22  in the downward loading position by engaging the rear of the carrier latch with the carrier and simultaneously rotating the shell stop  152  on the front of the carrier latch outward with the carrier latch to allow shells  60  to exit the magazine  80  tube. 
       FIG. 5A  shows the carrier latch  150  laterally contacting the carrier latch disconnect. The carrier latch disconnect  108  is in a raised blocking position in which the rear end  150   b  of the carrier latch  150  is blocked by the disconnect from rotating inwards to engage the carrier  22  (see directional arrows). 
       FIG. 5B  shows the rotating carrier pawl  21  simultaneously rotating the carrier latch disconnect  108  to disengage the carrier latch  150  and the rear carrier latch protrusion  111  thereon from blocking surface  205   a  of the disconnect. The now unblocked latch protrusion  111  is in the process of rotating inwards about its pivot axis  110  to engage horizontal surface  220  on the carrier  22 . The carrier  22  is locked in the downward loading position by the carrier latch  150 . The carrier latch disconnect  108  is in the lowered non-blocking position. 
     As the slide  58  continues rearward now referring to  FIG. 6 , the extracted shell  60  is ejected from the shotgun and the fresh shell in the magazine  80  tube is forced onto the carrier  22  by the magazine tube spring  86 . As the shell moves out of the magazine  80  tube and toward the rear of the receiver  40 , the rim  64  of the shell engages the rear end  150   b  of the carrier latch  150  causing the carrier latch to rotate laterally about its pivot axis  110  outward and compress the carrier latch spring  109  which normally biases the rear end  150   b  of the carrier latch inward towards the longitudinal axis LA. This unlocks the carrier  22 . As the carrier latch rotates, the shell stop  152  is positioned to block any remaining retained shells from exiting the magazine  80  tube to prevent the feeding of multiple shells at one time and avoid jams. 
     Once the slide  58  reaches the end of its travel, the compressed recoil spring  59  pushes and returns the slide forward until the carrier pawl  21  rotates in a clockwise direction  113  (see  FIG. 6 ) to engage the pawl notch  114  in the underside of the slide. With the rim  64  of the shell  60  positioning the rear end  150   b  of the carrier latch outwards away from the carrier latch disconnect  108 , the force from the carrier latch disconnect spring  115  can rotate the carrier latch disconnect in counter-clockwise direction  116  back into the upward blocking position, thereby blocking the carrier latch  150  from engaging the carrier  22  once the rim  64  of the shell no longer engages the carrier latch. 
       FIG. 7A  shows the shell stop  152  positioned to retain shells  60  in the magazine  80  tube in a laterally inward position.  FIG. 7B  shows the shell stop  152  positioned to release shells from the magazine tube in a laterally displaced outward position. 
     As the slide now continues forward as shown in  FIG. 8 , engagement between the slide  58  and carrier pawl  21  rotates the carrier pawl farther in the clockwise direction  113  and drives the back of the carrier  22  down (directional arrow  117 ) because the pawl is mounted on the rear mounting portion  22   b  of the carrier, thereby correspondingly raising the front loading portion  22   a  of the carrier. This lifts the shell  60  and positions it for loading into the chamber  53  by engaging the forward moving bolt  42  and slide  58 . Once the rim  64  of the shell  60  no longer engages the carrier latch  150 , the carrier latch spring  109  rotates the carrier latch about its pivot axis  110  until it engages the carrier latch disconnect  108  which prevents the carrier latch from locking the carrier down. 
     As the slide then still continues forward as shown in  FIG. 9 , the shell  60  is pushed off the carrier  22  and moved into the chamber by bolt  42 . Once the carrier pawl  21  is no longer beneath the slide  58 , the pawl and mounting portion  22   b  of the carrier  22  behind pin  103   a  rotates upward clockwise about pivot axis  103  in direction  118 , thereby forcing the front loading portion  22   a  of the carrier back down into the downward loading position under the upward biasing force of spring  104  acting on the rear end of the carrier via the pawl. The shell  60  in  FIG. 9  is shown partially loaded into chamber  53  and breech is still partially open (i.e. bolt head  44  not in battery with the barrel  50 . 
     The slide  53  continues forward so that the bolt  42  fully loads the shell  60  into the barrel chamber  53  and closes the breech, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The firing cycle of the action is complete and shotgun  20  is returned to the ready-to-fire condition. 
       FIGS. 12-14  show an alternative embodiment of a carrier latch disconnect. Carrier latch disconnect  300  is configured to be manually operated in contrast to carrier latch disconnect  108  described above which is automatically operated by carrier pawl  21  (see, e.g.  FIGS. 1-6 and 8-11 ). Accordingly, in the present embodiment being described, pawl  21  is reconfigured to eliminate the forwardly extending lower leg  106  which is no longer required. Concomitantly, the corresponding rearwardly extending actuating arm  201  of the original carrier latch disconnect  108  is therefore not needed and also omitted. Other aspects and features of the new pawl  310  remain the same as pawl  21 . The manual carrier latch disconnect  300  thus retains the hammer stop arm  210  which operates in the same manner described above. 
     Manually operated carrier latch disconnect  300  includes a downwardly extending operating protrusion  301 . The lower portion  302  of the operating protrusion  301  remains exposed through a downwardly open slot  303  formed in lower receiver  48  (firing control housing  148 ) when disconnect  300  is mounted in the shotgun. This allows the user to manually pivot the carrier latch disconnect  300  between the upper raised blocking position (see, e.g.  FIG. 5A ) laterally engaged with the carrier lock protrusion  111  on the rear end  150   b  of the carrier latch  150 , and the downward lowered non-blocking position (see, e.g.  FIG. 5B ) disengaged from carrier lock protrusion  111 . In one embodiment, the lower portion  302  of operating protrusion  301  may be serrated or textured to facilitate grasping by the user&#39;s fingers to manually actuate the carrier latch disconnect. 
     As before, when the new carrier latch disconnect  300  is in a raised blocking position shown in  FIG. 13 . This figure depicts initial contact between hammer stop arm  210  on disconnect  300  and hammer  31  after being forwardly released by sear  35  following a trigger pull. The carrier latch  150  is blocked by the disconnect  300  from rotating inwards to engage and hold down the carrier as further described herein. The carrier latch disconnect  300  remains biased upwards towards the blocking position by spring  115 . The operating protrusion  301  of disconnect  300  is in a downward position projecting from slot  303  as shown. 
     When the hammer  31  rotates fully forward to strike the firing pin, the hammer forces hammer stop arm  210  all the way forward and downward. This in turn rotates disconnect  300  and pivots the forward end of the disconnect downward to the non-blocking position shown in  FIG. 14 . Downward motion of the disconnect  300  is arrested by engagement between the front blocking portion  204  of the disconnect (e.g. downwardly extending protrusion) and a horizontal surface of the firing control housing  148 . This allows the carrier latch  150  to rotate inwards to lock the carrier  22  down for receiving a new shell from magazine  80  in the manner previously described herein. The non-blocking position of carrier latch disconnect  300  compresses spring  115 . The operating protrusion  301  of disconnect  300  is in a pivoted upward position now at least partially retracted upwards into slot  303  as shown 
     The remaining parts of carrier latch disconnect  300  including forward portions which engage the carrier latch  150  (e.g. front blocking portion  204  with front blocking surface  205   a ) are unchanged and identical to carrier latch disconnect  108  as already described above. These parts will therefore not described here for the sake of brevity. 
     In the present embodiment, it bears noting that the lower receiver  48  is still configured as before to serve as a firing control housing  148  already described above and shown for example in  FIGS. 1-4 and 10-11 . Thus the lower receiver or firing control housing (terms used synonymously herein) supports the firing mechanism and shell loading system components described herein. 
     The main purpose of the manual disconnect  300  is the ability to release a round from the chamber, leaving the remaining rounds in the magazine. This operation is preformed simply by pulling the slide  58  assembly back and removing the round from the chamber, rendering the firearm safe. The “safe” condition could be used to cross a fence or hazardous obstacle in the field. The method for removing the rounds from the magazine is to pull back on the shell stop button (carrier latch operating button  120 ) in a rearward motion while the carrier is depressed and raised by the user to an upward location, allowing the shells to feed out of the magazine. Once the magazine is cleared of all its shells, the manual disconnect  300  can be depressed to lock the slide assembly back to an open port condition. To remove the round in the chamber with the prior fully automatic disconnect  108  previously described, by contrast, the slide assembly is pulled back to remove the chambered round. This action releases the rounds automatically from the magazine until the entire magazine is cleared. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism is provided which is depicted in  FIGS. 14-20 . As described herein, the shotgun comprises a laterally movable carrier latch  150  that engages the carrier  22  and holds it down after each shot (to receive a new shell from the tubular magazine). If the carrier is bouncing, the latch does not have time to engage the carrier properly resulting in ammunition feeding jams when shells released from the magazine. This carrier bounce condition may occur during rapid firing succession scenario. For example, after the carrier is in the raised or upright position to chamber a new shell via the forward moving slide after discharging the shotgun, the carrier on its way to the downward or at rest position hits a stop surface causing the carrier to bounce up/down numerous times. If the trigger is quickly pulled again by the user for a quick followup shot before the carrier stops bouncing, the next shell released from the magazine during the firing sequence encounters the bouncing carrier which is out of position, thereby cause an ammunition feed jam. The present detent mechanism dampens this carrier bounce rapidly to allow the next round from the magazine to feed properly onto the carrier for the quick follow up shot. Accordingly, the benefit and purpose of this detent mechanism is therefore to restrain the carrier of the shotgun from bouncing after firing of the shotgun, thereby eliminating shell loading jams and allowing quick followup shots. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 14-20 , the anti-bounce detent mechanism in one embodiment includes mating releasable locking surfaces (detent features) which may comprise a detent pocket or slot  311  formed in the carrier pawl  310  which is selectively engaged by a complementary configured detent protrusion  312  formed on the firing control housing (i.e. lower receiver  48 ), or vice-versa. As best shown in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , detent slot  311  may be formed on an inward facing side or lateral surface  315  of pawl  310  and detent protrusion  312  may be formed on a mating outward facing side or lateral surface  316  of the firing control housing. In the illustrated embodiment, detent slot is formed on the left facing lateral surface  315  of the pawl  310  and detent protrusion  312  is formed on the right facing lateral surface  316  of the firing control housing. 
     Detent slot  311  is inwardly and laterally open as well as forwardly open. In one embodiment, the detent slot  311  may be formed proximate to and adjoining the front side  317  of pawl  310 . Slot  311  may therefore interrupt and penetrate the front surface of the pawl  310  forming a forwardly open cavity or depression defined by arcuately curved sidewalls  318 . Sidewalls  318  extend contiguously along the top, bottom and through the rear of the slot forming a contiguous recesses surface along which as shown. Slot  311  may be located in the central or middle portion of the pawl  310  between the top and bottom ends as shown. 
     Detent protrusion  312  on the firing control housing is complementary configured to the detent slot  311  on pawl  310 . The protrusion  312  is thus configured and dimensioned to slideably fit within the detent slot  311  and be alternatingly inserted into and withdrawn from the slot during operating of the firearm action under recoil and manually, as further described herein. Detent protrusion  312 , formed on the outward facing lateral or side surface  316  of the firing control housing as previously noted, is axially elongated in length. The protrusion  312  extends in a rearward direction to releasably engage the forwardly open detent slot  311  on pawl  310 . In one embodiment, detent protrusion  312  may be oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis LA of the shotgun and has a free rear end  319  which is higher than its fixed front end. This angled positioning orients the protrusion  312  to properly engage or disengage the slot  311  during operation, as further described herein. 
     In one embodiment, the detent protrusion  312  may be defined as a feature in an outwardly open receptacle  320  formed on the outward facing side surface  316  of the firing control housing (best shown in  FIG. 16 ). Receptacle  320  defines and may include a vertical front wall  313  and adjoining horizontal bottom wall  314 . Detent protrusion  312  extends rearwardly from the front wall  313  of the receptacle  320  to engage the pawl detent slot  311 . The receptacle  320  is rearwardly and upwardly open, and dimensioned for receiving at least part of the pawl  310  therein including the middle portion which includes the detent slot  311 . Receptacle  320  is further preferably large enough to permit pivotable movement of the pawl  310  therein during it movement and operation. In one embodiment, the upper portion of pawl  310  may protrude upwards out of the receptacle  320  and beyond the top surface of the firing control housing as shown in  FIGS. 18-20  to better engage the slide  58  in the manner described herein. 
     In some embodiments, detent protrusion  312  may be formed integrally with the firing control housing (i.e. lower receiver  48 ) as a unitary structural part thereof. In some embodiments, the firing control housing may be formed of cast or forged metal (e.g. steel, aluminum, titanium, etc.), or alternatively a suitably strong polymer such as a nylon reinforced plastic. In other possible embodiments, the detent protrusion  312  may be formed as a separate component which is attached to the firing control housing by any suitable means such as for example welding, brazing, adhesives, fasteners, friction or shrink fitting, etc. In such composite embodiments, for example without limitation, the firing control housing may be formed of polymer and the detent protrusion  312  may formed of a suitable metal to better resist wear because the pawl is preferably made of metal. 
     In some implementations, it will be appreciated that the detent slot and protrusion features may be reversed. The detent slot  311  may therefore be formed in the firing control housing instead and the detent protrusion may be formed on the pawl with the same relative positions of each described above. Functionality may therefore remain as already described herein. 
     A method for operating the firearm such as shotgun  20  and carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism will now be briefly described.  FIGS. 18-22  show sequential steps of the action cycling under recoil and positions or states of the detent mechanism. In all these figures, the hammer  31  is shown in its reset rearward cocked position to more clearly show the interaction and cooperation between the detent protrusion  312  and detent slot  311  of the detent mechanism without obstruction from the hammer. It will be appreciated the hammer in reality would actually be released by the sear and rotated forward during firing, and then is reset and re-cocked by the rearward moving slide  58  in the manner already described above. 
     The carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism is movable between a locked position preventing the front loading portion  22   a  of the carrier  22  from rotating upwards, and an unlocked position allowing the front loading portion  22   a  of the carrier  22  to rotate upwards. When the slide  58  is in battery with the rear breech end of barrel  50  and the breech is closed as seen in  FIG. 1 , the pawl  310  is completely disengaged from the rear end of slide  158  (as also seen in  FIG. 18 ). As also shown in  FIG. 18 , the detent protrusion  312  on the firing control housing is in the locked position fully engaged with the detent slot  311  on the pawl  310 , thereby holding the carrier  22  in the downward position. It bears noting that spring  104  biases the detent protrusion  312  and detent slot  311  into this fully engaged position when the pawl  310  is not engaged and rotated by the slide  158 . Pawl  310  may be completely upright and substantially vertical in orientation as shown. Hammer  31  is restrained by sear  35  in rearward cocked position. The firearm is thus readied for firing with the action in the ready-to-fire position. 
     After the trigger pull, the hammer  31  is released and rotates forward in the manner previously described herein. The hammer  31  makes initial contact with the hammer lateral stop arm  210  on carrier latch disconnect  300 , as shown in  FIG. 13  (see directional arrow). The hammer  41  then continues to rotate fully forward to strike and drive the firing pin  41  axially forward to detonate the chambered shell  60 . Contact between the hammer  31  and hammer stop arm  210  pivots the upwardly biased carrier latch disconnect  300  fully downwards in a manner similar to that described above and shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . This releases the carrier latch  150  to allow its rear end  150   b  to swing inwards and engage the carrier  22  locking it in the downward position (as previously described herein) in combination with the detent mechanism. The mutually engaged detent slot  311  and detent protrusion  312  of the carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism assists the carrier latch  150  in restraining the carrier, but is not the primary mechanism for that purpose. As the rear end  150   b  of carrier latch  150  pivots inwards, the forward end  150   b  with shell stop  152  simultaneously pivots outward to release a new shell from magazine  80  onto the carrier  22 . The rear of the shell contacts the carrier latch  150  when the shell moves onto the carrier  22  thus pivoting the rear end  150   a  of carrier latch  150  back outwards. 
       FIG. 19  shows the shotgun immediately after firing with the slide  58  beginning its travel rearward under recoil and opening the breech. During the rearward travel of the slide  58 , the slide engages and rotates carrier pawl  310  rearward and downward its pivot axis  102 . This situation causes no significant drag on the slide which could cause a loss of power in the inertia reloading system of the shotgun. The detent slot  311  begins to partially disengage the detent protrusion  312  as shown to allow normal operation of the pawl  310  as previously described herein. As the slide  58  continues rearward, the pawl  310  rides underneath the slide and further rotates downward/rearward to eventually completely disengage the detent slot  311  from the detent protrusion  312 , as shown in  FIG. 20 . A new shell already dispensed from magazine  80  and seated on the carrier  22  is then uploaded into the action by raising the carrier via interaction between the pawl  310  and slide  58 , in the same manner previously described herein. 
     In the foregoing operating sequence described immediately above, it bears noting that the carrier latch disconnect  300  rotates back upward into a blocking position preventing the carrier latch  150  from swinging back inwards to relock the carrier  22  down when the shell previously positioned on the carrier is uploaded into the action. This occurs when the underside of the slide engages and cocks/resets the hammer during the slide&#39;s rearward travel. The upward biasing force of spring  115  returns the carrier latch disconnect  300  to the blocking position without the hammer  21  in its fully forward position forcing the hammer stop arm  210  on carrier latch disconnect  300  down. 
       FIG. 21  shows the slide  58  now traveling back forward under the force of the recoil springs  59 . The pawl  310  is show just after breaking contact with the underside of the slide  58 . Spring  104  biases and returns the pawl back towards its upright position as indicated without contact from the slide  58 . The detent slot  311  is shown beginning to re-engage detent protrusion  312  on the firing control housing  148  as the carrier  22  rotates back downward about pivot axis  103  from its tilted upward position (from uploading the new shell into the action which is chambered by the forward traveling bolt  42 ). This downward motion of the carrier front loading portion  22   a  concomitantly raises the rear portion  22   b  of the carrier  22  to lift the pawl  310  and horizontally re-align the pawl detent slot  311  with detent protrusion  312  on firing control housing  148 . Continued forward rotation of the pawl  310  will fully re-engage the detent slot  311  with detent protrusion  312  as the breech closes (see  FIG. 22 ) while the dropping carrier  22  contacts a stop surface on the firing control housing and is susceptible to the bounce phenomenon previously described. Advantageously, the detent mechanism in the fully engaged locked position arrests the carrier to prevent bounce. This allows the user to make a quick trigger pull and followup shot while the detent mechanism ensures that the next shell released from the magazine will encounter the carrier in the proper downward position for receiving the shell. 
     According to another notable function provided by the carrier anti-bounce detent mechanism, the detent slot  311  is releasably engaged with the detent protrusion  312  when the slide  58  is forward in the closed breech position shown in  FIG. 18 . If the user wishes to load additional shells  60  into the magazine  80  with the slide fully forward, for example, an upward pressure force F may be applied against the underside of the carrier  22  by the user as indicated with a shell or fingers. This at least partially or fully withdraws the detent protrusion  312  from the detent slot  311  automatically, thereby allowing the carrier  22  to be raised upwards and out of the way for access to load or remove shells into/from the magazine  80 . Raising the carrier  22  will thus slightly rotate the pawl  310  rearward and backward to achieve the partial or full disengagement of the detent protrusion  312  from slot  311 . Accordingly, the detent mechanism can be at least partially disengaged to operate the carrier in the normal manner with the slide fully forward and the breech closed. Because the carrier  22  is biased into the downward position by torsion spring  104 , removing the pressure force F from the carrier  22  automatically lowers the carrier  22  and fully re-engages the detent protrusion  312  with the detent slot  311  (see, e.g.  FIG. 18 ). 
     While the foregoing description and drawings represent preferred or exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope and range of equivalents of the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, sizes, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. In addition, numerous variations in the methods/processes as applicable described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. One skilled in the art will further appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof, and not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.