Patent ID: 7810272

Claim:
A gun barrel assembly comprising: a gun barrel having a muzzle opening on a distal end and a gun barrel longitudinal axis; a shroud coaxially surrounding at least a portion of the barrel, the shroud having: a distal portion extending beyond the muzzle opening defining a shroud front region having a distal end portion, a proximal portion extending proximally from the muzzle opening defining an annular region between the barrel and shroud, a front wall disposed at the distal end portion of the shroud, the front wall having an opening to allow passage of a projectile, and circumferential holes in the proximal portion of the shroud; heat-dissipating fins in the annular region of the shroud, the fins extending radially outward from the gun barrel to the shroud to define at least two channels; and a firewall disposed in the annular region of the shroud a distance proximal from the muzzle opening with at least one circumferential hole distal the firewall, whereby expanding gases generated during fire are forced out of the at least one circumferential hole of the shroud distal to the firewall; wherein the firewall has at least one firewall hole disposed therein to allow partial passage of gas therethrough, said at least one firewall hole having a firewall hole longitudinal axis, said firewall hole longitudinal axis being parallel to the gun barrel longitudinal axis.