Apparatus and method to reduce muzzle rise in a firearm

A firearm having reduced muzzle rise, comprising:

• a barrel having a breech end, an opposing muzzle end, and a bore defining a barrel centerline which, when extended in a longitudinal direction, defines a barrel axis;
• a magazine tube disposed in spaced apart relationship relative to the barrel, the spaced apart relationship being in a first direction extending normal from the barrel centerline;
• a receiver defining a lower opening to which the barrel is secured and an upper opening to which the magazine tube is secured;
• the receiver comprising:
• a bolt assembly positioned along the barrel centerline, configured to hold a chambered round in place during a firing sequence, the bolt assembly comprising a bolt body and a bolt head operatively coupled to the bolt body;
• and
• a shell pusher assembly for use in guiding a new round from the magazine tube into the barrel, the shell pusher assembly comprising a pusher plate biased away from the barrel centerline in said first direction, and a pusher arm pivotably coupled to the pusher plate, the pusher arm being biased toward the breech end of the barrel;
• a stock secured to a rear end of the receiver, the stock defining a body support surface where the stock braces against a user's body, wherein the barrel centerline passes through the body support surface;
• and
• wherein, responsive to the bolt assembly action, the bolt body engages the pusher arm, overcomes the bias on the pusher arm and pusher plate, and drives the pusher plate to guide the new round into the barrel.