Top loading shotgun

A shell feeding system for a top loading shotgun, the system comprising:

• a barrel defining a longitudinal axis and an axially extending bore forming a projectile pathway;
• a receiver supporting the barrel;
• an elongated magazine positioned above the barrel and extending axially forward from the receiver collectively forming a receiver-magazine assembly, the magazine including an axially extending cavity configured to receive a plurality of ammunition shells in stacked end-to-end relationship, the shells each having a case, a head, and a diametrically enlarged rim;
• the receiver-magazine assembly comprised of a longitudinally split first half and a longitudinally split second half coupled together, the magazine in each of the first and second halves being formed as an integral unitary structural part of the receiver in each of the first and second halves,
• a spring-biased follower disposed in the cavity to bias the stack of shells towards the receiver;
• and
• a plurality of shell guide grooves formed by a plurality of internal surfaces in the receiver, the guide grooves forming a shell feed pathway between the magazine and the barrel.

A method for loading ammunition into a top loading shotgun, the method comprising:

• providing a shotgun including a receiver having shell guide grooves, a barrel coupled to the receiver, and a magazine having a tubular body configured to hold a stack of shells arranged in end-to-end relationship, the magazine arranged above the barrel and having a spring-biased follower for urging the stack rearwards toward an open end of the magazine;
• loading a shell into the magazine in a horizontal position, the shell having a head defining a leading end and a case defining a trailing end;
• feeding the shell with the leading end first from the magazine rearward into an entrance portion of the shell guide grooves in the receiver;
• rotating the shell in a first rotational direction downwards into a first angled position, the leading end being lower than the trailing end;
• moving the shell from the entrance portion into a central portion of the shell guide grooves;
• rotating the shell in a second rotational direction into a horizontal position;
• continuing rotating the shell in the second rotational direction upwards into a second angled position, the leading end being higher than trailing end;
• moving the shell downwards into a lower portion of the receiver;
• and
• loading the shell into the barrel.