Modular lightweight squad automatic weapon system

A modular lightweight automatic weapon system including:

• a receiver having dual tubes spaced apart and connected by a main end cap and a forward tube guide,
• a barrel having a barrel extension held by said main end cap and a gas housing connected to said front tube guide,
• said barrel having a bore through which a fired cartridge passes,
• said gas housing having orifices interconnecting said bore and said forward tube guide,
• operating rods slidably mounted witin said tubes and having a bolt carrier carried thereby,
• said bolt carrier being operable when moved forwardly to move a cartridge into said barrel extension and maintain itself therebehind until said cartridge is fired,
• said operating rods being actionable by gases in said bore to move said bolt carrier rearwardly for ejection of spent cartridge cases, and
• means indexing another cartridge in position for movement into said barrel extension upon subsequent forward movement of said bolt carrier.

A gas operated gun, comprising:

• a gun barrel adapted to contain a gas under pressure for propelling a projectile through said barrel,
• a receiver having a pair of elongated, substantially parallel hollow tubes,
• said receiver further having bracket means connected to each of said tubes for securing said tubes fixedly in spaced-apart relationship and also for securing said gun barrel between said tubes,
• elongated force-transmitting means within each of said tubes,
• gas cylinder means connected between said gun barrel and said force-transmitting means, for applying force generated from said gas under pressure to said force-transmitting means,
• a main drive connected to each of said force-transmitting means for movement therewith,
• a bolt carrier slidably mounted on one of said tubes and movable with said main drive,
• a cartridge feed mechanism rotatably mounted on the other of said tubes,
• said main drive being operatively connected to said feed mechanism to cause rotation thereof upon movement of said drive.