Bolt with reduced impact to incoming projectile

A method of operating a pneumatic projectile launcher, having a launcher body including a breech therein for receiving a projectile and a projectile feed tube connected to said launcher body and configured to sequentially deposit a plurality of projectiles into said breech one at a time, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a cylindrical bolt having a front face and an outer surface wherein said outer surface that is positioned proximate said feed tube is tapered downwardly adjacent said front face forming a projectile ramp, a seat formed around said bolt adjacent said front face said seat including a relief cut where said seat crosses said projectile ramp, and a resilient seal positioned within said seat;
• said bolt being movably positioned within said breech between a rearward position and a forward position;
• moving said bolt to said rearward position wherein a first projectile can enter said breech from said projectile feed tube;
• moving said bolt to said forward position wherein said front face of said bolt displaces said first projectile to said launching position and said projectile ramp displaces a second projectile that is positioned within said feed tube and in contact with said first projectile back into said projectile feed tube , said relief cut allowing said resilient seal to be displaced downwardly by said second projectile as said bolt moves to said forward position.