IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,590,776
Granted Patent B2
US 12,590,776 · App. 18/754,439 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Discreet blank firing adapter

Inventors: Brian R Hoffman (Bloomington, IN); Caleb W. McGee (Bloomington, IN)
F41A33/00F41A21/26F41A21/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,590,776
App. No.
18/754,439
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a blank firing adapter for a firearm that prevents a bullet or fragmentation from exiting a firearm barrel and traveling downrange. The device includes a body, a fore end, an aft end, a bore, a transverse exhaust hole, and a flange. The body is positioned within a muzzle end of the firearm barrel. The fore end includes a solid material to prevent bullet fragmentation from directly exiting the barrel in a direction coinciding with a point-of-aim direction when a live round is fired, and the transverse exhaust hole redirects gas traveling through the bore to a direction transverse to the muzzle end of the barrel. The device generates backpressure to permit automatic cycling of a weapon system, safely catches a fired bullet without any fragmentation to travel downrange, and is visually inconspicuous to the casual observer when installed, while allowing for the use of externally attached devices.

Claims (45)

1 . A blank firing adapter for and a firearm barrel;

said firearm barrel comprising a muzzle end, a muzzle crown, a bore, and a counterbore;

said blank firing adapter comprising:

a body, a fore end, an aft end, a bore, a transverse exhaust hole, and a flange;

wherein said body is positioned within said muzzle end of said firearm barrel;

wherein said counterbore permits said flange to fit within said bore of said firearm barrel and flush with said muzzle crown;

wherein said bore extends from said aft end through said body and terminates at said transverse exhaust hole;

wherein said transverse exhaust hole comprises an aperture that redirects gas traveling through said bore to a direction transverse to said muzzle end of said barrel; and

wherein said fore end comprises a solid material to prevent bullet fragmentation from directly exiting said barrel in a direction coinciding with a point-of-aim direction when a live round is fired;

wherein said flange within said counterbore enhances the structural ability of said blank firing adapter to capture a bullet.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said body is smaller than a firearm barrel bore diameter to permit ease of installation and removal of said blank firing adapter.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said body is positioned within a muzzle end of said firearm barrel and said flange is positioned exterior to and abutting said muzzle end of said firearm barrel.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a muzzle device can be attached to said muzzle end of said firearm barrel with said BFA installed therein.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said flange is positioned between said muzzle end of said firearm barrel and said muzzle device.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said blank firing adapter can be used with a direct attach muzzle device that threads onto said muzzle end of said firearm barrel.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said blank firing adapter catches or traps a bullet when fired so that said bullet does not travel downrange.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said blank firing adapter prevents bullet fragmentation from directly exiting said firearm barrel in a direction coinciding with a point-of-aim direction when a bullet is fired.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein pressure build up within said barrel travels through said bore and exits said transverse exhaust hole.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said bore is sized and configured specific to said cartridge caliber, weapon system, and barrel length.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said transverse exhaust hole is less restrictive than said bore to allow gas to flow out from said barrel without over pressurization.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said transverse exhaust hole is sized to provide flow-restriction to generate sufficient backpressure and enable auto cycling of a weapon system.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said bore and said transverse exhaust hole are sized and configured to enable sufficient pressure to build in absence of a bullet when firing blank ammunition.

14 . A blank firing adapter and a firearm barrel;

said firearm barrel comprising a muzzle end, a muzzle crown, a bore, a counterbore, internal threads and external threads at a muzzle end;

said blank firing adapter comprising:

a body, a fore end, an aft end, a bore, a transverse exhaust hole, and external threads along a portion of said body, and a flange;

wherein said body is positioned within said muzzle end of said firearm barrel and said external threads of said body are threadably attached to said internal threads of said firearm barrel;

wherein said counterbore permits said flange to fit within said bore of said firearm barrel and flush with said muzzle crown;

wherein said bore extends from said aft end through said body and terminates at said transverse exhaust hole;

wherein said transverse exhaust hole comprises an aperture that redirects gas traveling through said bore to a direction transverse to said muzzle end of said barrel; and

wherein said fore end comprises a solid material to prevent bullet fragmentation from directly exiting said barrel in a direction coinciding with a point-of-aim direction when a live round is fired;

wherein said flange within said counterbore enhances the structural ability of said blank firing adapter to capture a bullet.

15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said blank firing adapter further comprises a flange that fits within said bore at said muzzle end of said barrel.

16 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said muzzle device comprises internal threads that attach to said external threads on said firearm barrel, and wherein said blank firing adapter fits within said bore at said muzzle end of said barrel.

17 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said body is smaller than a firearm barrel bore diameter to permit ease of installation and removal of said blank firing adapter.

18 . The device of claim 14 , wherein a muzzle device can be attached to said muzzle end of said firearm barrel with said BFA installed therein.

19 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said blank firing adapter catches or traps a bullet when fired so that said bullet does not travel downrange.

20 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said blank firing adapter prevents bullet fragmentation from directly exiting said firearm barrel in a direction coinciding with a point-of-aim direction when a bullet is fired.

21 . The device of claim 14 , wherein pressure build up within said barrel travels through said bore and exits said transverse exhaust hole.

22 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said bore is sized and configured specific to said cartridge caliber, weapon system, and barrel length.

23 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said transverse exhaust hole is less restrictive than said bore to allow gas to flow out from said barrel without over pressurization.

24 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said transverse exhaust hole is sized to provide flow-restriction to generate sufficient backpressure and enable auto cycling of a weapon system.

25 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said bore and said transverse exhaust hole are sized and configured to enable sufficient pressure to build in absence of a bullet when firing blank ammunition.

26 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said blank firing adapter can be used with a direct attach muzzle device that threads onto said muzzle end of said firearm barrel.

27 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said flange is positioned between said muzzle end of said firearm barrel and said muzzle device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2024
From: HOFFMAN, BRIAN R; MCGEE, CALEB W.
To: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
Reel/Frame 067886/0933 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63523760 · Jun 28, 2023
Related Publication 20250060184A1 · Feb 20, 2025
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