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TO ACQUAINT CLASS WITH
BASIC SYSTEMS OF
OPERATION.
 PREVIEW
PART I - GAS SYSTEM OF OPERATION.

PART II - BLOWBACK SYSTEM OF

OPERATION.

PART III - RECOIL SYSTEM OF OPERATION.

GAS SYSTEM OF OPERATION
 GAS SYSTEM OF OPERATION

FORCE DERIVED FROM PROPELLANT GASES .

40 % OF THE ENERGY CONTAINED WITHIN THE
PROPELLANT IS EJECTED AT THE MUZZLE.
GAS TAPPED FROM THE BARREL TO OPERATE
THE PISTON AND TO COMPLETE CYCLE OF OPS .
MAIN COMPONENTS
 LOCATION OF GAS VENT
IDEAL LOCATION:
NO EFFECT ON BALLISTICS .
AFTER ABP.
 LOCATION OF GAS VENT: NEAR
CHAMBER VS NEAR MUZZLE
FOULING (UNBURNT FOULING
PARTICLES). (RESUBLIMATION).
AFFECT MUZZLE MINIMUM AFFECT ON
VELOCITY. BALLISTICS.
WEAPON NOT WEAPON
MECHANICALLY SAFE. MECHANICALLY SAFE.
POOR ACCURACY. ACCURATE FIRE.
HIGH RATE OF FIRE. SLOW RATE OF FIRE .
ROBUST PARTS. LARGE GAS VENT.
INCREASE IN LENGTH
OF CYLINDER &
PISTON.
 MECHANICAL SAFETY
ACHIEVED BY LOCKING & UNLOCKING .
IN 7.62MM LMG/SLR THE GAS VENT IS
MADE AT 12" FROM THE MUZZLE END .
GASES TAPPED AT THIS POINT ARE 1/3RD
OF THE PEAK PRESSURE - 07 TSI (965
BAR ).
 CONTROL OF THE OPERATING
ENERGY
DESIRABLE TO CONTROL AND VARY THE
AMOUNT OF ENERGY AS PER OCCASION.
VARIOUS MEANS
 VARIABLE SIZE GAS TRACK.
 CONTROL VARYING THE AMOUNT OF GAS
EXHAUSTED TO ATMOSPHERE .
 CONSTANT VOLUME VALVE .

 VARIABLE EXPANSION VOLUME AT THE HEAD

OF PISTON.
VARIATION IN RATE OF FIRE .
VARIABLE SIZE GAS TRACK
VARIABLE EXHAUST
CONSTANT VOLUME SYSTEM
CONSTANT VOLUME SYSTEM
VARIABLE EXPANSION VOLUME
CONTROL OF CYCLIC RATE OF
FIRE
TYPES OF GAS OPERATION
SHORT STROKE VS LONG STROKE
GENERALLY DOES MOVES MORE THAN
NOT MOVE MORE 3”.
THAN 3”.
DOES A TAPPING MOVES THE ENTIRE
ACTION & IMPARTS DISTANCE WITH
MOMENTUM TO MOVING PARTS.
MOVING PARTS.
EXAMPLE 7.62MM EXAMPLE 5.56MM
SLR (FN FAL), INSAS FAMILY,
7.62MM DRAGUNOV 7.62MM LMG (BREN).
SNIPER RIFLE.
 DIRECT GAS ACTION

NO PISTON.
GAS PUSHES THE BREECH BLOCK.
ALSO CALLED ‘DIRECT IMPINGEMENT’.
LIGHT WEIGHT WEAPON & SIMPLE DESI GN.
MORE FOULING.
EXAMPLE 5.56MM AR-15/ M-16 RIFLE.
.
 ADVANTAGES - GAS OPERATION
FLEXIBILITY IN THE RATE OF FIRE .
LIGHT WEIGHT.
ACCURACY.
RATE OF FIRE.
 DISADVANTAGES - GAS
OPERATION

FUMES.
EROSION.
CARBON DEPOSITS .
BARREL CHANGE DIFFICULT.
BLOWBACK SYSTEM OF
OPERATION
 BLOWBACK SYSTEM OF
OPERATION

THE ENERGY IS SUPPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE

BOLT BY THE BACKWARD MOVEMENT OF THE
CARTRIDGE CASE, CAUSED BY GAS PRESSURE.
CARTRIDGE CASE ACTS LIKE THE PISTON.
ALSO KNOWN AS ‘SPENT CASE EJECTION’
SYSTEM OF OPERATION.
MAIN COMPONENTS
 BASIC REQUIREMENTS
CASE MUST BE FREE TO MOVE IN CHAMBER .
 TAKE UP EXCESS CARTRIDGE HEAD SPACE .
 PROVIDE THE FORCE AGAINST THE BREECH
BLOCK.
CASE MUST BE RESTRAINED IN THE CHAMBER.
WHEN PRESSURE IS HIGH.
MUTUALLY CONTRADICTORY .
BASIS FOR DIFF TYPES OF BLOW BACK
SYSTEM.
 TYPES OF BLOWBACK SYSTEM
SIMPLE BLOWBACK.
DELAYED BLOWBACK .
BLOWBACK WITH LOCKED BREECH .
BLOWBACK WITH API.
 SIMPLE BLOW BACK
BLOW BACK PROVIDES ALL THE OPERATING
ENERGY
MOVENMENT OF CARTRIDGE CASE IS
RESTRAINED.
CONTROLLED BY MASS, INERTIA OF BREECH
BLOCK AND STRENGTH OF RETURN SPRING.
.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF SIMPLE
BLOW BACK WEAPONS
UNLOCKED BREECH.
HEAVY INERTIA TYPE BREECH BLOCK .
SIMPLICITY.
STRONG RETURNING SPRING.
USUALLY A PARALLEL SIDED CART CASE .
LIMITED ACCURACY IN HAND HELD AUTOMATIC
FIRE.
 DELAYED BLOWBACK
CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MECHANICAL DELAY IS
CREATED TO ALLOW PRESSURE TO DROP TO A
SAFE LEVEL.
THUS A FORM OF RESISTANCE IS GIVEN TO
THE BLOWBACK FORCES INITIALLY .
TWO MAJOR TYPES :
ROLLER DELAYED BLOWBACK .
LEVER DELAYED BLOWBACK .
ROLLER DELAYED BLOWBACK
LEVER DELAYED BLOWBACK
 BLOW BACK WITH LOCKED
BREECH
BREECH BLOCK IS LOCKED TILL SAFE
PRESSURE IS ACHIEVED.
FORCE REQD TO UNLOCK THE BREECH BLOCK
PRODUCED FROM GAS PRESSURE OR RECOIL
OF BARREL.
ENERGY REQD TO OPERATE THE CYCLE GIVEN
TO THE BOLT.
 BLOWBACK WITH API
RD IS FIRED WHILE IT IS STILL BEING
CHAMBERED AND BEFORE THE BOLT REACHES
THE LIMIT OF ITS FORWARD TRAVEL.
ENERGY PRODUCED HAS NOW TWO
FUNCTIONS.
TO SLOW AND STOP THE FORWARD MOVING
BOLT.
TO PROPEL THE BOLT TO THE REAR .
 MASS OF THE BOLT CAN BE REDUCED TO
HALF.
 DANGERS IN API SYSTEMS
EARLY FIRING.
LATE FIRING DUE TO HANG FIRE .
MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION IN THE CHAMBER.
HAND CHAMBERING.
OVERSIZED RD.
SAFETY DEVICES IN API SYSTEMS
POSITIVE FIRING.
HOODED CHAMBER.
A DOUBLE LOADING STOP.
A HOLDING OPENING DEVICE .
 CHARACTERISTICS OF BLOW
BACK WITH API
BREECH BLOCK STILL MOVING FORWARD
WHEN THE PRIMER IS FIRED.
UNLOCKED BREECH.
HEAVY BREECH BLOCK.
POWERFULL RETURNING SPRINGS.
SPECIAL SAFETY DEVICES.
PARALLEL SIDED CART CASE .
SUSCEPTIBILTY TO VARIATION IN AMMUNITION .
 MECHANICAL SAFETY IN
BLOWBACK
HEAVY BREECH BLOCK.
REAR 1/8TH INCH OF CARTRIDGE CASE MADE
STRONG.
STRONG RETURN SPRING.
LOW POWER AMMUNITION.
PARALLEL CHAMBER & PARALLEL
AMMUNITION.
SHORT BARREL.
BLOWBACK WITH API.
 ADVANTAGES - BLOWBACK
OPERATION
SIMPLE DESIGN.
CHEAP.
ROBUST.
 DISADVANTAGES - BLOWBACK
OPERATION
HEAVY BREECH BLOCK.
INACCURATE.
SHORT EFFECTIVE RANGE .
NO MEANS OF ADJUSTING POWER .
FUMES.
PRECISION AMMUNITION .
REDUCED MUZZLE VELOCITY .
COMPARISON
RECOIL SYSTEM OF
OPERATION
 RECOIL SYSTEM OF OPERATION
NEWTON’S THIRD LAW .
FORWARD MOVEMENT OF BULLET INSIDE THE
BARREL EXERTS AN EQUAL & OPPOSITE FORCE
TO THE BREECH BLOCK & BARREL .
THE WEAPON IS PUSHED BACK - RECOIL.
MECHANICAL SAFETY: BOLT LOCKED WITH
BARREL.
MAIN COMPONENTS
CHARACTERISTICS - RECOIL OPERATION
FREE FLOATING BARREL WITH SPRING .
BOLT LOCKED WITH BARREL .
BARREL UNLOCKING MECH.
LOCKING/UNLOCKING DEVICE FOR BOLT .
 TYPES OF RECOIL OPERATION
LONG RECOIL
BARREL & BOLT MOVE THE ENTIRE LENGTH
TOGETHER.

SHORT RECOIL
BARREL & BOLT DO NOT MOVE THE ENTIRE
LENGTH TOGETHER.
CYCLE OF OPERATIONS – LONG
RECOIL

1. READY TO FIRE POSITION. BOLT IS

LOCKED TO BARREL, BOTH ARE
FULLY FORWARD.

2. RECOIL OF FIRING FORCES BOLT AND

BARREL FULLY TO THE REAR,
COMPRESSING THE RETURN SPRINGS
FOR BOTH.

3. BOLT IS HELD TO REAR, WHILE

BARREL UNLOCKS AND RETURNS TO
BATTERY UNDER SPRING FORCE.
FIRED ROUND IS EJECTED.

4. BOLT RETURNS UNDER SPRING

FORCE, LOADS NEW ROUND. BARREL
LOCKS IN PLACE AS IT RETURNS TO
BATTERY.
 CHARACTERISTICS - LONG
RECOIL
BARREL & BREECH BLOCK LOCKED.
BARREL & BREECH BLOCK TRAVEL ENTIRE
LENGTH TOGETHER .
EXTRACTION & EJECTION IN FORWARD
MOVEMENT.
SLOW RATE OF FIRE .
NO FUMES IN BODY OF WEAPON .
REDUCED STRESS ON WEAPON.
INACCURATE.
SIGHTING PROBLEMS - BARREL MOVEMENT .
QUICK BARREL CHANGE EASY.
CYCLE OF OPERATIONS – SHORT
RECOIL

1. READY TO FIRE POSITION. BOLT IS LOCKED TO

BARREL, BOTH ARE FULLY FORWARD.

2. UPON FIRING, BOLT AND BARREL RECOIL

BACKWARDS A SHORT DISTANCE WHILE
LOCKED TOGETHER. NEAR THE END OF THE
BARREL TRAVEL, THE BOLT AND BARREL
UNLOCK.

3. THE BARREL STOPS, BUT THE UNLOCKED BOLT

CONTINUES TO MOVE TO THE REAR, EJECTING
THE EMPTY SHELL AND COMPRESSING THE
RECOIL SPRING.

4. THE BOLT RETURNS FORWARD UNDER SPRING

FORCE, LOADING A NEW ROUND INTO THE
BARREL.

5. BOLT LOCKS INTO BARREL, AND FORCES

BARREL TO RETURN TO BATTERY.
 DESIGN FEATURES -SHORT
RECOIL
HIGH RECOIL VELOCITY OF THE BARREL AND
BOLT AT THE TIME OF UNLOCKING.
BLOW BACK ASSISTANCE.
ACCELERATOR EFFECT.
 CHARACTERISTICS - SHORT
RECOIL
LOCKED BARREL & BREECH BLOCK .
BLOWBACK ASSISTANCE.
BARREL & BOLT DO NOT MOVE THE ENTIRE
LENGTH TOGETHER .
EXTRACTION & EJECTION IN REAR TRAVEL .
ACCELERATOR EFFECT.
HIGH RATE OF FIRE.
MORE STRESS ON GUN.
PARTIAL FUMES COME INTO THE BODY.
MORE ACCURATE THAN LONG RECOIL.
QUICK BARREL CHANGE EASY .
 NEED FOR RECOIL INTENSIFIER
FOR SUSTAINED AND HEAVY RATE OF FIRE .
BARREL,BARREL EXTENSION, BOLT HEAD AND
LOCKING DEVICE SUBJECTED TO FORCE
RESULTING FROM HIGH PRESSURE.
ADDITIONAL SOURCE TO ACCELERATE THE
BARREL AND BOLT.
RECOIL INTENSIFIER OR MUZZLE BOSSTER.
RECOIL INTENSIFIER
FACTORS AFFECTING RECOIL
OPERATION
LACK OF ENERGY – 0.1% OF TOTAL ENERGY.
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION.
INITIAL VELOCITY WHEN SEPARATION OCCURS.
BLOW BACK ACTION.
ACCELERATOR .
DESIGN LIMITATION.
ACCURACY – MOVENMENT OF BARREL .
COOLING – CHANGING/ MASSIVE BARREL .
BARREL WITHDRAWAL –SUITABLE IN AFVs.
FOULING – MINIMAL(RECOIL INTENSIFIER).
FUMES.
 ADVANTAGES - RECOIL
OPERATION
RELIABLE.
ROBUST.
SIMPLE BARREL CHANGE.
NO FOULING.
LITTLE FUMES.
SUITABLE FOR AFV’S.
 DISADVANTAGES - RECOIL
OPERATION
HEAVY.
SLOW RATE OF FIRE.
NO MEANS OF ADJUSTING POWER.
COSTLY.
LESSER ACCURATE IN HIGHER CALIBRE
WEAPONS.
 LONG RECOIL VS SHORT RECOIL
CHARACTERISTICS LONG RECOIL SHORT RECOIL

• REARWARD COMPLETE
SHORT DISTANCE
TRAVEL DISTANCE
• EXTRACTION/ FORWARD REARWARD
EJECTION TRAVEL TRAVEL
FORWARD
• FEEDING FORWARD TRAVEL
TRAVEL
80 RPM 200 RPM
• RATE OF FIRE
MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
• ACCURACY POOR MORE ACCURATE
• FUMES NONE PARTIAL FUMES
 COMPARISON OF SYSTEM OF
OPERATION
CHARACTERISTIC BLOWBACK RECOIL GAS
• SAFETY UNSAFE SAFE SAFE
• WEIGHT HEAVY HEAVY LIGHT

• ACCURACY INACCURATE INACCURATE ACCURATE

• RATE OF FIRE LIMITED LIMITED HIGH

• COST CHEAP COSTLY COSTLY