Direct impingement vs. blowback vs. short piston vs. ...?

[MatthewVanitas]

Greetings,
The more I've tried to understand the technical side of firearms, the more confusing things become. I'm not that mechanically savvy of a guy, I'm more of the "shoot it and clean it up" type. Is there a good internet resource which explains all the different type of automatic functions?

I've heard the following terms used for different types of automatic cycling in firearms:

Direct gas impingement

Short stroke piston

Long stroke piston

Blowback

Recoil-operated

Tip-up

Reciprocating barrel

Browning system

Ljungman system

Stoner system


I'm vaguely familiar with certain rifles and pistols that use some of these designs. I'm under the hazy impression that Maxim invented automatic operation in general (recoil operated?) and Browning invented gas-operated firearms.

Again, if anyone has any online resource, or just general advice on how to keep tell these types apart, or their historical development, it'd be good to hear it. Take care, -Matthew

 

[fjolnirsson]

Good Post!

I know that my Glock operates by recoil, and I understand that somehow the force generated by the firing of the round chambers the second round. I know how to clean and maintain my weapon.
But I sure would like to know more about the mechanics involved in this and other systems.
I'd like to understand more of these fancy terms. Does anyone know of a site or book where I can learn this stuff? Is there a good place here on THR? Should I go hang out at the Gunsmithing board for a while?

 

[AZ Jeff]

Here are some books that may be helpful:

1. Small Arms of the World, by Ezell
2. Handguns of the World by Ezell
3. NRA Fact Book (from the Natl Rifle Assoc)
4. 20th Century Small Arms, by Ian Hogg

These are not usually found at your local library, unfortunately.

 

[AZ Jeff]

Here are a couple of sites that cover some basics:

http://www.infodotinc.com/gunners/54.htm

http://www.rkba.org/guns/principles/operating-systems/

 

[Frohickey]

http://matrix.dumpshock.com/raygun/basics/operation.html

 

[chetth]

How things work

Check here

http://people.howstuffworks.com/machine-gun6.htm

woo hoo, first post

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Eventually found a good answer to this question:

"From Bloodwiki, the free encyclopedia"

http://www.bloodshed.org/lagowiki/index.php?title=Firearm_action&printable=yes

Recoil-actuated
Direct blowback (A typical submachine gun, e.g., MP-18, MP 40, Uzi, HK UMP)
Direct blowforward (Semmerling LM-4, Hino-Komuro, Schwarzlose Pistol)
Delayed Blowback
Grooved chamber (Russian Modernized Makarov Pistol)
Roller-Locked delayed blowback (Heckler und Koch HK G3, HK MP5, HK P9, Ceska Zbrojovka CZ-52)
Blish Lock (Thompson submachine gun (i.e., the "Tommy Gun")
Rotational Hesitation System
Schwarzlose System (links are rotated by bolt on rearward travel)
Mannlicher (forced rotation of bolt on rearward travel)
Modified (forced rotation of barrel on rearward travel)
Can force rotation counter-torque, or with torque.
Barrel can be spring-loaded (use recoil spring) to resist rotation.
Rotating Cam Striker
Gas-impingement design (HK P7, Steyr GB)
Delay-block action (Remington Model 51)
Inertia-locked (Benelli Shotguns)
Short-recoil (Colt M1911, CZ75, Browning Hi-Power, HK USP, GLOCK)
Long-recoil (Browning Automatic Shotgun, Femaru STOP Pistol)
Gas-actuated
Short-stroke (FAL rifle, HK G36, XM8, MP7, SA80, SKS rifle, et al.)
Long-stroke (AK-47, AK-74, et al.)
Direct impingement (AR-15, M-16, AG-43 Ljungman)

 

[Bwana John]

And dont forget the G.E. Minigun, Electricty!