Abstract: The present invention provides a recoil-redirecting mechanism for a gun which includes a frame, a gun barrel assembly having a barrel and a receiver with a bolt therein. The gun barrel assembly is slidably mounted to longitudinally reciprocate on the frame between a forwardmost position and a rearwardmost position. Means for firing the gun when the gun barrel assembly is substantially at its forwardmost position is provided. The recoil-redirecting mechanism includes a recoil-absorbing spring, a fixed pulley mounted on the frame, and a travelling pulley mounted on a longtudinally-reciprocating block which is longitudinally slidable relative to the frame substantially parallel to and independent from the gun barrel assembly. A cable having a first end fixed relative to the frame operably extends over and is reversed in direction by the travelling pulley, further extends over and is reversed in direction by the fixed pulley, and has a second end fixed to the gun barrel assembly.