Abstract: The test-firing apparatus comprises a weapon-holder (WH) accommodating a rifle or hand-gun and a preferably freely mobile mounting (LG), for the said holder, in relation to a stationary base (S). A projecting support means (SA), connected to the weapon, allows the recoil-pulse to be absorbed, in conjunction with the freely mobile mounting, by the body of an operator, as in practical shooting. The only purpose of the mounting, preferably in the form of a linear precision guide comprising cross rollers, is to position the barrel-axis directionally, and the said mounting is therefore subjected to little stress. Resilient and/or damping absorption of the recoil-pulse may also be provided. The barrel-axis (X--X) is arranged in parallel with the movement-axis (Y--Y) of the mounting, so that the point of impact of the bullet upon the target cannot be affected by the recoil-stroke.