Abstract: An apparatus for cocking a breechblock of an automatic firing weapon equipped with an electric motor which is operatively connected through the agency of an electromagnetic coupling with a displacement mechanism for the breechblock in order to move the breechblock into its cocked position, an electric switch which, upon reaching the cocked position, cuts-off the coupling. An overload device is provided which upon exceeding a certain value of the displacement resistance of the breechblock actuates the electric switch for cutting-out the coupling.