Abstract: A front loading weapon includes a barrel for firing ammunition therefrom; a breechblock arranged at a rear terminal portion of the barrel; a firing pin carried by the breechblock; and an apparatus for monitoring load conditions of the barrel. The apparatus includes a body sound sensor mounted on the weapon and emitting a first signal representing body oscillations of the weapon; an electronic evaluating device connected to an output of the sensor for emitting a second signal characteristic of an impacting of a cartridge on a region of the breechblock upon loading the cartridge into the barrel; and a warning device connected to the electronic evaluating device for being actuated by the second signal.

Abstract: A weapon includes a barrel for firing ammunition therefrom; and an apparatus for monitoring firing stresses of the barrel. The apparatus includes a body sound sensor mounted on the weapon and emitting a first signal representing body oscillations of the weapon upon firing; and an electronic evaluating device connected to an output of the sensor. The electronic evaluating device includes a comparator for comparing measuring signals, representing the first signals, with reference signals representing different charges and for emitting second signals representing results of the comparison; and a non-volatile memory operatively connected to the comparator for additively receiving the second signals and for releasing, on demand, the number of firings and information on an accumulated firing stress of the barrel.