Abstract: One embodiment of a gun configured with the soft recoil system comprises a plurality of recoiling parts that initially moves in the direction of the projectile being fired before moving in a direction opposite to that of a projectile during the firing of the round. The soft recoil system throttles the movement of the recoiling parts such that the energy expended during the firing of the round is spread over a longer time period and a longer distance than would normally occur. The soft recoil system stores at least a portion of the energy transferred to the recoiling parts and the user may selectively release at least a part of that portion of energy to offset the energy imparted to the gun during the firing of the next round.

Abstract: In weapon shot is fired during counterrecoil. The counterrecoil energy damps the recoil energy. During recoil, the breech block is unlocked, the spent cartridge case is ejected from the barrel by the residual pressure of the powder gases and is directed by a deflector into a hole in the gun carriage. When recoiling into the aftmost position, the barrel approaches the projectile and locks it by means of the breech block. Meanwhile, the next cartridge is taken from a magazine. In the event of misfire, the barrel, continuing to counterrecoil, actuates an extractor for removing the defective projectile. A recoil imitator returns the barrel to the aftmost position, where it is loaded with a projectile in a manner similar to the post-firing recoil. The technical result is ability to load the weapon automatically before firing or to reload the weapon automatically in the event of misfire.

Abstract: An ammunition indexing mechanism for moving, responsive to actuation of a trigger mechanism, a cartridge from a selected one of a pair of opposed feedports in a weapon receiver and into alignment with a firing chamber of a barrel assembly of the weapon, has a rotary mechanism for moving through a selected index angle each ammunition cartridge entering through the selected feedport; and a torque assembly for storing energy, responsive to a selected movement of the barrel assembly, until released to operate the rotary mechanism to move, for each selected barrel assembly movement, each sequential cartridge through similar angular displacement to a position aligned with the firing chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to new and improved methods and modular apparatus automatically latching, unlatching and resetting of the latch mechanism of gun tubes of weapon systems of the "soft recoil" type having recoil and counterrecoil functions or cycles by utilization of a plunger latch mechanism which is pivotally actuatable by toggle means to unlatch the gun tube and permit movement of the gun tube to its firing position in the direction of the muzzle of the gun. The toggle means resets the latch to its latch position automatically in response to the relative position of the gun tube during movement thereof to its firing position. The plunger, being moved from its latch position by the gun tube during recoil movement of the gun tube, returns automatically to its latch position in response to the relative position of the gun tube during recoil so that the plunger is again in its latch position when engaged by the gun tube during its counterrecoil movement.