Design Recoilless rifle

carl gustaf recoilless rifle firing position , recoilless blast.

the typical recoilless gun functions conventional gun. projectile , propellant supplied single round , loaded breech. when fired, however, instead of propellant blast following projectile out barrel, large portion allowed escape rear, gaining rearward directed momentum equal forward momentum of projectile. balance of momenta ensures momentum of rifle/projectile/exhaust gas system conserved without imparting momentum (recoil) rifle itself. since recoil has been removed, heavy , complex gun carriage , recoil damping mechanism can dispensed with. despite name, rare forces balance, , real-world recoilless rifles recoil noticeably (with varying degrees of severity). recoilless rifles maintenance-intensive weapons, , if breech , gas ports old, damaged, plugged, or poorly maintained, recoil-damping effect can reduced or lost altogether, leading dangerously powerful recoil. conversely, if projectile becomes lodged in barrel reason, entire weapon recoil forward, in manner of rocket.

unlike rocket launcher, fires fin-stabilized rockets smooth bore, recoilless rifle rounds resemble conventional artillery shells. have pre-engraved rifling band engage rifled launch tube, spin-stabilizing projectile, hence term rifle . case area of shell can perforated vent propellant gases, directed rear, base of shell disintegrates.

since venting hot gases rear can dangerous in confined spaces, recoilless guns, such armbrust , matador, use combination of countershot, smoothbore barrel, , pistons avoid both recoil , blast. fin-stabilized armbrust cartridge contains propellant charge between 2 pistons warhead in front of one, facing forward, , equal countermass of shredded plastic in front of other piston. on firing, propellant expands rapidly, pushing pistons outward. pushes projectile forwards towards target , countermass backwards providing recoilless effect. shredded plastic countermass slowed air resistance , harmless @ distance more few feet breech. pistons jam @ ends of barrel, trapping hot propellant gases inside. allows safe firing in enclosed spaces.