Abstract:
The invention provides an apparatus for reducing recoil on a firearm or gun and to increase rate of firing. The invention uses a dual mass system to dynamically balance the gun wherein some of the energy of firing is absorbed within springs and thereby reduces the recoil force imparted to the gun user. The apparatus also comprises an ejector mechanism for ejecting a spent round and reloading a new round from the gun magazine with increased speed over conventional designs. The apparatus is applicable to automatic and semiautomatic handguns as well as rifles and machine guns.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an improved firearm. In one aspect it relates to a firearm which has reduced recoil action when fired. In another aspect it relates to a firearm which has in increased rate of firing capability. 
     In what follows the term firearm is intended to refer to both handguns (pistols) and rifles which may be of the semiautomatic or fully automatic type. The term firearm is intended to also comprise fully automatic machine guns. For clarity, the present invention will be described as it relates to applications in semiautomatic handguns. However, the invention may also be adapted to rifles and machine guns. 
     There are many uses for handguns that include sport, police and military use, and personal self-defense. In the sport known as action or combat shooting, an individual is presented with a series of targets that simulate combat and/or self-defense scenarios. Another type of shooting sport is fixed-target shooting. Police and military personnel also participate in these sports as part of training exercises. In these activities the objective is to hit the target or targets as many times as possible in a given period of time with as high an accuracy as possible. The preferred (and in some sports required by rule) handgun for these activities is of the semiautomatic type wherein each round (bullet) is automatically loaded from a magazine into the gun barrel. However, the trigger must be pulled and released each time the gun is to be fired. In a fully automatic firearm the ammunition is discharged in rapid succession by pulling and holding the trigger only once. 
     Two important characteristics of semiautomatic handguns are i) minimum recoil, and ii) minimum cycle-time. Other important factors are the gun weight and fire power. 
     When a gun is fired the explosion of the gunpowder in the ammunition casing or shell creates a forward force on the bullet that propels the bullet out of the gun barrel. Basic physics requires that an equal and opposite force be exerted rearward by the bullet on the gun. This force is referred to as recoil. The portion of the recoil that is sensed by the gun user is referred to as “felt” recoil. The felt recoil is less than the total recoil because automatic and semiautomatic guns contain a spring or springs which absorb some of the energy released when the gun is fired. 
     Because the gun barrel wherein the recoil force is applied is usually slightly above the wrist of the user, a moment is created about the wrist that tends to rotate the gun barrel upward after firing. In a semiautomatic gun the result is that the gun must be re-aimed before it can be fired again. Excessive recoil can also lead to wrist injury after repeated use. It can be appreciated, therefore, that minimal felt recoil is a desirable attribute for guns since it will reduce the time required to re-aim the gun. 
     Efforts to reduce felt recoil have resulted in the development of compensators. A compensator is a modification to the gun barrel wherein a small hole is formed in the top of the barrel near the barrel discharge. When the bullet passes the hole a jet of high-pressure gas within the barrel is emitted from the hole. The jet produces a downward force on the end of the gun barrel that counteracts the recoil moment. Compensators have the problem of obscuring the sight of the gun as well as safety problems since the gas jet is hot. Compensators also require a longer barrel that adds weight to the gun. 
     The cycle-time is the time between successive firings of the gun. In a semiautomatic handgun, for example, the cycle consists of: i) pulling the trigger which fires the bullet, ii) ejection of the empty shell casing from the barrel, and iii) loading of a new round from the magazine (usually in the gun handle) whereby the gun is ready to be fired again. The cycle-time in a semiautomatic handgun is usually faster than the ability of the user to re-aim the gun and fire again. Therefore, the limiting factor in the firing rate is the proficiency of the user. 
     In a fully automatic gun, such as a machine gun, the limiting factor in the cycle-time is primarily the speed at which the empty shell casing is ejected from the gun and the speed at which a new round can be loaded from the magazine into firing position. The ejection process is controlled by an ejector mechanism that is automatically activated when the gun is fired. The ejector is activated by the gun slide which is a spring-loaded member that is driven rearward by the impact of the explosion of the ammunition. During the rearward motion of the slide, the ejector is activated and ejects the empty shell casing from the gun. Under the action of the slide spring, the slide is first halted and then driven forward returning it to the firing position. At the rear-most position of the slide the magazine is opened and a new round is forced upward (from the magazine in the handle of the gun) into the gun bolt. During the forward motion, the slide rams the round forward into the gun barrel whereby the gun is ready to be fired. The duration of the motion of the slide therefore defines the cycle-time of the gun. 
     The speed of the slide is primarily a function of its mass. In conventional designs, the force exerted by the gun frame on the slide by for halting its rearward motion is the primary source of felt recoil. In many designs the slide will actually impact upon the frame during the rearward stroke and create a large felt recoil force. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is predicated on a semiautomatic or fully automatic gun that reduces felt recoil and significantly reduces the cycle-time. The improvement is achieved by a novel dynamic balancing mechanism that isolates the gun slide from the frame (handle) when the gun is fired and thereby reduces felt recoil. The mechanism also ejects the spent shell casing and brings the gun to battery (reloads) more rapidly than conventional designs thereby reducing cycle-time and increasing the maximum firing rate (i.e. shots per minute). 
     The dynamic balancing is achieved by replacing the conventional single mass slide with a dual mass slide and “bolt” combination. The relative motions of the slide and bolt are timed in a way that isolates the slide from the frame whereby the slide does not impact (collide) with the gun frame and, therefore, does not impart a large felt recoil to the hand of the user. The slide and bolt are slidingly coupled and both are free to move rearward (towards the gun handle) and forward relative to each other. The slide and bolt are coupled with a spring (referred to as the bolt spring). The movement of the bolt relative to the slide is limited by forward and rearward stops on the slide. As in the conventional design the slide is slidingly coupled to the frame of the gun with a second spring (referred to as the slide spring) interposed therebetween. Although the ranges will vary from gun to gun, the bolt will typically have one-fourth to one-half the mass of the slide. 
     The felt recoil is reduced by timing the motion of the bolt relative to the slide whereby some of the recoil force induced by the explosion of the ammunition is absorbed within the itself thereby balancing the gun and reducing felt recoil. Whereas in conventional designs comprising a single mass slide wherein the slide impacts the gun frame imparting a large felt recoil force thereto, in the present design the slide and bolt are isolated from the frame and thus never impact the frame thereby reducing recoil. The bolt and frame are slidingly coupled to the frame in the forward and rearward directions and the term “isolated” refers to isolation in the direction of recoil force (i.e. rearward towards the gun handle). 
     In the present invention, the explosion of the ammunition initiates the rearward motion of both the slide and the bolt. However, because the bolt is lighter it moves rearward much faster than the slide. The masses of the slide and bolt (as well as the bolt and slide spring stiffnesses) are sized to optimize the timing of these motions so that: 
     i) the bolt moves rearward much faster than the slide and collides with the slide before the slide has undergone significant movement whereby the rearward motion of the bolt is halted (neither part has contacted the frame, i.e . both are isolated from the frame), 
     ii) the bolt now moves forward as the slide continues to move rearward so that the forward bolt momentum cancels some of the slide rear-ward momentum, 
     iii) the bolt impacts the slide and halts the slide rearward movement before the slide collides with the frame whereby the slide does not impart an impact force on the frame (as inconventional designs), and 
     iv) both the bolt and the slide move forward together and return to the firing position at the same time whereby the gun is ready to be fired again. 
     The collisions described in i) and iii), can be regarded as “internal” collisions since they occur between the bolt and slide only, which are isolated from the frame (in the manner described in the preferred embodiments below). 
     Whereas in the conventional design the force of the explosion is exerted on a single mass slide, in the present dual mass system the force is exerted on the much lighter bolt. Under this force the bolt is driven rearward much faster than the conventional single mass slide design. During the rearward stroke the bolt activates the ejector and extracts the empty shell. At its rear-most position, the bolt opens the magazine for admitting a new round into the gun which is rammed into the barrel by the forward motion of the bolt and the gun is ready to be fired again. The forward motion is induced by the bolt spring which is brought into compression during the rearward stroke. Thus the rearward and forward motions of the bolt define the cycle-time of the gun. Because the bolt has significantly less mass than the slide of the conventional design, the cycle-time is significantly reduced. 
     The following sequence of events summarize the cycle of the gun. The rearward motions described being induced by the rearward reaction of the exploding ammunition, and the forward motions described being induced by the bolt and slide springs. 
     1. the gun is fired and the bolt and slide begin to move rearward with bolt moving much faster than the slide 
     2. the bolt activates ejector and ejects spent shell 
     3. the bolt internally collides with the slide which halts the bolt rearward motion before either the bolt or slide collide with the frame 
     4. near rear-most position the bolt opens the magazine and admits new round into the gun, the slide continues to move rearward 
     5. the bolt moves forward while slide moves rearward thereby canceling some of the slide momentum and absorbing much of the energy of the explosion and reducing felt recoil 
     6. the bolt internally collides again with the slide and halts the slide rearward motion before the slide collides with the frame, the bolt and slide begin to move forward together 
     7. during forward motion, the bolt rams a new round into firing position in the gun barrel 
     8. the bolt and slide return to firing position 
     In a semiautomatic gun, events 1 through 8 would occur each time the trigger is pulled, and the limiting factor in the rate of firing (shots per minute) is the speed at which the user can re-aim the gun. The mechanical speed of the cycle is generally much faster than human factor of re-aiming and the proficiency of the user determines the firing rate. 
     In a fully automatic gun, events 1 through 8 would repeat continuously for as long as the trigger is pulled and held, thus, the firing rate is determined by the mechanical speed of the gun. Experimental tests described below indicate that the present dual mass system significantly increases firing rate. 
     From the forgoing it can be appreciated that the present design accomplishes the objectives of i) reducing felt recoil by isolating the slide from the frame by timing the relative movements of the bolt and slide, and ii) reducing cycle-time by speeding the ejection and reloading process. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention as embodied in a semiautomatic handgun. 
     FIG. 2 is a top partial sectional view taken along section  2 — 2  in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional frontal view taken along plane  3 — 3  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 4 is a side sectional view taken along plane  4 — 4  in FIG. 2 showing the gun in the firing position. 
     FIGS. 5 a  through  5   f  are side sectional views showing the relative movements or the gun components over one cycle after the gun is fired. 
     FIG. 6 is a top sectional view taken along plane  6 — 6  in FIG. 4 illustrating the ejector mechanism. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present balancing mechanism will be described as applied to a semiautomatic handgun. However, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the invention may be applied to fully automatic guns as well. The term gun is intended to include semiautomatic and fully automatic handguns, rifles, and machine guns. 
     The overall structure of the gun will first be described followed by a description of the balancing mechanism and the principles of operation. Preferred embodiments of the firing mechanism and ejector mechanisms will be described. However, these may be any number of the those practiced in the art and, therefore, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is directed at a timed dual mass system for reducing felt recoil and increasing firing rate. 
     Handgun Components 
     As seen in FIGS. 1 through 4, semiautomatic handgun  10  comprises the components of frame  11 , barrel  12 , bolt  13 , and slide  14 . As best seen in FIG. 3, frame  11  has race  16  which mates with groove  17  of slide  14  for slidingly securing the slide to the frame. Frame  11  has secured thereto rod  15  (see FIG. 4) which has compression spring  18  disposed around the rod at one end and in contact with slide  14  at the opposite end. The slide has hole  19  wherein slide spring  18  is inserted. Spring  18  limits the rearward motion of the slide with respect to the frame when the gun is fired as described later. Barrel  12  and bolt  13  are slidingly disposed within slide  14 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 2, slide  14  has two rods  20   a  and  20   b  which act as guide rods for the sliding motion of bolt  13  relative to the slide. The rods are secured to slide  14  in holes  25   a  and  25   b  at one end and holes  26   a  and  26   b  at the other end. The rods are held in place by flathead machine screws  28   a  and  28   b  which are threaded into the ends of the rods. Bolt  13  has projections  21   a  and  21   b  with holes  22   a  and  22   b , respectfully drilled therethrough. Rods  20   a  and  20   b  pass slidingly through the holes for guiding the bolt motion as will be described. Bolt springs  23   a  and  23   b  (see FIG. 2) are compression springs which are in contact with slide  14  at  24   a  and  24   b  on the backside of the springs and in contact with the bolt projections at  21   a  and  21   b  at the front of the springs. The bolt springs are always in compression and therefore exert a forward force on the bolt with respect to the slide. In the firing position (i.e. before the gun is fired) the bolt is held in compression against the slide at interface  27 . The rear portion of bolt  13  is of rectangular cross section. The rear portion of slide  14  has a rectangular cavity which is open at both ends in which the bolt may slide uninhibited forward and backward. The sliding motion of the bolt with respect to the slide is limited in the forward direction by projects  21   a  and  21   b  contacting the slide at interface  27 , and in the rearward direction with springs  23   a  and  23   b  in full compression whereby the springs bottom-out. 
     Barrel  12  has circular front end  31  which passes slidingly through barrel hole  32  in slide  14  for securing the barrel to the slide. The rear of barrel  12  is of square cross section and fits slidingly into a square cavity (see FIG. 3) formed in the center of bolt  13  in front of bolt surface  33  (see FIG. 4) for support and aligning the rear of the barrel with respect to the bolt and the slide. 
     The components comprising the barrel  12 , bolt  13 , and slide  14  will each move with respect to frame  11  and with respect to each other when the gun is fired as described below. However, each component is slidingly secured to the frame as follows. Referring to FIG. 4, spring  18  exerts a forward force on slide  14  with respect to frame  11 . The slide motion with respect to the frame is guided by race  16  and grooves  17  as has been described. Bolt springs  23   a  and  23   b  are very stiff compression springs and tend to hold bolt  13  against slide  14  as illustrated at interface  27 . The bolt springs exert a forward force on the bolt with respect to the slide and an equal and opposite rearward force on the slide with respect to the bolt due to contact with the slide at  24   a,b . Thus the slide/bolt combination is induced to move forward under the action of slide spring  18 . The forward motion of bolt  13  is limited by barrel  12  and pin  37  (referred to as the slide release pin) which is secured to frame  11 . Bolt  13  exerts a forward force at the rear of barrel  12  at barrel breech  38 . Barrel  12  has cam  39  with follower pin  41  which is secured to frame  11 . The forward force on the barrel forces the rear of the barrel upward on the cam which acts to hold barrel lugs  42  and bolt lugs  43  in engagement. The forward motion of the barrel is limited by pin  37  secured to frame  11 , which in turn limits the forward motion of the bolt/slide combination due to contact at breech  38  and lugs  42  and  43  as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Gun  10  further comprises firing mechanism comprising hammer  48 , sear  49 , sear lever  50 , trigger  51 , and firing pin  52  disposed slidingly in hole  53  in the rear portion of bolt  13 . End  54  of pin  52  is disposed away from round  56  in the breech of the barrel by compression spring  57 . Stop  58  is secured to the rear of bolt  13  and limits the rearward movement of the firing pin which may slide in hole  59  of the block. In the cocked position, hammer  48  is pulled rearward and held in position by sear  49  which pivots downward about pin  64  to engage pawl  60  of the hammer. The firing mechanism is activated be pulling trigger  51  rearward which causes the rear of the trigger to rotate upward about pin  61  whereby trigger lever  62  contacts the forward end of sear lever  50 . The forward end of the lever is pushed upward causing the back part of the lever to rotate about pin  63  downward and contact the front of sear  49 . Sear  49  pivots upward and becomes disengaged from hammer pawl  60  whereby the hammer is released to strike end  66  of the firing pin. Hammer  48  and frame  11  have a torsional spring (not shown) interposed therebetween which induces the hammer into the firing position when the hammer is released. With hammer  48  cocked (as shown in FIG.  3 ), end  66  of the firing pin protrudes slightly out of stop  58 . When the gun is fired hammer  48  is released and will strike end  666  and the momentum imparted to the pin will force pin end  54  into the rear of round  56  thereby detonating the primer in the round. The firing mechanism used in the present invention may be any of the conventional types used in the art. The above description of the firing mechanism is by way of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which is predicated on a firearm with reduced recoil and cycle-time. 
     Handgun  10  also comprises magazine  46  having spring  47  and ammunition (rounds)  48 . Spring  47  exerts an upward force on the ammunition and automatically loads the gun as will be described. 
     Balancing of Handgun 
     The firing of the handgun and the interaction between the slide, the bolt, the barrel and the frame whereby the gun is balanced and cycle-time reduced will be described. The sequence of events over one cycle of firing will be described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5 a  through  5   f . It should be noted that the mass of slide  14  is preferably between 2.5 to 5 times and most preferably between 3.5 to 4.5 times that of bolt  13  so that more force is required to move the slide than the bolt. Note also that part of the firing mechanism has been omitted from FIGS. 5 a  through  5   f  for clarity. 
     In FIG. 4 the gun is fired and the explosion of the ammunition exerts a rearward force on the bolt  13  at surface  33  which causes the bolt to move rearward as illustrated in FIG. 5 a . Lugs  42  and  43  remain engaged and barrel  12  moves rearward with the bolt. Because the bolt and barrel are free to slide with respect to slide  14 , and the slide is significantly heavier, the slide stays essentially stationary over the short time interval from FIGS. 4 to  5   a . The round has left the barrel leaving spent shell casing  65  which moves rearward with the bolt. 
     As seen in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , barrel  12  has upward facing cam  67  (see FIG. 4) which contacts the bottom of pin  41  and forces the rear of the barrel downward as it moves rearward. The motion of the barrel is halted with the rear of the barrel hung on pin  41  as shown in FIG. 5 b . The collision of the barrel with pin  37  (which is secured to frame  11 ) creates only a small amount of felt recoil because the mass of the barrel is small. The downward motion uncouples lugs  42  and  43  and bolt  13  continues to move backward while barrel  12  is stationary and hung on pin  41 . The uncoupling of the bolt and barrel serves two purposes. First, it creates an opening between the bolt and the barrel wherein the spent shell casing may be ejects and a new round loaded into the barrel from the magazine. Secondly, it creates an opening  68  around the outside of the barrel whereby some of the exhaust gas from the explosion may be released whereby the pressure in the barrel rapidly drops. This improves the safety of the gun. Because the slide is significantly heavier than the bolt, the slide stays essentially stationary during the interval from FIGS. 5 a  to  5   b . Thus all of the energy imparted to the gun from firing the gun has been transferred to the bolt with some of the energy stored in springs  23   a  and  23   b  which are being compressed as the bolt moves rearwards with respect to the slide. Note also in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  that the rearward motion of the bolt has forced hammer  48  back whereby sear  51  engages hammer pawl  60  to re-cock the gun. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 5 c , the continued rearward motion of the bolt activates the ejector mechanism (described below) which ejects the empty shell casing  65  out of the side of the gun. Continued bolt rearward motion shown in FIG. 5 d  opens the magazine and spring  47  forces new round  71  into space  72  created between bolt  13  and barrel  12 . 
     In FIG. 5 d , bolt  13  is at its rear most position and subsequently under the action of springs  23   a  and  23   b  begins to move forward once round  71  is in position. At this point, springs  23   a  and  23   b  have bottomed-out against slide  14  at  24   a  and  24   b . and the rearward motion of bolt  13  is halted by colliding with slide  14 . However, slide  14  has only just begun to move rearward on race  16  due to forces exerted by springs  23   a,b  (as well as the bolt collision) and, therefore, neither the slide nor the bolt have collided with frame  11 . Thus in FIG. 5 d , bolt  13  has begun to move forward and slide  14  has begun to move rearward. 
     In FIG. 5 e , bolt  13  is moving forward while slide  14  is simultaneously moving rearward. Round  71  is pushed into the breech  38  of stationary barrel  12  by the forward motion of bolt  13 . The simultaneous forward momentum of the motion counteracts the rearward momentum of the slide and is the key to balancing the gun and reducing recoil as discussed in more detail below. 
     FIG. 5 f  illustrates the instant the bolt and slide contact each other at interface  27 . The collision in combination with force exerted by spring  18  halts the rearward slide motion. At this instant the slide is at its rear most position and subsequently due to the forward force exerted on the slide by spring  18  the slide begins to move forward. Slide spring  18 , however, has not bottomed-out and therefore there is no impact force exerted on frame  11  (via rod  15  and pin  37  which secured to the frame). Springs  23   a  and  23   b  hold bolt  13  in compression against the slide and the slide/bolt combination moves forward together. The bolt also collides with the breech of barrel  12  at surface  33  (see FIG. 4) and begins to push the barrel forward (note that the collision is isolated from the frame. The rear portion of the barrel rides upward on cam  39  and pin  41  whereby lugs  42  and  43  are engaged. The slide, bolt, and barrel move forward together and the gun returns to the firing position illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     The important principles underlying the operation of the present balancing mechanism whereby felt recoil is reduced are summarized as follows: 
     1. When bolt  13  moves rearward and collides with slide  14  (i.e. intermediate bolt springs  23   a,b  bottom-out), the slide has not yet appreciably moved and, therefore, spring  18  has not been compressed from the firing position and the slide is free to move on race  16 . Thus the collision is substantially internal to the gun and no impact force is exerted on frame  11 . This is in contrast to conventional handguns wherein the slide and bolt (i.e. joined in a single mass which slides on race  16 ) are integral and the rearward motion is halted when spring  18  bottoms out and an impact force is imparted to frame  11  causing a significant recoil to be imparted to the hand and wrist of the user. 
     2. The bolt/slide collision halts the bolt movement and the bolt begins to move forward while the slide simultaneously begins to moves rearward due to the collision and the forces exerted by springs  23   a,b  at surfaces  24   a,b . The forward bolt momentum cancels (balances) some of the rearward momentum of the slide and thereby reduces the recoil force. The effect is predictable using Newton&#39;s second law which states that the force on a system is equal to the time rate of change of the momentum of the system as a whole (in this case the entire gun is the system). It is true that the rearward motion of the heavier slide will create some net rearward momentum and therefore some felt recoil force. However, while the bolt moves forward and the slide moves rearward, the net momentum of the gun as a whole is reduced thereby reducing the force on the hand of the user. 
     3. The forward moving bolt collides with the rearward moving slide at interface  27 . The collision halts the rearward motion of the slide and at this position spring  18  has not been fully compressed and, therefore, no impact force is exerted on the frame. The collision may be thought of as being internal to the gun and creates very little external force on the user&#39;s hand. 
     4. The bolt/slide combination moves very rapidly in the forward direction to return the gun to the firing position. 
     From items 1 through 3 above, it can be seen that at no point during the cycle (except at the very end of the cycle when the slide/bolt/barrel combination impacts pin  37  which not important as related to felt recoil) does the bolt or slide impart an impact-type force of the frame. Thus, the bolt and slide are always isolated from the frame after firing. 
     Ejector Mechanism 
     Referring to FIG. 6 a , ejector mechanism  75  comprises ejector plate  76 , extractor  77 , and extractor spring  78 . Ejector  76  is secured to frame  11  and slidingly disposed in slot  79  formed in bolt  13 . Ejector  76  is eccentrically mounted with bolt  13  and is stationary with respect to the bolt. Extractor  77  is pivotally mounted to bolt  13  on pin  81 . At the forward end extractor  77  has clip  82  which engages has rounded frontal edge  83  which detachably engages with groove  84  formed around the rear end on casing  65 . Spring  78  is a compression spring and exerts an outward force on the rear of extractor  77  which acts to keep clip  82  engaged with groove  84 , so that when the gun is fired, bolt  13  and casing  65  move rearward together. As shown in FIGS. 6 b  and  6   c.    
     At the instant illustrated in FIG. 6 c  the rear casing  65  has contacted the front of ejector  76 . Continued rearward movement of bolt  13  exposes end  86  of the ejector which imparts an outward ejection force (or moment) on casing  65  which acts to rotate the casing about clip  82  as shown in FIGS. 6 d  and  6   e . The force is imparted in a direction to eject the casing out the side of the gun through slot  87  formed in the side of slide  14  (see FIG.  1 ). In FIGS. 6 f  and  6   g  the casing has released from clip  82  and is ejecting from the gun. Spring-loaded pivotal member  77  facilitates the release of the casing from the clip. 
     Following the ejection of casing  65 , bolt  13  moves rearward and opens magazine  56  for injecting a new round of ammunition into firing position as has been described in relation to FIGS. 5 d  and  5   e . As the new round  71  moves into space  72 , bolt  13  reverses direction and begins to move forward and push round  71  into breech  38  of barrel  12 . During this process the round resists slightly the motion whereby rounded frontal edge  83  of clip  82  slides (as extractor  77  pivots on pin  81 ) around the outer rim of the groove round the rear of shell  71  to engage the shell for the next ejection cycle. Spring  78  holds the ejector and casing  71  in engagement as the gun is brought to battery (i.e. into the firing position). 
     The present invention contemplates the use of any compatible ejector system known in the art and the above description is by way of illustration only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     EXAMPLE 
     A semiautomatic handgun as exemplified in the description and figures described above has been constructed and tested. A conventional handle, firing mechanism and ejector system (as described above) were employed. 
     The testing was carried out to demonstrate the efficacy of the present invention as embodied in a semiautomatic handgun. However, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the invention may be equally applied to fully automatic guns including rifles and machine guns and, therefore, the description of the embodiments below are not intended to limit the invention to only semiautomatic handguns. 
     A .40 caliber semiautomatic hand gun was constructed having the following properties: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Slide (14) 
                 Bolt (13) 
                 Barrel (12) 
                 Frame (11) 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Preferred 
                 0.365 
                 0.981 
                 0.260 
                 1.433 
               
               
                 Mass (lb) 
               
               
                 Most Prefer- 
                 0.150 
                 0.600 
                 0.260 
                 1.433 
               
               
                 red Mass(lb) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Preferred 
                 4340 Stainless Titanium 
                 Steel 
                 Aluminum Alloy 
               
               
                 Material 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Slide Spring Stiffness 
                 Bolt Spring Stiffness 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Preferred 
                 9.50 
                 19.0 
               
               
                 (lb/in) 
               
               
                 Most Preferred 
                 6.29 
                 25.0 
               
               
                 (lb/in) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The above data are illustrative of the ranges for a semiautomatic handgun of the size constructed. It will be understood by those in the art that these data will be scaled upward or downward in accordance with size of the handgun, rifle, or machine gun. 
     Video taped tests have been carried out on the semiautomatic handgun. A vise-grip mount (simulating a human wrist) for supporting the gun handle and means for pulling the gun trigger were constructed so that the gun could be remotely fired and video taped. A Redlake Motion Scope 500 with a film rate of 500 frames/second and a shutter speed of 1/10,000 of a second was used to record the motion of the gun components after firing. The description of the motion as depicted in FIGS. 5 a  through  5   f  are based on the results of these recordings. 
     Based upon these data the cycle-time has been found to be between 0.05 and 0.067 seconds. A time range being given as it was not possible to accurately synchronize the impact of the hammer and the end of the cycle with the resolution (in frames per second) of the camera and therefore it was not possible to precisely determine the beginning and end of the cycle. Multiple tests were, however, conducted and these data represent the range of the results. It was possible, however, to accurately record the relative motion of the bolt and slide over the cycle. 
     The cycle-time data have been used to compute the rate of fire (rounds per minute) that the present invention would yield when applied to a fully automatic gun. The calculation is given by: 
     
       
         Rounds per minute=(1/CT)×60=895 rounds/minute 
       
     
     Where CT=cycle time=0.067 seconds 
     The above rate can be compared to a conventional fully automatic handgun which typically has a rate of 600 rounds/minute. 
     The high speed photograph tests also revealed a significant decrease in muzzle rise after firing the present handgun.