page_title: Recoil operation
section_title: Long recoil
hierarchical_section_title: Recoil operation / Categories / Long recoil
context_page_description: Recoil operation is an operating mechanism used to implement locked-breech, autoloading firearms. Recoil operated firearms use the energy of recoil to cycle the action.
context_section_description: Long recoil operation is found primarily in shotguns, particularly ones based on John Browning's Auto-5 action. In a long recoil action, the barrel and bolt remain locked together during recoil, compressing the recoil springs. Following this rearward movement, the bolt locks to the rear and the barrel is forced forward by its spring. The bolt is held in position until the barrel returns completely forward during which time the spent cartridge has been extracted and ejected, and a new shell has been positioned from the magazine. The bolt is released and forced closed by its recoil spring, chambering a fresh round.
  The long recoil system was invented in the late 19th century and dominated the automatic shotgun market for more than half that century before it was supplanted by new gas-operated designs. While Browning halted production of the Auto-5 design in 1999, Franchi still makes a long-recoil–operated shotgun line, the AL-48, which shares both the original Browning action design, and the "humpbacked" appearance of the original Auto-5. Other weapons based on the Browning system were the Remington Model 8 semi-automatic rifle (1906), the Remington Model 11 & "The Sportsman" model (a model 11 with only a two-shell magazine) shotguns, the Frommer Stop line of pistols (1907), and the Chauchat automatic rifle (1915).
  Cycle diagram explanation
  Ready to fire position. Bolt is locked to barrel, both are fully forward.
  Recoil of firing forces bolt and barrel fully to the rear, compressing the return springs for both.
  Bolt is held to rear, while barrel unlocks and returns to battery under spring force. Fired round is ejected.
  Bolt returns under spring force, loads new round. Barrel locks in place as it returns to battery.
caption: Block diagram of long recoil operation cycle.
exif: {}