Reduced weapon system blowback

Abstract

A reloading firearm featuring a mechanism to reduce the blowback of toxic propellant gasses towards the warfighter. The reloading assembly acts in plural segments to increase the firing chamber-closed dwell time, while limiting adverse impact to the overall nominal rate of fire. Greater dwell time corresponds with reduced exposure of the warfighter to propellant gasses. Moreover, increasing the dwell time without otherwise altering the firing cycle has the additional effect of delaying the breech opening after the cartridge is fired. This delay in breech opening permits gas pressure at the muzzle, which may be elevated and/or constrained by flash and/or sound suppression, to dissipate before the breech is opened. Accordingly, when the breech opens later in the firing cycle, there is a reduced pressure gradient across the combination of barrel and firing chamber, which reduces a driving force of propellant gasses towards the warfighter via the open breech.