1. What is the first thing you must know before attempting to disassemble or inspect a firearm? The first thing I would want to know before attempting to disassemble or inspect a firearm is how to clear it of ammunition. Some firearms like Glocks require the user pull the trigger to remove the slide and being sure the firearm is not loaded is the first and most critical step. 2. In a straight blowback system, when does the bolt/slide begin reacting to the pressure created by the ignited cartridge and what does this teach us about the importance of timing? When the primer is struck there is not enough pressure to cycle the slide or bolt for normal operation. Burning gunpowder and building pressures push both forward and backward, pushing the bullet out of the muzzle and pushing the casing out of the bore starting its extraction and ejection process. The exact moment the bolt or slide reacts to this pressure is when the bullet exits the muzzle. Timing is important because if the pressure is too much as the casing is being extracted then the casing wall may expand or crack causing malfunctions.
3.Explain how the rollers in the roller-delayed blowback system delay the opening of the action.
The rollers in a roller delayed blow-back system works like a locking lug. In the forward position the rollers push into grooves and help to ensure the firearm is in battery before being fired. This delays blowback because it requires a little more pressure to push the rollers in and then allow the slide or bolt to cycle.
4.Identify one modern firearm that uses the gas-delayed blowback system and explain how the gas is used to delay the system.
The Walther CCP 9mm uses the Gas-Delayed blowback system. This system uses a small hole just after the bore of the barrel to allow some gas to escape while pushing the projectile out of the muzzle. The pressure will eventually transfer to the slide for normal operation but this little bit of gas that escapes delays the blowback of the slide. Walther calls this Softcoil instead of recoil.
5.Levers are usually used to create a mechanical advantage. How do the levers in the lever-
delayed blowback system do just the opposite?
The lever used in the lever-delayed blowback operating firearms creates a mechanical
disadvantage. This lever is internal and rotates until it unlocks the bolt or slide allowing freedom of motion for extraction and ejection of the spent casing. The time it takes to unlock or rotate that lever creates the delay.
6.At what point in a blowback system is the firearm considered “locked”?
The term used here is just blowback system and the term locked could mean a few things
depending on the firearm. In general, the firearm is considered locked when the slide or bolt are closed all the way or in battery. If the firearm uses any of the other delayed blowback systems it would be considered locked when the rollers, levers or lugs are in their closed locked positions.
7.Is it always true that blowback systems are reserved for low-pressured cartridges? If not, what is an example of a firearm that is chambered for a high-pressure cartridge and uses the
blowback system?
At first thought my brain screamed Barret 50Cal. The Model 82A1 is an example of a firearm
that is chambered in one of the largest calibers I have shot and this model uses a reciprocating bolt and is a semi-automatic type rifle. Barret does make the Model 95 that is a bolt action rifle but I don’t recommend it.
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