Home

Close

Signup Now!


Privacy Policy

By clicking “I accept” below, you confirm you are over 18 years old and accept the terms of service .

Unsubscribe
Close This month in G&A Magazine

This month in G&A Magazine

  • S&W Compact 1911
  • M1A1 Carbine
  • .300 Savage

My G & A

HOW-TO

How Autos Operate

Unlike a revolver, when you pull the trigger on an auto, the action’s just beginning. Here’s what happens.

Virtually every modern centerfire auto pistol, no matter what make or caliber, utilizes the basic short-recoil operating system developed by John Browning for the Model 1911.

Nearly every 9mm or larger semiauto, regardless of make or model, operates by a descendent or variation of the short-recoil mechanism developed by John Browning for the M1911. Smaller centerfires and rimfires generally employ a direct blowback action (although some also utilize recoil-operated mechanisms). In a blowback mechanism, energy produced by the cartridge simply pushes directly back against the mass of the slide/bolt, propelling it rearward against a compressing spring to extract the ...

How Autos Operate

Recent Articles

Browse All
  • How Autos Operate Nearly every 9mm or larger semiauto, regardless of make or model, operates by a descendent or variation of the ... Read More
  • A Revitalized Vaquero The term "custom" usually brings to mind 1911s with price tags of three or four grand. Or engraved ... Read More
  • Project Longbow Like so many others of mine, this project came about from a contest. Two contests, really: The state agency for ... Read More
  • Smoothing the Revolver Action At one point in my long and varied past, I was a firearm instructor for the Washington State Game Department ... Read More

G&A Recommends

Browse All

Remington SPR18

It’s been said that the best tool for emphasizing marksmanship and hunting skills is a single-shot rifle. This reduces the hunt to its basic elements, ... Read More

The 7.7 Arisaka

In 1939 Japan adopted a new bolt-action rifle, the Model 99 Arisaka in 7.7mm caliber. The Japanese already had a 6.5mm bolt action of an older design. With ... Read More

  • Model 1909 Argentine Mauser I can't recall the exact date in the mid-1950s, but I can remember what happened like it was last week. There, on a ... Read More
  • Winchester 1895 .405 Takedown I've always been intrigued by the 1895 Winchester, and not just because Teddy Roosevelt fancied it. The 1895 was used ... Read More
  • The Scout Rifle The Scout Rifle does not need a telescope sight. I used a Scout I extensively in Central America mounting a ghost ring ... Read More
  • Use Enough Gun I notice a number of public departments advocating the use of what might be called a "shoulder-ready" ... Read More
pixel pixel

Popular Content

Browse All

Defining Handgun Accuracy

I recently received a letter from a reader who was very disappointed that his newly acquired 1911-style .45 ACP pistol would only produce 21/2-inch groups at ... Read More

How To Benchrest Your Handgun

Whether it is a scope-sighted precision single-shot or a pocket pistol, I like to know the true accuracy potential of all my handguns. It's also part of my job ... Read More

In partnership with Universal Sports, NBC Sports, MSNBC and MSN