Shotgun Design Question
I've read that shotguns develop relatively low peak barrel pressure in comparison to rifles and even pistols. If this is the case, what is the purpose of rotating bolt and other locking mechanisms on semiautomatic shotguns? Why can't simple blowback be used instead of gas-operation or recoil operation?
Update on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 01:31PM by
PRCalDude
PRCalDude
Looking back, my question appears confusing. Let me rephrase. Since shotguns develop low peak barrel pressure, why do they need a bolt-locking mechanism? If, in fact, they actually don't need a bolt-locking mechanism, why don't they just use blowback, since it's the simplest?
1 Comment
Reader Comments (1)
Your questions seem unclear. Gas operation and recoil are methods of extraction while the rotating bolt is a locking mechanism. Your initial statement about firing pressure it true. Look at the cartridge construction to confirm this. At the same time, it is necessary to (1) lock the cartridge in the chamber during firing (hence the rotating bolt or other locking mechanism) and (2) have some means to get the spent cartridge out after firing, For semiautomatic shotguns, the two methods you mentioned are the primary options for extraction.