Hydraulic recoil device for handgun applications

A method of reducing recoil in a handgun, comprising:

• providing a hydraulic recoil device comprising a cylinder defining an interior hollow compartment, the interior hollow compartment having a first end and a second end, the hydraulic recoil device further comprising a first resilient member arranged completely within the cylinder, a piston assembly arranged adjacent to the first resilient member and at least partially within the cylinder, the piston assembly comprising a piston head, a piston rod extending from the piston head through the second end of the cylinder, a piston cap opposite the piston head, and an accumulator;
• providing a second resilient member arranged outside of the cylinder, wherein the second resilient member extends between the first and second ends of the cylinder and an uncompressed length of the second resilient member is equal to or less than a length of the cylinder;
• generating a hydraulic resistance with the piston assembly to remove an initial jolt in a firing cycle;
• and
• generating additional recoil reduction with the second resilient member after the initial jolt in the firing cycle.