Short recoil impulse averaging weapon system

A weapon system for firing a round from a belt of rounds, the weapon system comprising:

• a receiver;
• an operating group configured to operate the weapon system through a charged condition, a firing condition, and a recoil condition, the operating group comprising
• a barrel extension at least partially housed within the receiver and arranged to axially translate relative to the receiver;
• an operating rod (op-rod) assembly at least partially housed within the barrel extension and arranged to axially translate within the barrel extension between the charged condition, the firing condition, and the recoil condition;
• and
• a bolt assembly coupled to the op-rod assembly and at least partially housed within the barrel extension and arranged to axially translate within the barrel extension between the charged condition, the firing condition, and the recoil condition;
• a barrel coupled to the barrel extension and defining a chamber and a bore;
• a gas accelerator with a first end coupled to the barrel and a second end coupled to the op-rod assembly;
• a buffer assembly comprising a spring and a hydraulic piston assembly having a first end coupled to the receiver and a second end coupled to the barrel extension;
• and
• a feeder coupled to the receiver and configured to provide the round to the operating group,
• wherein the barrel comprises a quick-release assembly that includes a lock projection on the barrel, first locking lugs on the barrel, second locking lugs on the barrel extension, and a lock surface on the barrel extension, and wherein, in a locked position, the first locking lugs and the second locking lugs cooperate to prevent relative motion in an axial direction and the lock projection and the lock surface to prevent relative motion in a circumferential direction.

A weapon system for firing a round from a belt of rounds, the weapon system comprising:

• a receiver;
• an operating group configured to operate the weapon system through a charged condition, a firing condition, and a recoil condition, the operating group comprising
• a barrel extension at least partially housed within the receiver and arranged to axially translate relative to the receiver;
• an operating rod (op-rod) assembly at least partially housed within the barrel extension and arranged to axially translate within the barrel extension between the charged condition, the firing condition, and the recoil condition;
• and
• a bolt assembly coupled to the op-rod assembly and at least partially housed within the barrel extension and arranged to axially translate within the barrel extension between the charged condition, the firing condition, and the recoil condition;
• a barrel coupled to the barrel extension and defining a chamber and a bore;
• a gas accelerator with a first end coupled to the barrel and a second end coupled to the op-rod assembly;
• a buffer assembly comprising a spring and a hydraulic piston assembly having a first end coupled to the receiver and a second end coupled to the barrel extension;
• a feeder coupled to the receiver and configured to provide the round to the operating group;
• and
• a firing pin arranged forward of the op-rod assembly.