Firearm Configuration For Reducing Recoil

Abstract

Disclosed is a firearm configuration for a handgun. The firearm configuration is designed to reduce the recoil forces encountered by a user upon firing the weapon. Recoil forces are reduced by lowering the firearm's center of mass and by aligning a recoiling mass with the user's arm and trigger finger. The various detail of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm configuration ( 10 ) for reducing recoil forces encountered by the user of a firearm ( 12 ), the firearm configuration ( 10 ) comprising:
 an upper housing ( 14 ), the upper housing including a barrel ( 16 ) and a firing assembly ( 18 ), the upper housing ( 14 ) having a recoil mass ( 22 ) with an opening, the barrel ( 16 ) and firing assembly ( 18 ) being positioned along a first axis ( 24 );   a lower housing ( 26 ) slidably interconnected to the upper housing ( 14 ), a trigger ( 28 ) and trigger assembly ( 32 ) positioned within the lower housing ( 26 ), the trigger ( 28 ) pivoting about a second axis ( 34 ), the second axis ( 34 ) being positioned below the first axis ( 24 ), the trigger assembly ( 32 ) being interconnected to the firing assembly ( 18 ), a magazine ( 36 ) with ammunition ( 38 ), the ammunition ( 38 ) being delivered upwardly into the upper housing ( 14 ) between the barrel ( 16 ) and the firing assembly ( 18 ), the trigger assembly ( 32 ) being used to selectively actuate the firing assembly ( 18 ) and fire the firearm ( 12 ), the lower housing ( 26 ) further including a guide rod ( 42 ) and recoil spring ( 44 ) extending through the opening in the recoil mass ( 22 ), the guide rod ( 42 ) being positioned along a third axis ( 46 ), the third axis ( 46 ) being positioned below the second axis ( 34 );   wherein after firing the firearm ( 12 ), the upper housing ( 14 ) slides back with respect to the lower housing ( 26 ) and the recoil mass ( 22 ) slides along the guide rod ( 42 ) thereby compressing the recoil spring ( 44 ), and wherein the recoil of the firearm ( 12 ) is reduced by positioning the third axis ( 46 ) below the first and second axes ( 24  and  34 ).   
     
     
         2 . A firearm configuration ( 10 ) for reducing recoil forces encountered by the user of a firearm ( 12 ), the firearm configuration( 10 ) being triggered by the user's trigger finger, the firearm configuration comprising:
 an upper housing ( 14 ), the upper housing including a barrel ( 16 ) and a firing assembly ( 18 ), the upper housing ( 14 ) having a recoil mass ( 22 ) with an opening;   a lower housing ( 26 ) slidably interconnected to the upper housing ( 14 ), a trigger ( 28 ) and trigger assembly ( 32 ) positioned within the lower housing ( 26 ), the trigger assembly ( 32 ) being interconnected to the firing assembly ( 18 ), the trigger assembly ( 32 ) being used to selectively actuate the firing assembly ( 18 ) and fire the firearm ( 12 ), the lower housing ( 26 ) further including a recoil rod ( 42 ) and recoil spring ( 44 ) extending through the opening in the recoil mass ( 22 );   wherein after firing the firearm ( 12 ), the upper housing ( 14 ) slides back with respect to the lower housing ( 26 ) and the recoil mass ( 22 ) slides along the guide rod ( 42 ) thereby compressing the recoil spring ( 44 ), and wherein the recoil of the firearm ( 12 ) is reduced by positioning the recoil mass ( 22 ) substantially in line with the user's trigger finger or arm.   
     
     
         3 . The firearm configuration ( 10 ) as described in  claim 2  further comprising a magazine ( 36 ) with ammunition ( 38 ), the ammunition ( 38 ) being delivered upwardly into the upper housing ( 14 ) between the barrel ( 16 ) and the firing assembly ( 18 ). 
     
     
         4 . The firearm configuration ( 10 ) as described in  claim 2  wherein a first axis ( 24 ) extends along the barrel ( 16 ), the trigger ( 28 ) pivots about a second axis ( 34 ), a third axis ( 46 ) extends along the guide rod ( 42 ) and wherein the third axis ( 46 ) is located substantially below the first axis ( 24 ) and the second axis ( 34 ). 
     
     
         5 . A firearm configuration for reducing the recoil forces in a firearm comprising:
 an upper housing containing a barrel and a firing assembly and a recoil mass;   a lower housing slidably interconnected to the upper housing, a trigger positioned within the lower housing, the trigger being interconnected to the firing assembly, the lower housing further including a guide rod and recoil spring extending through the recoil mass;   wherein after firing the firearm, the upper housing slides back with respect to the lower housing and the recoil mass slides along the guide rod to thereby compress the recoil spring, and wherein the recoil of the firearm is reduced by positioning the recoil mass beneath the topmost external portion of the trigger.