The paper describes investigations carried out to verify a loading mechanism of a newly designed modular assault rifle MSBS-5.56. A complex character of interaction between its elements during a reloading process encouraged the authors implement a numerical approach based on the multibody system to specify the essential dynamic characteristics. The achieved results were compared to the data recorded during the experimental tests on the shooting range. Owing to the proposed modelling methodology, a good agreement between experimental and numerical studies has been achieved. A numerical model presented in the paper will be applied in further investigations to analyse strength parameters of the reloading mechanism and to conduct additional optimisation studies.

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  Estimation of kinematic and dynamic parameters of weapon mechanisms during operation is one of the crucial elements of design and optimisation. This study presents results of numerical and experimental investigations of a short-recoil-operated weapon action cycle. Theoretical considerations were based on multibody systems and finite element approaches. An experimental stand was adopted to investigate the kinematic characteristics of pistol parts and provide a set of slide displacement and velocity time courses. Comparison of theoretical and experimental data allowed for positive validation of the investigated model. The multibody systems numerical approach ensured a maximum relative discrepancy with experiment of 3.5 per cent for the velocity of recoiled parts, while finite element analysis calculations yielded a value of 12.7 per cent. Finally, parametric analyses were conducted to determine the influence of selected design characteristics on weapon operation. The analyses proved the correctness of the adopted design assumptions.

Ongoing military conflicts, along with a constant evolution of individual protection devices, have shown an urgent need of development in terms of the armour piercing capability of standard infantry small arms ammunition. The following paper includes a brief overview of the existing armour-piercing intermediate rounds, in an effort to define the most reasonable design of a perspective armour-piercing projectile. Therefore, various projectiles were designed and evaluated in terms of their external ballistic performance for chosen initial conditions, followed by preliminary internal and terminal ballistic calculations that were performed in order to assess the most reasonable outcome.

Estimation of stress distribution on the parts of a weapon is one of the most important stages of designing and optimization of firearms. The paper describes the finite element numerical model of the short recoil operated weapon and results of parametric analysis of the stress distribution on weapon parts. Considered changes in loading courses can be the result of differences in applied ammunition (produced in accordance with various standards or self-elaborated rounds). Conducted works allowed for estimation of approximate critical value of propellant gas pressure, which can be dangerous for pistol structure. Moreover, the paper presents the results of the kinematic characteristics investigation of the weapon using the finite element method and by way of the experimental tests, which proves the correctness of the assumptions made for the numerical model.