Gyros affecting recoil

Paul Baughman [email removed] writes:

>> Mark Cook says:
>>
>>One last point, the MT Imperial Encyclopedia (pg. 71) states that standard
>>equipment for the gauss rifle includes gyrostabilization.  If that addition
>>doesn't make it "Low Recoil", then I don't know what does.
>
>How does gyrostab make it low-recoil?  My understanding of how gyros work (not
>comprehensive, by any means ;+) don't let them absorb recoil, just help you
>keep the gun pointed at the target.  Gyros resist torqueing moments (is my
>terminology correct? ) but the full recoil should still hit your shoulder
>(wrist, whatever...).
>
>Yes?  No?

Yes AND no, Paul.  You're right that gyros don't absorb any recoil (you'll
still get kicked in the shoulder just as hard).  But that's not the point.
>From both a real-life military standpoint AND a RPG standpoint, the
detrimental effect recoil has on accuracy is barrel climb.  Virtually
nothing else matters.  While the gyro won't do anything to eliminate
in-line recoil (from the receiver back into your shoulder), it will
significantly reduce barrel climb by damping rotation of the weapon
in any axis.  This means that you are less likely to drift off target.
>From there, the benefit is obvious.  (BTW, this is why almost ALL modern
assault rifles have stocks which are DIRECTLY in line with the receiver.
By being designed that way, they cause a higher percentage of the weapon
recoil to be delivered as in-line recoil, thus drastically reducing the
rotation of the weapon due to recoil.  Result: more accurate weapon at
high ROFs.)

        Mark F. Cook

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