recoilless

comparative more recoilless · superlative most recoilless

1. Lacking recoil. Generally referring to a weapon so designed as to fire a projectile without causing a powerful, destructive backward "kick" or recoil in reaction. The objective of the design is to permit a very light cannon to deliver a relatively large projectile.

   The author can attest that when the 57mm, 90mm, and 84mm recoilless rifles are fired from the shoulder there is no recoil.The firer is buffeted by the high pressure of the muzzle and back blasts, some of it being reflected off the ground.

   2013, Gordon L. Rottman, The Big Book of Gun Trivia, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN