Break open

Break open refers to a type of firearm action where the barrel or barrels are hinged much like a door and rotate perpendicularly to the bore axis to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of ammunition. A separate operation may be required for the cocking of a hammer to fire the new round. Break open actions are universal in double-barrelled shotguns, double-barrelled rifles and combination guns, and are also common in single shot rifles, pistols, and shotguns, and a few types of revolver.

History

The break open mechanism was first introduced in the 19th century, and has been used in a wide variety of firearms ever since. The design is most commonly associated with double-barrelled shotguns and has been widely used in many other types of firearms.

Design and Function

The break open design is simple and robust. The breech is exposed by swinging the barrel(s) down on a hinge at the front of the receiver. This allows for easy loading and unloading of the ammunition. After the ammunition has been inserted into the breech, the barrel(s) are swung back up into alignment with the receiver. The firearm is now ready to be fired.

The break open design is particularly well suited to double-barrelled firearms, as it allows both barrels to be loaded and unloaded simultaneously. This can be a significant advantage in situations where a rapid second shot may be required, such as in hunting or sport shooting.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of the break open design is its simplicity and reliability. The design is mechanically simple, which makes it robust and reliable. It is also easy to use, which makes it popular for hunting and sport shooting.

However, the break open design also has some disadvantages. The main one is that it typically allows for only one or two shots to be fired before the firearm must be reloaded. This can be a disadvantage in situations where a rapid follow-up shot may be required.

See Also

• Firearm action
• Breech-loading weapon
• Double-barrelled shotgun