Obturating Breech

Beveled breech face of barrels on a Darne-design shotgun.

On the above shotgun, the obturating breechblock slides forward, having rims that overlap the bevels on the barrels. When in the closed position, the breechblock is cam-locked  into battery.

Obturating Breech - A design of breechloading action whereby the breech slides forward to the barrels (or vice versa) and the one overlaps the other to form a better seal.

An obturating breech system, the sliding breechblock nearly closed.

A Gastinne Renette sliding-barrel pistol in the open position. When the barrel slides rearward, the internal taper in the breech end of the barrels overlaps its counterpart taper at the breech face, making an obturating seal.

Ordinarily, modern firearms do not require special obturating breeches because ductile brass cartridges swell slightly when fired, effectively sealing the rapidly expanding gas within the breech.

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Tel: 406 222-4770          Email: morris@hallowellco.com

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Hallowell & Co., PO Box 1445. Livingston, Montana  59047   USA

Tel: 406 222-4770    Fax: 406 222-4792     Email: morris@hallowellco.com

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