TyphusIsDaddy OP t1_j4iul65 wrote on January 16, 2023 at 12:51 AM

Reply to comment by crippledjosh in Maybe you all can settle this debate. What happens when you fire (Wait for it) a gun with a recoil suppression system, such as the KRISS Vector, in vacuum? by TyphusIsDaddy

So what im hearing is, using a recoil suppression system in space would actually CAUSE recoil, because the forces would be propelled downwards in an attempt to counteract recoil in earth gravity

ShyElf t1_j4ixvn8 wrote on January 16, 2023 at 1:14 AM

A lot of recoil suppession systems direct the exhaust gasses somewhat backwards, and would work to their normal effectiveness in space. This is most common with artillery. What the gun you mentioned does is kick the back of the gun up at high frequency (and pull it down slowly) in order to attempt to keep the barrel angle from changing while shooting. This would have almost no effect on the recoil push in space.

The cold is not a huge issue. Space is an insulator, so as long as you don't leave it in space for a long time without holding it, it should be fine. Overheating would be a bigger issue, but it would still be somewhat useable. Vacuum boiloff of lubricants and degredation of explosives would be an issue, but I would think it would still be useable.

crippledjosh t1_j4ivgvi wrote on January 16, 2023 at 12:57 AM

I'm not familiar with how recoil systems work, in total you've still only possibly got acceleration for the exact amount of the mass of the bullet * bullet acceleration/mass of the shooter and in the opposite direction of where the bullet went