A recoil-operated firearm uses the energy generated by the recoil of the gun when it is fired to cycle the action and load the next round. This mechanism allows the firearm to automatically eject the spent cartridge and chamber a new one, making it semi-automatic or fully automatic, depending on the design. In this system, the force of the recoil pushes the barrel and slide backward, which then resets the firing mechanism. Common examples of recoil-operated firearms include certain models of pistols and submachine guns, which benefit from this efficient and reliable operation.