What feature of a machine gun helps manage recoil during firing?

The recoil spring is a fundamental component in a machine gun that helps manage recoil during firing. When a round is fired, the gun undergoes a forceful backward movement known as recoil. The recoil spring absorbs some of this backward momentum, allowing the system to return to its original position more smoothly after each shot. This absorption prevents excessive and disruptive movement of the firearm, helps maintain accuracy, and facilitates quicker follow-up shots since the gun is more stable.

Understanding the role of the recoil spring is essential for effective machine gun operation, as it enhances control and allows the shooter to keep the weapon more accurately aimed, thus improving overall shooting performance.