An MG-42 medium machinegun with a fully shrouded barrel.An L85A2 rifle with a partially-shrouded barrelA Winchester Model 12 combat shotgun with a barrel shroud and attached bayonet.
A barrel shroud is an external covering that envelops (either partially or full-length) the barrel of a firearm, to prevent unwanted direct contact with the barrel (e.g. accidental collision with surrounding objects, or the user accidentally touching a hot barrel, which can lead to burns).[1] Moving coverings such as pistol slides, fore-end extension of the gunstock/chassis that do not fully encircle the barrel, and the receiver (or frame) of a firearm itself are generally not described as barrel shrouds, though they can functionally act as such.
In shotguns, a thin, slim partial shroud known as a rib is often mounted above barrel to shield away the mirage generated by barrel heat, which can interfere with aiming.
Full-length barrel shrouds are commonly featured on air-cooled machine guns, where frequent rapid bursts or sustained automatic fire will leave the barrel extremely hot and dangerous to the user. However, shrouds can also be utilized on semi-automatic firearms, especially the ones with light-weight barrels, as even a small number of shots can heat up a barrel enough to injure the user in certain circumstances.
Barrel shrouds are also used on pump-action shotguns. The military trench shotgun features a ventilated metal handguard with a bayonet attachment lug.[2] Ventilated handguards or heat shields (usually without bayonet lugs) are also used on police riot shotguns and shotguns marketed for civilian self-defense. The heat shield also serves as an attachment base for accessories such as sights or sling swivels.
^"LearnAboutGuns.com".
^Bruce N. Canfield, A Collector's Guide to United States Combat Shotguns, Andrew Mowbray, 1992, ISBN 0-917218-53-1.
A barrelshroud is an external covering that envelops (either partially or full-length) the barrel of a firearm, to prevent unwanted direct contact with...
the sides. A muzzle shroud is similar to a barrelshroud with the difference being that it only surrounds the far end of the barrel (muzzle). It can be...
ends of the barrel. By unscrewing the muzzle nut, the shroud and barrel could be removed and replaced with different barrel lengths and shroud configurations...
(20 in) barrel, Including a longer shroud with 5 widely spaced slots at the top. Grifone Short - Included a shorter 320 mm (13 in) barrel and shroud with...
permanently affixed barrelshroud to the standard 5.5-inch barrel, extending it to 16-inch (410 mm), intended for states with short-barrel rifle bans, with...
adjustable, but the Model 76 rear sight is mounted to the barrelshroud instead of the back of the barrel as on the 74, giving it a longer sight radius and greater...
It had a distinctive barrel cooling shroud (containing a finned, aluminium breech-to-muzzle heat sink to cool the gun barrel) and top-mounted pan magazine...
gun is cocked and the barrel catch on the right of the barrelshroud is swung forward. Then, the breech end of the hot barrel swings out and can be removed...
cooling jacket was replaced with a thin perforated barrelshroud and a bipod was fitted halfway down the barrel. The major development of the weapon came early...
them a chance to found a domestic arms industry. The heavy-barreled Mauser with the barrelshroud resulted in the founding of arms manufacturer FN Herstal...
sniper rifle. The rifle barrel is thermally shielded along a considerable part of the barrel by a polymer shroud. The barrel is free floated and is equipped...
sights. Two additional rails are mounted on the sides of the short barrelshroud. An adjustable bipod and rear support leg/hand grip allow for stable...
swinging the receiver to the right for the insertion of a new barrel into the barrelshroud. Accordingly, stationary defensive positions required more than...
assembly ends in a muzzle shroud and also functions as a guide sleeve for the barrel and a muzzle flash arrester. As the barrel of the MG 42 is changed...
the receiver, ejection port, and barrelshroud were unified, leading to them being extended further up the barrel. Captured Sten Mk III's in German possession...
other features, such as a vertical forward grip, flash suppressor, or barrelshroud. Certain firearms are specified by name in some laws that restrict assault...
revolver with a short barrel, generally less than 4 inches in length. Smaller such revolvers are often made with "bobbed" or "shrouded" hammers and there...
pistols by inventing the telescoping bolt, then integrating the bolt and barrelshroud into what is known as the pistol slide. Browning's telescoping bolt...
Gewehr 88, with a few minor differences, including the absence of the barrelshroud, and an extension of the bayonet. It was a bolt-action rifle that cocked...
muzzle shroud is exerted equally in all directions, pushing forwards on the shroud with the same force as it pushes the muzzle cup and barrel to the rear;...
major differences from the Light Rifle and SMG was the barrelshroud which housed a quick barrel change device similar to the MG42 and pressed steel components...
the barrel and gas piston tube. Neither the post-World War I British aircraft Lewis nor the Japanese copy featured the distinctive thick barrelshroud of...
Global Information
