Recoil operation is one of the firearm actions used in automatic firearms.

It uses the recoil of the barrel to cycle the action. This requires the barrel to move back a short distance, before the bolt is unlocked. The movement of the barrel is then arrested, and the bolt continues to move to the rear. There is a further distinction between short-recoil and long recoil operation.

(Short) recoil operation is common in pistols.

The MG-42 machine gun and its descendant the MG-3 use recoil together with roller locking . The Maxim gun and the Barrett M82A1 heavy sniper rifle are also examples of recoil operation.