Phil;
Apology graciously accepted. I do not believe there would ever be a desire to tilt a breech forward enough that actual opening of the gun would be impeded. As the gun opens there of course needs to be clearence enough for the extractors to work, but this 88½° angle should still allow ample room for that. I highly suspect the actual reason for the slight angle forward has to do with frame flexure upon firing. Did they perhaps go into this, would be interested in knowing what they say along that line.
