diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/entities/units/WeaponMount.java b/core/src/mindustry/entities/units/WeaponMount.java
index 8254c8ca2f..bd8b5d73e4 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/entities/units/WeaponMount.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/entities/units/WeaponMount.java
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ public class WeaponMount{
     public float reload;
     /** rotation relative to the unit this mount is on */
     public float rotation;
+    /** weapon recoil */
+    public float recoil;
     /** destination rotation; do not modify! */
     public float targetRotation;
     /** current heat, 0 to 1*/
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/type/UnitType.java b/core/src/mindustry/type/UnitType.java
index 7d7357b871..f9fcf6b078 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/type/UnitType.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/type/UnitType.java
@@ -375,6 +375,7 @@ public class UnitType extends UnlockableContent{
         //add mirrored weapon variants
         Seq<Weapon> mapped = new Seq<>();
         for(Weapon w : weapons){
+            if(w.recoilTime < 0) w.recoilTime = w.reload;
             mapped.add(w);
 
             //mirrors are copies with X values negated
@@ -385,7 +386,9 @@ public class UnitType extends UnlockableContent{
                 copy.flipSprite = !copy.flipSprite;
                 mapped.add(copy);
 
-                //since there are now two weapons, the reload time must be doubled
+                //since there are now two weapons, the reload and recoil time must be doubled
+                w.recoilTime *= 2f;
+                copy.recoilTime *= 2f;
                 w.reload *= 2f;
                 copy.reload *= 2f;
 
diff --git a/core/src/mindustry/type/Weapon.java b/core/src/mindustry/type/Weapon.java
index c96482d15d..f472f7a03a 100644
--- a/core/src/mindustry/type/Weapon.java
+++ b/core/src/mindustry/type/Weapon.java
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
     public float shake = 0f;
     /** visual weapon knockback. */
     public float recoil = 1.5f;
+    /** the time it returns back to its original position in ticks. uses reload time by default */
+    public float recoilTime = -1f;
     /** projectile/effect offsets from center of weapon */
     public float shootX = 0f, shootY = 3f;
     /** offsets of weapon position on unit */
@@ -144,9 +146,8 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
         float
         rotation = unit.rotation - 90,
         weaponRotation  = rotation + (rotate ? mount.rotation : 0),
-        recoil = -((mount.reload) / reload * this.recoil),
-        wx = unit.x + Angles.trnsx(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsx(weaponRotation, 0, recoil),
-        wy = unit.y + Angles.trnsy(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsy(weaponRotation, 0, recoil);
+        wx = unit.x + Angles.trnsx(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsx(weaponRotation, 0, -mount.recoil),
+        wy = unit.y + Angles.trnsy(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsy(weaponRotation, 0, -mount.recoil);
 
         if(outlineRegion.found()){
             Draw.rect(outlineRegion,
@@ -161,9 +162,8 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
         float
         rotation = unit.rotation - 90,
         weaponRotation  = rotation + (rotate ? mount.rotation : 0),
-        recoil = -((mount.reload) / reload * this.recoil),
-        wx = unit.x + Angles.trnsx(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsx(weaponRotation, 0, recoil),
-        wy = unit.y + Angles.trnsy(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsy(weaponRotation, 0, recoil);
+        wx = unit.x + Angles.trnsx(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsx(weaponRotation, 0, -mount.recoil),
+        wy = unit.y + Angles.trnsy(rotation, x, y) + Angles.trnsy(weaponRotation, 0, -mount.recoil);
 
         if(shadow > 0){
             Drawf.shadow(wx, wy, shadow);
@@ -198,7 +198,9 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
 
     public void update(Unit unit, WeaponMount mount){
         boolean can = unit.canShoot();
+        float lastReload = mount.reload;
         mount.reload = Math.max(mount.reload - Time.delta * unit.reloadMultiplier, 0);
+        mount.recoil = Math.max(mount.recoil - (Time.delta * recoil * unit.reloadMultiplier) / recoilTime, 0);
 
         //rotate if applicable
         if(rotate && (mount.rotate || mount.shoot) && can){
@@ -260,6 +262,7 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
                 mount.bullet.rotation(weaponRotation + 90);
                 mount.bullet.set(bulletX, bulletY);
                 mount.reload = reload;
+                mount.recoil = recoil;
                 unit.vel.add(Tmp.v1.trns(unit.rotation + 180f, mount.bullet.type.recoil));
                 if(shootSound != Sounds.none && !headless){
                     if(mount.sound == null) mount.sound = new SoundLoop(shootSound, 1f);
@@ -275,9 +278,9 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
             }
         }
 
-        //flip weapon shoot side for alternating weapons at half reload
-        if(otherSide != -1 && alternate && mount.side == flipSprite &&
-        mount.reload + Time.delta * unit.reloadMultiplier > reload/2f && mount.reload <= reload/2f){
+        //flip weapon shoot side for alternating weapons
+        boolean wasFlipped = mount.side;
+        if(otherSide != -1 && alternate && mount.side == flipSprite && mount.reload <= reload / 2f && lastReload > reload / 2f){
             unit.mounts[otherSide].side = !unit.mounts[otherSide].side;
             mount.side = !mount.side;
         }
@@ -286,7 +289,7 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
         if(mount.shoot && //must be shooting
         can && //must be able to shoot
         (!useAmmo || unit.ammo > 0 || !state.rules.unitAmmo || unit.team.rules().infiniteAmmo) && //check ammo
-        (!alternate || mount.side == flipSprite) &&
+        (!alternate || wasFlipped == flipSprite) &&
         unit.vel.len() >= minShootVelocity && //check velocity requirements
         mount.reload <= 0.0001f && //reload has to be 0
         Angles.within(rotate ? mount.rotation : unit.rotation, mount.targetRotation, shootCone) //has to be within the cone
@@ -354,6 +357,7 @@ public class Weapon implements Cloneable{
             mount.heat = 1f;
         }
 
+        mount.recoil = recoil;
         ejectEffect.at(mountX, mountY, rotation * side);
         ammo.shootEffect.at(shootX, shootY, rotation, parentize ? unit : null);
         ammo.smokeEffect.at(shootX, shootY, rotation, parentize ? unit : null);