The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Understanding semi-auto calibers in full-length revolver chambers.

RickB · March 14, 2013, 02:49 PM

How is accuracy affected by the bullet hitting the throat and rifling at comparatively high velocity?
That is, if the cases of the two cartridges had a greater length disparity, say, shooting .45 GAP in a revolver with a cylinder long enought to accommodate .45 Colt, will the faster-moving GAP bullet be deformed, or otherwise suffer from having been accelerated to higher velocity while still in the cylinder?
If there were no issue in that regard, why does S&W make shorter cylinders for shorter cartridges? I've seen some custom .45 ACP-chambered revolvers with cylinders that appear to be only about 2/3 the length of other cylinders in the same frame size.
I suspect that while velocity could benefit from the longer "throat" in the cylinder, accuracy will suffer.

March 14, 2013, 02:49 PM	#2
RickB Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2000 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 8,518	How is accuracy affected by the bullet hitting the throat and rifling at comparatively high velocity? That is, if the cases of the two cartridges had a greater length disparity, say, shooting .45 GAP in a revolver with a cylinder long enought to accommodate .45 Colt, will the faster-moving GAP bullet be deformed, or otherwise suffer from having been accelerated to higher velocity while still in the cylinder? If there were no issue in that regard, why does S&W make shorter cylinders for shorter cartridges? I've seen some custom .45 ACP-chambered revolvers with cylinders that appear to be only about 2/3 the length of other cylinders in the same frame size. I suspect that while velocity could benefit from the longer "throat" in the cylinder, accuracy will suffer.