Powder, steel and pressure

Monday · August 13, 2018, 05:30 PM

Hello, i found this gun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqGW09Ohd3Y&t=12s

A old .50 flintlock pistol

I noticed how thin the barrel is, and i wounder, how can it be that thin without rupture? I know black powder is low pressure compared to smokeless, but it’s still a big caliber gun with a heavy load behind.

How much lower is the pressure of black compared to smokeless powder?
Does a modern .22 long rifle create more pressure than this .50 muzzleloader does?

Back in the days i guess they didnt had that much of steels either, i read that gunbarrels used to be made of mild steel, and other soft metals like gunmetal, that would rather deform over time than explode.

74A95 · August 13, 2018, 07:03 PM

I'll bet a Google search would answer your questions.

Bill DeShivs · August 14, 2018, 05:25 PM

Look at shotgun barrels...

griz · August 15, 2018, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Does a modern .22 long rifle create more pressure than this .50 muzzleloader does?

Generally yes. 22 LR runs over 20,000 PSI while black powder guns are USUALLY less than 20,000. But the 22 pressure acts on a much smaller area, so there is less force.

Good steel, even old steel if it is high quality, is very strong. You can lift up a pick up truck with a 3/8 inch bolt if you load it just right.

**4V50 Gary** · August 15, 2018, 07:53 AM

Modern steel better than 18th Century steel. I wish I had more metallurgy.

Jim Watson · August 15, 2018, 09:00 AM

First, black powder pressure decays pretty rapidly, the barrel wall thickness can taper off a lot. There are some number of Damascus shotgun barrels with holes or cracks about nine inches from the chamber because smokeless is more progressive and carries its pressure longer/farther.

Second, pistol loads were not very heavy, not compared to rifle and musket charges.

August 13, 2018, 05:30 PM	#1
Monday Member Join Date: September 29, 2016 Posts: 30	Powder, steel and pressure Hello, i found this gun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqGW09Ohd3Y&t=12s A old .50 flintlock pistol I noticed how thin the barrel is, and i wounder, how can it be that thin without rupture? I know black powder is low pressure compared to smokeless, but it’s still a big caliber gun with a heavy load behind. How much lower is the pressure of black compared to smokeless powder? Does a modern .22 long rifle create more pressure than this .50 muzzleloader does? Back in the days i guess they didnt had that much of steels either, i read that gunbarrels used to be made of mild steel, and other soft metals like gunmetal, that would rather deform over time than explode.

August 14, 2018, 05:25 PM	#3
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,980	Look at shotgun barrels... __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

August 15, 2018, 07:53 AM	#5
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,831	Modern steel better than 18th Century steel. I wish I had more metallurgy. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

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August 13, 2018, 07:03 PM	#2
74A95 Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Posts: 1,564	I'll bet a Google search would answer your questions.

August 15, 2018, 09:00 AM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	First, black powder pressure decays pretty rapidly, the barrel wall thickness can taper off a lot. There are some number of Damascus shotgun barrels with holes or cracks about nine inches from the chamber because smokeless is more progressive and carries its pressure longer/farther. Second, pistol loads were not very heavy, not compared to rifle and musket charges.