Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post

The_Dunedan · 06-28-2010, 10:52 AM

Chamber pressure doesn't start to become a factor in wear on the firearm until;

1: You start loading -way- beyond SAAMI specs, or
2: You start loading beyond SAAMI specs -and- shooting a lot of rounds.

Modern firearms are mostly designed to take full-power standard (up to SAAMI max for caliber) loadings through their entire service life. Most modern weapons, even those not specifically marked for it, can safely use +P loads as well, although +P+ is getting into hedgy territory, especially with smaller/lighter designs or those with partially-supported chambers. The Glock factory has a "torture test" weapon that's been through over 1,000,000 rounds and only needed the bbl replaced a few times.

Now, other oddball stuff -can- cause sudden changes in the pressure curve (the way in which the pressure rises, falls, and then equalizes within the weapon as it's being fired) which -can- destroy a gun. A common example is Glock's 50/50 deserved/undeserved reputation for blowing up when using cast-lead ammo. Exposed lead fouls the Glock's polygonal rifling very quickly, which can lead to a spike in chamber/barrel pressure when the weapon is fired. -Any- weapon will kB! if you foul/obstruct the barrel sufficiently and fire: even though the bullet might make it out of the muzzle, the spike in pressures (especially if that spike occurs too fast for the steel) will destroy the ass-end of the barrel and breech. In my area, it's not uncommon for morons to blow their thumbs off or simply destroy their gun by firing it with the barrel either plugged with thick mud or partially submerged in water.

The only time I'd seriously consider chamber pressures in purchasing a handgun is if I was planning to use that handgun with hot-for-caliber handloads, or some of the -really- serious commercial Elephant Killers (Buffalo Bore, Garrett, Cor-Bon, etc). -Those- bad boys will destroy most handguns: Buffalo Bore and Garrett, in fact, ship their hottest ammo with big red warnings on it cautioning the user to never, ever, under any circumstances whatsoever, fire these rounds in ANYTHING but a Ruger heavy revolver. Colt, S&W, Dan Wesson, etc...all will simply disintegrate. Only the Rugers are heavily-built enough to deal with the pressures these loads generate, which are -far- in excess of SAAMI maximum.

06-28-2010, 10:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dunedan Junkie	Chamber pressure doesn't start to become a factor in wear on the firearm until; 1: You start loading -way- beyond SAAMI specs, or 2: You start loading beyond SAAMI specs -and- shooting a lot of rounds. Modern firearms are mostly designed to take full-power standard (up to SAAMI max for caliber) loadings through their entire service life. Most modern weapons, even those not specifically marked for it, can safely use +P loads as well, although +P+ is getting into hedgy territory, especially with smaller/lighter designs or those with partially-supported chambers. The Glock factory has a "torture test" weapon that's been through over 1,000,000 rounds and only needed the bbl replaced a few times. Now, other oddball stuff -can- cause sudden changes in the pressure curve (the way in which the pressure rises, falls, and then equalizes within the weapon as it's being fired) which -can- destroy a gun. A common example is Glock's 50/50 deserved/undeserved reputation for blowing up when using cast-lead ammo. Exposed lead fouls the Glock's polygonal rifling very quickly, which can lead to a spike in chamber/barrel pressure when the weapon is fired. -Any- weapon will kB! if you foul/obstruct the barrel sufficiently and fire: even though the bullet might make it out of the muzzle, the spike in pressures (especially if that spike occurs too fast for the steel) will destroy the ass-end of the barrel and breech. In my area, it's not uncommon for morons to blow their thumbs off or simply destroy their gun by firing it with the barrel either plugged with thick mud or partially submerged in water. The only time I'd seriously consider chamber pressures in purchasing a handgun is if I was planning to use that handgun with hot-for-caliber handloads, or some of the -really- serious commercial Elephant Killers (Buffalo Bore, Garrett, Cor-Bon, etc). -Those- bad boys will destroy most handguns: Buffalo Bore and Garrett, in fact, ship their hottest ammo with big red warnings on it cautioning the user to never, ever, under any circumstances whatsoever, fire these rounds in ANYTHING but a Ruger heavy revolver. Colt, S&W, Dan Wesson, etc...all will simply disintegrate. Only the Rugers are heavily-built enough to deal with the pressures these loads generate, which are -far- in excess of SAAMI maximum.