How does it work?

Jim Keenan · 09-04-2003, 04:18 PM

Hi, Un,

No problem except I didn't want to give folks too many ideas for a "DYI" try.

The pistol will not blow apart precisely because it is designed to handle the high pressure involved. True, that pressure is dropping more slowly than would be the case if the bullet were moving, but the gun will take it.

Hatcher, in fact, did the experiment with a Model 1903 rifle. He blocked the barrel with welded in steel rod. The gun was hung on wires, instrumented, and fired remotely. It never moved. After a few minutes, they hammered the bolt open and it flew back with a loud bang from the pressure still in the chamber.

As to what causes barrel bursting, I believe it is not gas pressure or a pressure wave. Rather it is the kinetic energy (all those foot pounds) which suddenly are converted into heat and have to go somewhere. A slow moving bullet (.38 S&W say) can be stopped with little damage, but the higher the energy the greater the damage that will be done.

The conversion of kinetic energy into heat is well known. It is what causes .22 bullets to melt when they strike a steel plate or a rock. It is also what causes those "splashes" in steel that is struck by a high speed bullet. In fact, it is what allows armor piercing ammo to work - the bullet energy is converted to heat and melts the steel so the AP core can penetrate.

You can e-mail me at keenanj@xecu.net. This could be interesting.

Jim

09-04-2003, 04:18 PM	#9
Jim Keenan User Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 184 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Hi, Un, No problem except I didn't want to give folks too many ideas for a "DYI" try. The pistol will not blow apart precisely because it is designed to handle the high pressure involved. True, that pressure is dropping more slowly than would be the case if the bullet were moving, but the gun will take it. Hatcher, in fact, did the experiment with a Model 1903 rifle. He blocked the barrel with welded in steel rod. The gun was hung on wires, instrumented, and fired remotely. It never moved. After a few minutes, they hammered the bolt open and it flew back with a loud bang from the pressure still in the chamber. As to what causes barrel bursting, I believe it is not gas pressure or a pressure wave. Rather it is the kinetic energy (all those foot pounds) which suddenly are converted into heat and have to go somewhere. A slow moving bullet (.38 S&W say) can be stopped with little damage, but the higher the energy the greater the damage that will be done. The conversion of kinetic energy into heat is well known. It is what causes .22 bullets to melt when they strike a steel plate or a rock. It is also what causes those "splashes" in steel that is struck by a high speed bullet. In fact, it is what allows armor piercing ammo to work - the bullet energy is converted to heat and melts the steel so the AP core can penetrate. You can e-mail me at keenanj@xecu.net. This could be interesting. Jim