.44mag revolver velocity loss compared to DE
- Thread starter FraserJ20
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- Thunder Bay ON Canada
Even if the cartridges are the same, the differences are going to depend on the cylinder gap and barrel length of the revolver, the type and twist of the rifling.
With a tight cylinder gap, like a Dan Wesson, you won't lose very much at all, and while gun writers like to note the difference in velocity between the DE and similar barrel length revolvers, the fact that the DE uses polygonal rifling has probably a hell of alot more to do with it.
(Polygonal rifling is said to better than traditional rifling in almost every respect...except accuracy of course....too bad about that last caveat eh?)
P.S. I'm curious as to the purpose of your inquiry. Is this an academic question only? If not, and maximum velocity is your concern....you can get astounding velocities with heavy projectiles out of smoothbore guns, and/or with substantial reduction in recoil too. Rifling in barrels slows projectiles, and increases recoil. Imparting spin on a projectile has a cost, It's just another form of motion, and takes an input of energy (no free lunch in physics). Not having to impart that rotational velocity, or inputting less of it, frees up alot of the energy in the propellent for other purposes, like linear acceleration...i.e. forward velocity.
With a tight cylinder gap, like a Dan Wesson, you won't lose very much at all, and while gun writers like to note the difference in velocity between the DE and similar barrel length revolvers, the fact that the DE uses polygonal rifling has probably a hell of alot more to do with it.
(Polygonal rifling is said to better than traditional rifling in almost every respect...except accuracy of course....too bad about that last caveat eh?)
P.S. I'm curious as to the purpose of your inquiry. Is this an academic question only? If not, and maximum velocity is your concern....you can get astounding velocities with heavy projectiles out of smoothbore guns, and/or with substantial reduction in recoil too. Rifling in barrels slows projectiles, and increases recoil. Imparting spin on a projectile has a cost, It's just another form of motion, and takes an input of energy (no free lunch in physics). Not having to impart that rotational velocity, or inputting less of it, frees up alot of the energy in the propellent for other purposes, like linear acceleration...i.e. forward velocity.
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Polygamists (those who prefer polygonal rifling) are in the minority, as every barrel has a different fit, leading and poor accuracy usually result. Just another flavor of the week from Europe, where they seem to like to bring out alot of new things, gun related that don't work, flashy without substance.
FWIW I've got a little experience around this with the .357 Mag.
For a while I had a Colt Python 6", and a Coonan Model B with a 5" barrel. Both in .357 Mag.
I used the same handloads (2400 over WinSPM, 125 and 158 grain plated) in each. Velocity was exactly the same for both loads.
It's possible that twist rate was really the culprit, but my read is that the cylinder gap on the Python erased the advantage of the extra inch of barrel over the Coonan.
Going back to your question about the .44, yeah you're theoretically giving up something in a revolver, but in the real world .44 revolvers come in loooong barreled variants, which put DE velocities to shame. Plus you can shoot cast boolits out of them, low-recoil plinking loads, etc. The DE is a fun toy, but it's not teh ultimate platform for the .44 Magnum.
For a while I had a Colt Python 6", and a Coonan Model B with a 5" barrel. Both in .357 Mag.
I used the same handloads (2400 over WinSPM, 125 and 158 grain plated) in each. Velocity was exactly the same for both loads.
It's possible that twist rate was really the culprit, but my read is that the cylinder gap on the Python erased the advantage of the extra inch of barrel over the Coonan.
Going back to your question about the .44, yeah you're theoretically giving up something in a revolver, but in the real world .44 revolvers come in loooong barreled variants, which put DE velocities to shame. Plus you can shoot cast boolits out of them, low-recoil plinking loads, etc. The DE is a fun toy, but it's not teh ultimate platform for the .44 Magnum.
I am far from bring a gun expert, but because something is from Europe doesn't make it a flavor of the week. That type of rifling is used in HK USP's and Glocks. Those are very widely used, reliable and highly regarded. Maybe there is something to it. Maybe not better or worse, but with different characteristics.
