Im partial to the fluted cylinder. It just looks better to me, the unfluted looks like an unfinished gun. What are the pros and cons of both. Two i can think of is, the unfluted is easier to clean, and the fluted is better for heat control when shooting. What others are there?
unfluted vs fluted cylinders on revolvers
- Thread starter GunGuy34
- Start date
Yes in theory an unfluted cylinder would be stronger although offsetting the notches would make up for it. The other side of that coin is that
a heavier cylinder is harder on the cylinder stop due to heavier mass momentum. That being said .... don't worry about it. Go for whatever looks better to ya!
a heavier cylinder is harder on the cylinder stop due to heavier mass momentum. That being said .... don't worry about it. Go for whatever looks better to ya!
aesthetics/personal preference is 9/10ths of it I think. However, with big bore short barreled revolvers the extra weight of a non-fluted cylinder may be of some assistance with follow-up shots. Mine are all fluted, so I'm really only guessing.
^^^ Agree.
I asked the question on the Smith & Wesson forum in the US and here are two of the better answers I got Back.
I recall reading it was originally for a better grip with turning a fouled black powder cylinder...but now it's just because we expect the flutes to be there.
Cylinders are fluted or not fluted for aesthetics. The amount of weight is trivial, and the added thickness is between cylinders, where it contributes nothing to strength.
Just two peoples thoughts.
Graydog
I recall reading it was originally for a better grip with turning a fouled black powder cylinder...but now it's just because we expect the flutes to be there.
Cylinders are fluted or not fluted for aesthetics. The amount of weight is trivial, and the added thickness is between cylinders, where it contributes nothing to strength.
Just two peoples thoughts.
Graydog
This is a myth. The thinnest part of the cylinder rests between the chamber and the outside of the cylinder, fluted or unfluted does nothing to change this.
What is of more concern is the condition of the cylinder chambers, deep pits reduce the thickness between cylinder chamber and outside wall.
Anything else is personal preference.
I recall reading that the notches for the Cyl stop are directly outside the chamber on a 6 shot but the cyl stop notch on a 5 shot is between the chambers.
IIRC the article was referring to the development of the .454 casull in the Freedom Arms revolver. Unless I interrupted it wrong it was built in the 5 shot platform to keep the cyl stop notches between the chambers for adding strength.
Which is slightly random...perhaps less cough syrup is in order.
Therefore I would say fluted in a 1st generation small pocket 5 shot such as an 1862 police.
New generation; unfluted definitely
IIRC the article was referring to the development of the .454 casull in the Freedom Arms revolver. Unless I interrupted it wrong it was built in the 5 shot platform to keep the cyl stop notches between the chambers for adding strength.
Which is slightly random...perhaps less cough syrup is in order.
Therefore I would say fluted in a 1st generation small pocket 5 shot such as an 1862 police.
New generation; unfluted definitely
