I understand that the rim of a revolver cartridge holds it in the chamber and that automatics do not require such a rim to operate. As such, most automatics use rimless ammunition, although there are exceptions like .22LR. In addition to a automatic rifle and an automatic handgun which fire rimless ammuntion, I also have both an automatic rifle and an automatic handgun which fire rimmed .22LR. I haven't noticed any difference in reliability between the rimmed cartridge guns and the guns which use rimless cartridges. What then is the point of removing the rim? Why did SIG-Sauer go to all the trouble of developing the .357 SIG when they could have made an automatic that fires .357 Magnum? Sorry if this sounds like a silly question, but I'm curious.
Why do automatics have to use rimless ammunition?
- Thread starter Dogbert
- Start date
"...developing the .357 SIG..." Let's 'em use a 9mm sized pistol and its mag. A .357 Magnum case is nearly a half inch longer. Needs a bigger pistol.
Rimmed cases definitely don't feed well, but a curved mag won't make any difference.
Rimmed cases definitely don't feed well, but a curved mag won't make any difference.
You'll notice that many rimfire magazines have an exaggerated grip angle and that many rimfire magazines are single-stack (rather than double-stack/double column) in design. There is a reason for this - it's for feeding reliability. Some rimfire magazines actually permit cartridge rims to slip behind the rim of a lower cartridge (and then you'll wonder why your rifle is jamming). (Try some double-stack rimfire magazines, like the large capacity Gevarm automatic carbine magazine, and you might see what I mean.)
Good magazine design will preclude this, but cartridge rims are just one more potential source of trouble that you just don't need in an autoloader.
MapleSugar
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The Desert Eagle is Chambered in the .44 Rem Mag and .357 S&W Mag, however for the above noted reasons, it is easier to design an autoloader to fire rimless cartridges.
The rim is really just there to hold the cartridge in position in the cylinder of a revolver. Some revolvers can shoot rimless cartridges, but they require the use of moon clips.
The rim is really just there to hold the cartridge in position in the cylinder of a revolver. Some revolvers can shoot rimless cartridges, but they require the use of moon clips.
