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Guy Neill

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Everything posted by Guy Neill

  1. Yeah - things were pushing limits back then. 38 Supers using 115gr bullets and loaded to Major were operating at proof level pressures. Gun technology had not yet learned how to reliably set up guns to run with Major 38 Super loads and "Super Face" was all too frequent. The Germans, as I recall, wanted the Major power factor to be 185. They also wanted to pretty much 100% test ammunition - which didn't leave much to shoot for the match. With the gunsmiths learning to put the guns together, combined with supported chamber barrels I feel developed things to the point of offering safe shooting. This led to new cartridges, namely the 356 TSW and 9x23 Winchester that were made to utilize the high pressures. Rule changes at the time killed them from competition. New powders are available that can deliver the velocities at more reasonable pressures.
  2. In the defensive world, stopping power is based on momentum. Energy seems to place too much emphasis on the velocity. That's not to say velocity cannot play a role, as it is a part of momentum. Rifles likely have better success with velocity, given things like the Weatherby magnums. However, stopping power is based on momentum. Momentum is also the means to determine the gun velocity when we are working toward free recoil energy. Power factor is, as mentioned, a momentum number, but with in-consistent units. It is a shorthand means of looking at the power of the gun and was first developed to be an easy determination of the power, corresponding to what was seen in real life defensive gunfights. So, on one hand it is a gamer function, but it has roots in real world. The real trick may be setting the limits for the power factor. It has been toned down some over the years. Currently 165 for Major, 175 years ago.
  3. As an example of the powder charge affecting recoil, using a 1.48n lb gun with a 9mm 124gr bullet and a muzzle velocity of 1050 fps, the free recoil energy is 4.86 ft-lb. This is with 4.3gr of powder. Removing the powder, and keeping everything else the same, the free recoil energy lowers to 3.64 ft-lb. Of course, with no powder there is no recoil. However, in this example, the powder comprised a bit more than 25% of the total recoil. In rifles it's a larger percentage with the larger charge weights.
  4. The powder charge factors into the recoil and comprises a significant part of recoil. As you would expect, the more powder charge, the more recoil.
  5. You might check here. Frank Glenn-Glenn Custom Complete Gunsmithing Service Glendale AZ He actually lists a Phoenix address on the website.
  6. Power factor is a momentum value. The units are not consistent, but momentum is a weight in motion. Historically momentum is defined as mass times velocity. Power factor is a weight times a velocity. Thus, if the power factor is 130, the momentum is the same regardless of the bullet weight. Obviously, the velocity will differ to keep the power factor the same for the different bullet weights. A 130-power factor translates to a momentum of 0.681. The difference between the bullets is the time the bullet is in the bore. For the 115gr the bore time is 0.000605 sec. The 124gr bullet is close, at 0.000652 sec while the slow 147gr bullets take 0.000773 seconds to travel the bore. I used a 4.5" barrel for this comparison. Historically this is where we describe the light, fast bullets as having a snappier recoil versus the slower, heavier bullets with each giving the same power factor.
  7. I've never loaded or fired Major 9 but consider that the pressures are still less than your typical 223/5.56 - and no one seems to have any problems using the fired rifle cases.
  8. I received my Echelon about a week ago (after the state quarantine). I have not made it to the range as yet, but my first impressions are good. Red Hill Tactical was able to provide a holster. The slide configuration is working well with hands having reduced strength. The ability to take optical; sights will be explored. More later.
  9. My condolences to his loved ones. RIP
  10. Measuring the rim diameters on the 57 cases that fit the 9mm Luger shell holder givers an average diameter of 0.397". The SAAMI maximum for a 9mm Luger is 0.394". Given the tolerances, the 38 Super rims are within tolerance even though they can fit the 9mm shell holder.
  11. I took a sample of 160 cases (2 80 round case blocks) and tried them in a 9mm Luger shell holder. Of the 160, 57 fit the 9mm shell holder. All have a 38 Super headstamp. I suspect I had separated any SuperComp or such some time ago. I have nbot detailed headstamps, but noted Starline, R-P and Win. There were also 5 that halfway entered the shell holder. I have not yet measured the rim diameters.
  12. I did not note evidence of turning the rim down - but I wasn't looking for it either. I'll look through a batch (hopefully soon) and see what presents itself.
  13. I was going through a mixed bag, using a 9mm shell holder to sort. My theory was that Super (semi-rimmed) would not enter the shell holder. As I progressed, however, I was 38 Super headstamp cases entering the shell holder. I did not note if all were from the same manufacturer, but it showed there is a wide latitude in the rims. Manufacturers do not always abide by SAAMI. SAAMI still specifies the 38 Sper headspaces on the semi-rim, and most have, to my understanding, changed to headspace on the case mouth as standard. How many ammunition boxes do you see marked "45 Long Colt" when the official SAAMI name is "45 Colt"? I believe it would, overall, be best if the 38 Super dropped the semi-rim to be a true rimless case.
  14. Perhaps newer brass is more consistent, but in examining brass a while back to sort between Super and SuperComp cases, I found that there are 38 Super marked casers that matched SuperComp rim sizes.
  15. Welcome aboard! What part of Texas?
  16. Hodgdon, using a 10" barrel, says just a bit under 1600 fps.
  17. The enlarged flash hole was specifically to reduce back thrust of the primer against the breech. Going to a small primer also reduced that thrust, and crimping it pretty well removed the primer bearing against the breech. That was the original lead free Cleanfire mix. Later compounds I don't know. The Cleanfire worked well enough with a standard flash hole other than the back thrust. Cleanfire was named because there was no black residue in the fired case. The aim for NT primers is indoor use. To be effective at protecting the shooter from lead exposure, the range must never have used lead based primed ammunition, or undergo a rigorous cleaning, more than mopping and such, and then be dedicated to NT ammunition. Outdoor exposure to lead from lead-based primers is not a risk.
  18. Welcome! What part of Texas?
  19. Sounds like erroneous info. When the initial CCI Cleanfire primers were first made, there were instances of peening slide breech faces, dishing them. This was with case hardened slides. Through hardened did not present to problem. Those gunmakers with case hardened slides didn't seem too receptive to changing their slides. A less brisance primer would not have done that. The original did, however, contains some strontium, so the later totally heavy metal free priming compounds may be different, but I have no information on them That they continue to use small primers and crimp them suggests the brisance is still high.
  20. They should not present any problems reloading.
  21. Tests at the ammo factories showed no notable problems coming from the enlarged flash holes.
  22. How does the powder smell? Is that rust I'm seeing in the photo on the top/bottom of the keg? Alternately, instead of smelling it, see if there is any red dust in the powder. This is a decay product and is slightly toxic, so you don't want to be inhaling it. The red dust is most commonly seen when pouring spoiled powder into a powder measure or decanting into a smaller container. If the powder is spoiled, it may have an acrid odor and it will rust steel. Do you know when the powder was purchased?
  23. I used 231 with 200gr LSWC bullets for years. I changed to 700X as it was lower priced, and still use it. Have you determined a COAL yet" If the bullets you have are, essentially, H&G 68 pattern, a COAL of about 1.245" usually works well, or, at lest, provides a starting place.
  24. Priming compounds were early on, fulminate of mercury that destroyed the brass casing. Then were the potassium chlorate prim ing compounds (so called corrosive primers) that left a salt in the bore that needed to be cleaned out to avoid rust. That was replaced with the lead styphnate priming mixes, that are still in use, with the non-toxic also being used. The non-toxic, to really mean anything need to be used indoors on a range dedicated to non-toxic. If lead styphnate priming has been used previously, the NT won't reduce the shooter's exposure to lead.
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