Posted: 4/1/2003 10:10:25 PM EDT
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This is my first post, but don't give up on me already! I have been reading extensively about firearms, especially semi-auto pistols, but there are still some details that I just don't fully comprehend. Please enlighten me... 1.) What are the benefits of nickel-plated cartridges? If they are really better, then why don't more manufacturers use them for self-defense rounds? 2.) Why does ball ammo feed more reliably in an autoloader? Is it more reliable to have a round-nosed full metal jacket (example: Corbon powerball) or a flat nosed full metal jacket (example: Federal EFMJ)? 3.) What is the purpose of having a barrel bushing (example: 1911) as opposed to no barrel bushing? 4.) What is the difference between short-recoil operated and gas-blowback operated pistols? How does each system work? Which is more reliable? 5.) Are external extractors more reliable than internal extractors? If so, why are they so rare on 1911-style pistols and Sigs? 6.) What is the "limp-wristed" grip problem that I have heard about concerning Glocks? 7.) What is a "bull" barrel? Alright, that should about do it for now. I know I will have plenty more questions, especially concerning AR style rifles, but I don't want to write essay-long posts. Thanks in advance for any knowledge you can provide! |
One thing to keep in mind about the "which is better" debate, is that there's more than one way to skin a cat. That's why there's a gazillion different models & many different brands. Everyone has their own bias towards or against brands or models or designs. That's why we have this forum! 
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Alright, that has helped significantly. Still a couple of questions though... 1.) I still don't understand the two operating systems. I know that in one system, the barrel actually lifts upward when shot, and then falls back into place. Is this short-recoil? Please explain how this works or direct me to a webpage that can explain it. And gas-blowback, if I am not mistaken, uses a barrel that is actually fixed to the frame, so it cannot move. How does the gas cycle the slide? Please explain in detail... 2.) Back to the question of full metal jacket ammo. Why is some FMJ round-nosed and some is flat-nosed? Is either type of nose more beneficial than the other? 3.) Here's a new question- I have noticed that, on certain types of ammo, there is a serrated ridge around the circumfrence of the casing about halfway between the bullet and the base (example: corbon powerball). What is this ridge all about? I would think that this ridge would increase the chance of malfunction during chambering or extraction, am I right? 4.) Concerning bull barrels: What is there purpose? Is it to dissipate heat quicker? Or are there other advantages that I am not realizing? Thanks for putting up with my newbieness! |
1. Perhaps the best way to answer this question would be to take some guns apart. Less powerful cartridges can use a blowback system. The adantages are a fixed barrel and high degree of simplicity. Making a blowback work with a more powerful cartridge ivolved heavy parts and strong spring. It's not very practical, so most handgun over 9mm use the short recoil system. The barrel and slide are locked together until the whole assembly recoils back a short distance and then they unlock. It allows the gun to be lighter and use more manageable springs. 2. Preference. Some people prefer flat nosed ammunition because it punches cleaner holes in paper. Some feel it "shocks" the target more when it hits. Either works, the differences are negligible as long as it functions in your firearm. 3. The ridge is a crimp. It helps keep the bullet from sliding back into the case if the round is chambered and unchambered repeatedly. Popular for self defense ammunition because it frequently is loaded and unloaded. 4. In handguns, bull barrels are used to tame recoil and to add weight to keep the gun stable while aiming. In rifles they takes more shots to heat up and become inaccurate. In addition they are more rigid and help avoid barrel whip (barrel flexing while firing). which can occasionally be a problem. |