The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

I fancy building a snub nose so I am looking for a sub GBP100 black powder revolver, not overly fussed about condition as it will probably end up being re-finished.

Anyone?

I've seen pietta and remmy new model army's for as much as £10....just gotta be in the right place at the right time I guess...

Yes, I am sure there are a few languishing in dark corners just waiting for a new owner and lease of life :)

Non Sale Query!

How do you imagine a "Snub-Nose" BP revolver would perform.

No expert in Internal Ballistics, but I always believed that BP (and Pyrodex), was a very slow burn?

Just curious!

Regards,

Daz.

Burn depends on the amount of powder, its granulation, bore diameter and length of barrel.

In revolvers with small amounts of fine grain powder, in a short powder column in relation to the bore diameter then most of the powder will get burnt within the cylinder and if any isn't then it will get blown out as much through the cylinder gap as down the barrel so really the length of barrel in a revolver will make little difference to the combustion of the charge.

Thanks Dromia

My natural curiosity has been satisfied!

dazeroo wrote:Non Sale Query!

How do you imagine a "Snub-Nose" BP revolver would perform.

No expert in Internal Ballistics, but I always believed that BP (and Pyrodex), was a very slow burn?

Just curious!

Regards,

Daz.

Compared to what? Compared to smokeless powder blackpowder is actually a fast burning powder.

This isn't a scientific video by any means, but it shows a row of different powders (blackpowder on the left, smokeless on the right). The bloke in the video starts off the smokeless powder which gradually starts burning and making it's way over to the blackpowder. In an instant, you can see all the blackpowder burn in rapid succession.

Although blackpowder burns very quickly smokeless powder actually produces a lot more gas which leads to a higher pressure in a container of the same size. This is why it is extremely dangerous to use smokeless powder in a blackpowder firearm!

Told you I was no expert in "Internal Ballistics"

That video is not a good illustration at all.

Black powder burns the same whether contained or not, the burning rate of smokeless changes when contained and under pressure, as in a cartridge.

For "speed" of combustion comparison the burning rate of smokeless would need to be observed contained as in a cartridge.

It is comparing apples and oranges.