Heating Up....

[therealthedanimal]

Does anyone else have a problem with the cylinders of their revolvers becoming unbearably hot during extended/rapid fire?

I shoot a S&W m10 (1988) and m15 (1977) in USPSA, so the max rounds is roughly 32 in a single stage. The last match I shot, the cylinder got so hot I nearly dropped the thing, but luckily a string of expletives managed to lessen the pain. That was only ~25 rounds in roughly 60 seconds, with factory 38 special ammunition (125gr magtech)

Would a 357 gun have less of an issue? I assume the stronger chamber walls wouldn't heat up so quickly?

 

[Huddy]

The heart of your problem is energy and heat transfer. Generally, .357 rounds have a greater potential energy, but I'd have to research the efficiency of energy transfer to know if the .357 would transfer more/less residual heat energy to the system. My intuition is the .357 would exasperate the issue...but I can't speak from experience. I'm in to hear from anyone that has tried both and observed temperature differences.

 

[Mac11FA]

Get some gloves????

 

[cmshoot]

I think what he's asking is if it would be better if he were running .38's in a .357.

I shoot a 625 and it just doesn't get as hot.

 

[Rwjeter]

The heart of your problem is energy and heat transfer. Generally, .357 rounds have a greater potential energy, but I'd have to research the efficiency of energy transfer to know if the .357 would transfer more/less residual heat energy to the system. My intuition is the .357 would exasperate the issue...but I can't speak from experience. I'm in to hear from anyone that has tried both and observed temperature differences.

Like @cmshoot said, he's asking about shooting a 357 gun. Not 357 rounds. I would think your best bet would be maybe a revolver with a ticker walled cylinder, possible even an unfluted cylinder. It'll be the same principle behind a heavier barrel. It'll take longer to heat up. But it'll also take longer to cool. You also might check into a 7 or 8 shot revolver. That will kinda spread the load. Just my .02.