Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: woodman on November 03, 2012, 09:29:45 AM

Title: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: woodman on November 03, 2012, 09:29:45 AM: I bought a S & W model 629 stainless steel 44 magnum from a member on here a few months ago. I fired it for the first time last week. It shot accurately, but I only shot it twice. When I shot it, there was quite a fire ball that came out around the cylinder. It really surprised me and I stopped. The bullets close to 1/4" short from the front of the cylinder when inserted. Seeing this fire ball come out seemed odd to me, does anyone here know if this is normal.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: JimmyHoffa on November 03, 2012, 09:36:20 AM: I think it is normal. Might not be as noticeable on the smaller cartridges, but the big rounds can produce some serious fire. Just keep clear of that area, I've heard of guys using .460s and .500s that will try to steady or use a rest and get their other hand close to the front of the cylinder and it acts as a torch, cutting through skin and muscle. If it was a Dan Wesson or the Nagant(sp?), it would close the clearance and not see the pressure leak by.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: runamuk on November 03, 2012, 09:37:49 AM: My 9mm has a surprising bit of flame I never would have realized if I hadnt seen pics..... the 44is bigger more powder to burn might assume its normal without seeing it happen hard to guess
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: JimmyHoffa on November 03, 2012, 09:48:06 AM: Are you using heavy handloads or know if the previous owner used heavy handloads?
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: KFhunter on November 03, 2012, 09:50:34 AM: I'd look for shaving too

629 is a decent revolver though
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: woodman on November 03, 2012, 09:55:06 AM: Quote from: JimmyHoffa on November 03, 2012, 09:48:06 AM
Are you using heavy handloads or know if the previous owner used heavy handloads?

I don't know what the loads are. The fellow that sold me the gun did not tell or if he did I don't remember. Maybe he did, he was a very nice guy nothing against him.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: woodman on November 03, 2012, 09:55:52 AM: Quote from: KFhunter on November 03, 2012, 09:50:34 AM
I'd look for shaving too

629 is a decent revolver though

I did not notice any shavings, thanks for your input.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: netcoyote on November 03, 2012, 10:07:15 AM: If you are using handloads, some powders will produce more fire than others.

I also learned the hard way about having your hand too close to the cylinder gap. Damn near scorched my hand with my 629. Good thing I had gloves on. I only needed to try it once... :yike:

Quote
I don't know what the loads are. The fellow that sold me the gun did not tell or if he did I don't remember. Maybe he did, he was a very nice guy nothing against him.

Sounds like you were using ammo from the previous owner that you are not sure of the origin. Nice guy or not, this is something I would NOT do. Start out with factory loads and, if you are competent, load your own.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: MikeWalking on November 03, 2012, 10:14:57 AM: Shot the dickens out of my 629classic with all kinds of factory ammo. Never had any big flash. I have seen some ammo produce bright fireballs...newer stuff hardly any..

I learned the hard way as a kid about revolvers, resting the barrel of Dads .38 on my forearm and popping off a round as he started to yell Nooooo :yike:

It was visible for a long time... :chuckle:
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: yorketransport on November 03, 2012, 10:15:26 AM: That's perfectly normal. It has a lot to do with the powder used. Friends and I have had contests to see who can get the biggest fireball out of guns before. Some powders have a more effective flash suppressant than others.

Go shoot the gun and have fun! The fireball is just part of the experience!

Andrew
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: j_h_nimrod on November 03, 2012, 10:16:46 AM: Not knowing what you consider as heavy it is hard to say. We're you shooting in low light or bright daylight? If you see a large flash around the cylinder in daylight it sounds excessive, if it is darkish and you see a 8" diameter corona that is normal.

I have owned and/or shot a number of 629 variants and other .44s and always liked shooting them, never had one shoot much of a fireball around the cylinder or at least one I thought excessive.

Bullet being ~1/4" short of the end of the cylinder is normal. Check cylinder play, that may tell you something. As mentioned previously, check for shaving as well. One quick visual check is to see if the lead (the short, unrifled section directly in front of the cylinder) into the barrel and face of the barrel are fouled symmetrically. If one side of the lead is nice and shiny while the other is fouled that is an indication the cylinder is no longer indexing correctly and may need some work.

If you are still worried about it either take it to a competent smith or send it back to S&W. (being that it is already your gun you can post it through FedEx or UPS to the company for work and they can send it to you with no FFL, at least that was the law a year or two back, call S&W and they can verify).
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: Biggerhammer on November 03, 2012, 10:16:54 AM: The cylinder flash is perfectly normal. Try It in the dark with a 240gr bullet on top of 18gr of Blue Dot powder and you will see the true definition of "Cylinder flash". :tup:
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: rasbo on November 03, 2012, 10:19:41 AM: the gun is obviously flawed,and should be given to me to keep from further flamage..
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: yorketransport on November 03, 2012, 10:20:55 AM: Quote from: Biggerhammer on November 03, 2012, 10:16:54 AM
The cylinder flash is perfectly normal. Try It in the dark with a 240gr bullet on top of 18gr of Blue Dot powder and you will see the true definition of "Cylinder flash". :tup:

Blue Dot is great for that!

Here's a picture just pulled off the web. The fireball is perfectly normal.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi162.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ft260%2Fcollegekidandy%2Fth.jpg&hash=fa2bc813b1c03f63ed40cb22866ec485a4d4fa47)

Andrew
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: MikeWalking on November 03, 2012, 10:25:46 AM: Quote from: rasbo on November 03, 2012, 10:19:41 AM
the gun is obviously flawed,and should be given to me to keep from further flamage..

now now that didn't work for me looking at yours... :chuckle:
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: j_h_nimrod on November 03, 2012, 10:28:02 AM: For muzzle flash the best I have done was a S&W .500 S&W, 2.5" uncompensated barrel with heavy factory loaded 500gr hard cast. A solid 10' flame at dusk.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: lokidog on November 03, 2012, 10:42:15 AM: I only have a BP revolver to base this on but I get no to no noticeable flash between the cylinder and forcing cone on them. There is little to no space between the cylinder and barrel on mine, maybe you have a ding or a little more space than there should be there for some reason?

Another question, maybe some varieties of rounds create higher pressures and these cause more backpressure blowing out between the barrel and cylinder?
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: j_h_nimrod on November 03, 2012, 10:53:18 AM: Should of said forcing cone, not lead.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: woodman on November 03, 2012, 12:16:21 PM: I really appreciate all of the responses. This place is awesome and has a wealth of knowledge.

Thanks guys!
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: brush hunter on November 03, 2012, 01:12:34 PM: fireballs are normal...you did know powder burns right? :dunno:
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: Biggerhammer on November 03, 2012, 01:53:37 PM: Yeah! That's how it's done.. Hahaha..
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: Jim the Plumber on November 03, 2012, 03:46:21 PM: The one thing you need to check is the cylinder gap. Too much will give you larger flame/ blast from the gap.
Optimum gap is .004 to .006.
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: Biggerhammer on November 03, 2012, 05:15:10 PM: Gotta love " Google" . :chuckle:
Title: Re: fire ball out of my 44 mag cylinder
Post by: h20hunter on November 03, 2012, 05:17:32 PM: Love google and of course YouTube....

.44 Magnum (warning LOUD) slow motion muzzle blast (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2R7ZpD21zQ#ws)