Multigunner
04-15-2011, 03:32 AM
Several .22 pistols I owned back many years ago had a habit of spitting lead particles that hit the face hard enough to sting even with the pistol held at arms length.
One was a fine little Bearcat .22 Revolver, an excellent pistol not known for this sort of thing.
I traded the Bearcat back to the dealer after finding it inexplicably inaccurate as well as the occasional lead spitting problem.
Recently I found that some early Bearcat Barrels had come through production without having the cone cut at all, I'm not sure about my Bearcat but I figure it was one of these. Chalk up another one for Rugers on again off again quality control.
Anyway it occurred to me that the ammo may have contributed to the problem. I usually used Winchester unplated lead bullet ammo that was extremely accurate in all my rifles.
Looking over some videos of muzzle blasts of revolvers I noticed that some show a back blast at the muzzle that appears to be gases deflected by the base of the bullet at the moment the bullet first clears the crown.
I'm thinking that lead either blasted from the base by excessive blast due to the propellent of a .22 RF being suited for much longer rifle barrels , along with any stray buts of lead shaved from a bullet by a poorly cut cone, could be deflected nearly straight back at the shooter.
I'd have just posted this in the rimfire forum, but I figure other chamberings might also show this sort of back blast if the bullet was too soft and the muzzle blast excessive for the caliber.
Anyone have similar problems and ideas on why this sometimes happens?
One was a fine little Bearcat .22 Revolver, an excellent pistol not known for this sort of thing.
I traded the Bearcat back to the dealer after finding it inexplicably inaccurate as well as the occasional lead spitting problem.
Recently I found that some early Bearcat Barrels had come through production without having the cone cut at all, I'm not sure about my Bearcat but I figure it was one of these. Chalk up another one for Rugers on again off again quality control.
Anyway it occurred to me that the ammo may have contributed to the problem. I usually used Winchester unplated lead bullet ammo that was extremely accurate in all my rifles.
Looking over some videos of muzzle blasts of revolvers I noticed that some show a back blast at the muzzle that appears to be gases deflected by the base of the bullet at the moment the bullet first clears the crown.
I'm thinking that lead either blasted from the base by excessive blast due to the propellent of a .22 RF being suited for much longer rifle barrels , along with any stray buts of lead shaved from a bullet by a poorly cut cone, could be deflected nearly straight back at the shooter.
I'd have just posted this in the rimfire forum, but I figure other chamberings might also show this sort of back blast if the bullet was too soft and the muzzle blast excessive for the caliber.
Anyone have similar problems and ideas on why this sometimes happens?