[CountGlockula]

Can you tell I'm a semi-auto guy? I'd like to discuss this and get opinions from experience wheel dudes. Anyways, I visited a range with a buddy of mine and rented out a Ruger Blackhawk .44 mag.

Great gun, but after 100+ rounds we had a nice make up job on our mugs. More the reason for the purpose of wearing eye protection folks.

But wondering if it annoys revolver owners? Or what causes it? We used the ranges' factory reloads as ammo. Would that cause excess gun powder to hit our faces?

At the end my buddy almost look like the drummer from KISS with nice whiskers.:D

[robert garner]

strange
musta been the particular weapon
my blackpowder pistols dont even do that
robert

[Seven For Sure]

The gap is too wide. You're losing some good velocity that way also.

[fletcher]

Can't say I've ever had that happen. The closest to that would be shooting some LRNs that made a lead cloud with every shot.

[CountGlockula]

Seriously? I thought it was pretty common. Maybe I exaggerated a bit. So you guys don't get those nice black spots on your face after firing your revolvers?

[DogBonz]

My pythons dont do that to me. It was most likely just that particualr gun.

[Old Fuff]

Were you perhaps in a shooting booth within an indoor range? If so the powder from side-spit might come back at you. As a rule I don't get "blackface" shooting outdoors - at least with moderate loads, and it beats getting hit in the face with brass. :neener::D

[earplug]

Something is wrong with the Ruger. I only get dirty fingers from my cast bullet reloads.

[highfive]

not at all. I don't really know what happen to you
Either the gun or the ammo. But usually I fire at least a couple of revolvers when i go to the range and that don't happen to me. Even though that one of my revolvers is ported.

[LHB1]

Never got that from any of my large caliber revolvers, even after firing up to 200 rounds at a time. This includes 4 Ruger and S&W .357 Mags and 6 S&W .44 Mags. That revolver may have too much gap between cylinder and barrel or the chambers may not be locking up in line with barrel.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

[S&Wfan]

That gun must be shot loose and spittin' lead and everything else. You mentioned it is a rental gun, so it probably is some trade-in gun that the owner didn't have the heart to sell.

This is NOT normal for a revolver! Yes, there is always a little side blast but not THAT much.

However, one should ALWAYS wear eye protection at the range . . . including when shooting those bottom feedin,' brass-pukin' autos!;) Was it spitting lead too? If so you might have felt your hands and/or face get a little "sandblasted" (for the lack of a better word). If so, I'd go back to the range you rented it from and tell 'em they have an unsafe gun that needs retirement or repair.

Another reason the gun my have been shooting dirty is the ammo. It is possible that you were shooting reloads that were loaded with one of the dirtier powders out there that are many times used for loading for handguns for low-velocity plinking use. Maybe you bought reloads from the same guy who rented the worn, out-of-spec. Blackhawk.

Again though . . . just conjecture on my part about the ammo.

T.

[P. Plainsman]

That gun must be shot loose and spittin' lead and everything else. You mentioned it is a rental gun, so it probably is some trade-in gun that the owner didn't have the heart to sell.
Spot on. Or the barrel-cylinder gap was too big from the factory.

My first sixgun tended to spit back at the shooter a bit, so for a while I too thought it was intrinsic to the breed.

Not at all true. No more than all autoloaders bean the shooter with ejected brass! ;)

I was just at the range yesterday exercising my S&W 629 (.44 Magnum) and little Ruger SP101 (snub .357 Magnum). Great, smooth-shooting weapons. The little Ruger is well-fitted with a tight lockup, and even shooting full-house magnums in a snubby it does not spit at all. Ditto the big Smith.

[CountGlockula]

Thanks guys. Your feedback really helped out. I'm about to apply for a part time position at that range tonight and I'll bring it up.

Yes it's an indoor range. Thanks again folks, keep riding on the High Road.

[Jim March]

There's a "checkout" process stickied in this forum. It helps :). I'd be willing to bet that range rental wouldn't pass.

[Cougfan2]

Not at all true. No more than all autoloaders bean the shooter with ejected brass!

I beg to differ. I've a couple of times shooting at an indoor range had brass bounce off of a booth wall and down the back of my shirt. It'll make you do a real interesting little dance! :eek:

[Navy joe]

My thumbnail turns black but that is because I insist on shooting my wheels with a thumbs forward semi-auto grip, the weak thumb ends up on the frame below the cylinder. If stuff is getting back to your face you need a differeent gun.

[hapuna]

CountG Seriously? I thought it was pretty common. Maybe I exaggerated a bit. So you guys don't get those nice black spots on your face after firing your revolvers?

What about those burn marks on your face from the ejecting brass from your semi????:D

[billhilly66]

Just don't shoot low pressure reloads with Unique and then scratch your face.

[Stainz]

My wife still has a slight burn scar from an Al 9mm Blazer case that, ejected from her CZ-75B, bounced off the range divider and lodged between her safety glasses and just above her eyebrow. Of course, it is my contention, as a true revolver lover, that evil-bottom-feeders are indeed quite rude - casting their empties asunder. Of course, being volumetrically challenged, bending over to pick up brass never was much fun.

I would say it's b/c gap is too large - and/or it may just have a timing pattern.

Stainz

PS I did have ejected residue (unburned powder?) with position & volume sensitive powders, like Unique and W231/HP38, in .45 Colt lead loads - remedied here by going to Titegroup.

[Carl N. Brown]

I have had autos bounce ejected casings off my forehead.
I had a .45 ACP arc over my head and land between my collar and
my neck.
A lady at the range caught an hot ejected casing in her cleavage.
None of that happens with a revolver.

[Sniper X]

Either the ammo is bad, cheap, or old, or the gun is out of time, or spec or somehting. Even my little, cheap Taurus 605 snubbie to my Superblackhawk doesn't do that!

[esmith]

My .22 magnum does that. It isn't that bad for me. Im still going to shoot that ammo.

[KiltedClaymore]

thats really strange. im thinking the cylinder is loose. too much gap.

[2RCO]

Stainz-- Wheelies are easy cleanup. Isn't that why the CIA uses them for wet ops--Oh wait they don't do wet ops anymore ;):D!

[ewayte]

The S&W factory range makes you wear a cap, even if you're only shooting wheelguns. They have disposable painters caps for you if you don't bring your own cap.

[Deanimator]

If you're getting gas, powder or bullet material in your face, you're guns out of time or the forcing cone is out of whack.

Take the gun to a competent gunsmith or send it back to the manufacturer.

I shot a whole box of .38Special wadcutters out of my S&W Model 65 tonight without even a hint of spitting.

[Carl N. Brown]

Oh, one piece of advice: I always hold my revolvers out at arm's length.
One must keep one's face away from that cylinder-barrel gap to avoid
getting hit with debris. If you hold a Glock next to your face, you will
not only be hit with powder residue, but with the ejected casing as well.

And never grip a revolver around the front of the frame
(SciFi channel Snakehead Terror); off hand around grip
hand only.

[SJshooter]

It is my opinion that if you are getting debris hitting you in the face, your revolver is out of time or the cylinder gap is too large. I shoot revolvers all the time and never get hit in the face with debris.

Still, it is better than hot brass ejecting down into your button-up shirt! Not good, especially when holding a single action semi! Now I always sweatshirts when shooting semis!

[glockman19]

Sounds like a well worn range gun. I have not experienced this with any of my S&W revolvers.

[Kimber1911_06238]

from my gp100.....not at all. I'm guessing the revolver you rented is an old warhorse that's seen better days

[foghornl]

I had a <brand-name with-held to prevent embarrasment to the now-former owner> revolver that threw ALMOST as much lead down-range as is sent sideways and back toward the shooter.... :o :D:evil::p

[Action_Can_Do]

I've had a 1911 shoot dirt in my face. The ammo was Wolf though. I believe a compensated revolver will shoot gas in one's face.

[Schwebel]

I've never been spit on by a wheelie. My Beretta on the other hand spits out tons of crap, I think it has something to do with the "open" barrel design. I do however shoot much better ammo out of my wheelies than out of the bottom-feeders.

[Beatnik]

I bought a GP100 used at the beginning of summer and finally got it to the range on Sunday.

We shot all three types of ammo, since I wanted to see what the wife could handle.
The +p's and magnums were bought that day and were 125 grain Remington semi-jacketed hollow points.
The specials were an old box of lead wadcutters that had been kicking around for over a year. I don't remember what brand, but I'm confident they were reloads.

The +p's and magnums were fine. But the specials were totally Yosemite Sam. Wa-hoo, partner! Made me wonder how much less time I have to live now.

So given what happened to me, I'd say you need to have a gunsmith say whether or not it's out of time, or at least shoot a different (read: better) brand of ammo through it before saying the gun is done for.

[christcorp]

Being someone who loves semi-autos and happens to be left handed, I have been hit by a lot of brass in my life. I have yet however ever had residue from a bullet/shell/powder ever come back at me from a revolver. If this is happening, then the other's comments about out of time and gap are probably dead on accurate. Can't think of any other reason. Later... Mike....

[armoredman]

The only thing that ever hit me in the face at the range was an ejected .40SW WinClean case that disintegrated in air. Left huge gouges in my polycarbonate eyewear. Needless to say, that was a semi-auto...
My Smith 10 doesn't even leave all that much residue with cast loads. Fired 100 last week at an indoor range, no issues beyond normal washing.

[Cosmoline]

It happens sometimes. I've noticed it most with very worn out revolvers and very new revolvers. It only seems to happen most with copper jackets, when some of the jacket gets shaved in the forcing cone. With a new revolver the fix is simply to fire it until the rough edges are smoothed. With a worn out revolver the solution is to get it tightened up again. With a SA it could be a sign of bad timing.

I just wear amber plastic over my glasses. The little stings on the side of my face aren't a big deal. I have yet to see any broken skin. It also happens with worn semis, though I'm not sure what's causing it in that case.

[DrLaw]

You know how sometimes you cannot see the forest for the trees? I checked out this thread because I have the same thing happening to me at our indoor range. Bits of powder hitting me in the face.

IT'S THE CLOSE-IN WALLS!!!!! DUH!!!!!! :p

I shoot outside and do not have a problem like that. I always thought it was the gun spitting stuff back. :eek:

See, even old guys can learn new tricks! :rolleyes:

The Doc is out and happier now! :D

[antediluvianist]

too much lube around the forcing cone.

[Citroen]

I shoot my revolvers using the same grip and modified Weaver stance that I use with semi-autos - left elbow touching my chest; left index finger hooked in front of the trigger guard. Two of my revolvers are ported.

I have never had any residue on my face, indoor or out but on occasion I will get some grime on my left index finger. I did, recently have my Glock 30 cough ejected brass that landed behind my glasses and burned a circle under my left eye. Proves the point that guns can be dangerous!

I think everyone else told you correctly, too - worn or mis-timed gun.

John
Charlotte, NC

[texas bulldog]

just once, i have had a hot piece of something come back and hit me in the face while shooting a .357 magnum. reminds you why eye protection is important. but i've never ended up with a soot-blackened face after shooting any wheelgun. sounds like something is up with that gun...

[Beatnik]

Uh, yeah, in case EVERYONE missed it, I already related a story about how on Sunday, 26 August 2007, I had this exact thing happen with one brand of reloads and not happen with new name-brand ammo - all shot through the same gun.

I even went back-and-forth between ammo - and it always happened with the reloads. Put 6 crappy reloads in, and each one made a powder cloud. Put 6 Remingtons in afterward, and nothing.

[Glockafella]

moral of the story is shot quality ammo you cheapos!