[nitetrane98]

While reading over some forged v. cast threads I had this thought.
We all know that almost everything made has a designed in safety factor above and beyond what is the normal operating range. For instance, an air tank might be sold to operate safely at 100 PSI. It will typically be designed and tested to withstand 150 PSI. Designers and engineers have tons of data available to them on strength of metals etc. I'm wondering what the typical designed safety factor is in a 1911, just for example. Though I would certainly never want to shoot one, I would like to see what one would look like with, say, a 1% designed SF.
Yes, I do have too much time on my hands. Why do you ask?:confused:

[rcmodel]

Typical modern handguns have at least a 100% SF and some perhaps 200% or more.

It is known from testing that revolvers like the Ruger Blackhawk and S&W .44 Mag both will be destroyed at a pressure above 80,000 CUP, or more then double the present SAAMI pressure of the cartridge.
Both would be damaged at pressures well below that however, and thier life shortened considerably at 45,000 PSI insted of .35,000.

We know a 1911 will stand a double charge of Bullseye or a squib stuck bullet with no more damage then a bulged barrel or blown case resulting in the magazine being blown out.

A triple charge of Bullseye will take one apart however.

Hope this helps.

rc

[Jim K]

At the time many of our guns were designed, no one knew how to analyze metals or determine the strength required. So designers like Browning and Mauser figured out what would not stand up by empirical methods (they reduced the strength until something let go), then they over-built to make sure things stayed together. That sometimes meant a rifle bolt lug thickness 8-10 times what is necessry to contain the normal pressure.

Even if, with modern materials and modern analysis, bolt lug thickness of a rifle could be reduced to, say 1/4 what it is, no one would buy the rifle; it would be considered dangerous.

Jim