Funny thing happened with some 30 Carbine rounds

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jski

jski

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The last time I hit the range I tried Buffalo Bore’s 30 Carbine Full Power+ 110 gr loads in my Blackhawk. After every shot the hammer and trigger locked and I had to play with the hammer while rotating the cylinder to unlock it. Oh yeah, plus flattened primers. Supposedly, these rounds were tested using the Ruger Blackhawk.

Now here’s the really interesting thing. My own 30 Carbine heavy loads, using a 155 gr Linotype bullet with 11 gr of H110, never displayed any troubling behavior. No signs of over pressure in any of the rounds. No problems with the Blackhawk’s mechanics. No difficulties extracting the spent brass. None of it! And I was getting 1130+ FPS with my heavies. Very pleasant to shoot.

My experiments have really been focusing on developing a heavy pistol-only load for the 30 Carbine. And think I’ve had some success in that.
 
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I'd try to figger why the gun is locking up. Are primers flowing into the firing pin hole? Are primers backing out and locking cylinder? I haven't dug into the innards of my Ruger Super Blackhawk in many years, but perhaps something is moving from heavy recoil and blocking hammer movement? I'd think it's a gun related problem rather than "hot" ammo...

(BTW, the "recoil impulse" is different between a 110 gr. bullet and a 155 gr bullet)
 
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That brings up the question, where to begin? When I can’t pull the hammer back the only thing I know I could look for is an obstruction between the cylinder and the recoil shield. Don’t think there’d be anything between the cylinder and the breach end of the barrel?
 
True. You are probably having the primer force it's way back and try to become one with the recoil sheild. It will force a small bit into the hole around the firing pin or any other recess, until you shear it by getting the cylinder turning manually. A picture of those fired primers will tell a lot.
 
The bullets in the Buffalo Bore ammo aren't moving forward ... are they ?

And there is a decent chance the primer flow into the FP breech hole is causing the binding.
 
jski said:
The last time I hit the range I tried Buffalo Bore’s 30 Carbine Full Power+ 110 gr loads in my Blackhawk. After every shot the hammer and trigger locked and I had to play with the hammer while rotating the cylinder to unlock it. Oh yeah, plus flattened primers. Supposedly, these rounds were tested using the Ruger Blackhawk.

Now here’s the really interesting thing. My own 30 Carbine heavy loads, using a 155 gr Linotype bullet with 11 gr of H110, never displayed any troubling behavior. No signs of over pressure in any of the rounds. No problems with the Blackhawk’s mechanics. No difficulties extracting the spent brass. None of it! And I was getting 1130+ FPS with my heavies. Very pleasant to shoot.

My experiments have really been focusing on developing a heavy pistol-only load for the 30 Carbine. And think I’ve had some success in that.
Click to expand...
Neither of my puny little "new model" blackhawks would put up with something like this for long. Not first time I wished for one of the earlier heavy duty blackhawks which I'm guessing you have.
 
dcarr said:
Neither of my puny little "new model" blackhawks would put up with something like this for long. Not first time I wished for one of the earlier heavy duty blackhawks which I'm guessing you have.
Click to expand...
I had a slight timing problem with my 2007 30 Carbine Blackhawk. I sent it back to Ruger fully expecting to see it returned in a couple of weeks. Instead, about 3 weeks later, I get an email explaining that the gun is “irreparable” and I can get a brand spanking new 30 Carbine Blackhawk as a replacement. “Why, hell yeah!” was my response.

Now this was in 2016. So my Blackhawk is very much a “New Model” Blackhawk!
 
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I pulled out the box for one of my blackhawks, sure enough "new model" blackhawk, one of my guns is 45long colt or 45acp and the other is .38pl , 357 or 9mm. None are 30 carbine. None of this is helpful to you, sorry. This is a good forum for finding information, lots of people more knowledgeable than me.
 
If primers are binding the cylinder, that would be visible. Hold the gun up to a light or use a strong flashlight. If primers have moved enough to bind the cylinder, you can see them...
 
Someone just asked me about the case capacity of the 30 Carbine vs the 327 Magnum:

327 Fed Mag, volume rated in grains of water:
Max case capacity = 19.0 gr
Volume occupied by seated 100gr bullet = 5.111 gr (Speer 100 gr JHP .312" dia)
Usable case capacity with seated 100gr bullet = 13.889 gr

30 Carbine, volume rated in grains of water:
Max case capacity = 21 gr
Volume occupied by seated 110gr bullet = 4.711 gr (Speer 110gr FMJ .308" dia)
Useable case capacity with seated 110 gr bullet = 16.289 gr
 
Firing pin sticking in primer = equal no cylinder rotation = hammer mechanism lockup.
(Does cylinder free up after being forced past that one fired cylinder?)
Check to see if pin has sharp edges.


ps: my own 30 Carbine B/H loves me using 32-20 rimmed brass instead of rimless 30C which require careful trim-to-length to headspace/seat dependably

From two years ago:
- It's running 1,450 fps/110gr Comm'l (ARMSCOR/Remington) and 1,425fps w/ my own 115gr Cast/Lyman#2
- It is supremely accurate (50₵ piece/X-ring at 25 yards)
- It is very -- and surprisingly -- pleasant to shoot... no "huge-big-blast" as always reputed by those who don't have them
 
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Next weekend I plan to go to the range with my 30 Carbine Blackhawk. I’ll fire some of those Buffalo Bore Heavy loads and check for obstructions.

I’ll report back.
 
The 30 Carbine pistol was designed to take loads that followed the pressure profile as were the World War II carbines. Firing modern (unreduced) reloads in the pistol, it is no reason you are having problems.

First, get a reloading die compatible with 30 Carbine in the Ruger pistol.

Second, wash your hands like you're going into surgery.

Third, form the cases and name. You're better off if you have at least a hull-number or an individual's name stitcvhen in their tunics.

Fourth, after your society's collapse good luck getting Medicare or Medicaid from a government that just repudiated all its obligations to the former-Federal government.
 
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