Muzzle climb

[Fn-P9]

I have a highly technical question. In regaurds to muzzle climb affecting point of impact, CAN the barrel climb affec t it? In the photo below it shows the bullet leaving the barrel, but also the slide has just started to come back. I am wondering if there is just SOME truth to this. I realize this should not be of concern in all practicallity. I am just looking for the most nitpickiest truth.

 

[Josh Aston]

Yes, muzzle will affect point of impact. Depends on how long the bullet stays in the barrel though. This is why when shooting ammunition of differing velocities you'll have variations in the POI.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

When shooting long barrel revolvers you can really see this effect as the heavier bullet hit higher than lighter ones.

 

[Fn-P9]

SO, If I am say shooting a glock or in the picture a 1911 style, with a 4in barrel, are you going to notice a difference if you would use one of those Caldwell handgun machines? Is this even a concern in defensive handguns or more in the precision target shooting? If it is a concern in target, is this barrel rise consistent or not?

 

[DMK]

Nevermind. On further though, I might be wrong.

 

[52449]

Low velocity rounds print higher on target do to the gun recoiling, or moving more, before the bullet leaves the barrel. A shorter barrel will not be affeced as much but it still happens. This is why a very consistent grip is needed in bullseye compitition. Or any target shooting for that matter. Grip and sight picture. That's the key isn't it?

 

[Jim K]

First, the barrel does not "climb" for any reason inherent in the barrel. Any firearm recoils around its own center of gravity (or the center of gravity of the gun and the hands or arms holding it). Since most guns have the barrel above the center of gravity, the gun muzzle will recoil upward. Guns have been made with the barrel below the CG; the barrel "climbs" downward.

Recoil begins the instant the bullet starts to move. Since the gun weighs more than the bullet, the bullet may exit before there is much gun movement, particularly in a handgun, where the weight difference is less.

To see how much the barrel will move during recoil with the load for which the sights are set, simply lay a ruler along the sights, and notice that the line of the sights is at an angle to the line of the barrel. That difference allows for recoil.

Jim

 

[52449]

The first time I noticed the difference in muzzle movement was with my Super Blackhawk. I had some hotter factory 240s and some very light 240s. When I switched to the lighter loads I had to drop the rear sight to get back on target. I know that different loads soot differently but it is the same wth any light oad I shoot. I have the rear sight bottomed out when shooting what would be considered a cowboy load.

 

[R.W.Dale]

First, the barrel does not "climb" for any reason inherent in the barrel.

Except for that whole hinged locking mechanism used by most autoloading handguns