jgr_lv
Member
Another answer to a question nobody asked, IMHO
The Nagant was complicated, and simpler is better, especially for critical gear like a military or police weapon. Contrast the design with the Smith & Wesson Triple Lock and all its descendants and you'll see what I mean. Yes, black powder revolvers were a pain to clean and the Nagant greatly simplifies that task. Yes, revolvers do lose some velocity because of the cylinder gap. For proof of that, my S&W Model 52, an autoloader based on the 9mm S&W Model 39 but modified to shoot .38 Special, will put a squib load with nothing but a primer through a target 7 yards downrange about eight inches lower than a properly loaded midrange target round. (Don't ask how I know that.) The same squib load will probably stick in the barrel of my S&W Mod. 14 revolver. All that said, not many people on the wrong end of a revolver live to complain about the lack of velocity, and not many people use black powder for social purposes. You use modern smokeless powder, cram in a little extra to make up what you lose through the gap and keep shooting. Simple and rugged generally wins the day over complicated and finicky, which is why the Nagant is an historical relic and the S&W DA revolver is still in production.
The Nagant was complicated, and simpler is better, especially for critical gear like a military or police weapon. Contrast the design with the Smith & Wesson Triple Lock and all its descendants and you'll see what I mean. Yes, black powder revolvers were a pain to clean and the Nagant greatly simplifies that task. Yes, revolvers do lose some velocity because of the cylinder gap. For proof of that, my S&W Model 52, an autoloader based on the 9mm S&W Model 39 but modified to shoot .38 Special, will put a squib load with nothing but a primer through a target 7 yards downrange about eight inches lower than a properly loaded midrange target round. (Don't ask how I know that.) The same squib load will probably stick in the barrel of my S&W Mod. 14 revolver. All that said, not many people on the wrong end of a revolver live to complain about the lack of velocity, and not many people use black powder for social purposes. You use modern smokeless powder, cram in a little extra to make up what you lose through the gap and keep shooting. Simple and rugged generally wins the day over complicated and finicky, which is why the Nagant is an historical relic and the S&W DA revolver is still in production.