Fluted vs. Unfluted Cylinders.
- Thread starter dayman
- Start date
Tom Matiska
New member
tipoc's pics show the thickness (...err thinness) near the locking lug. I had a cylinder replaced because of a hairline crack from the notch.... felt lucky to have noticed it.... I think 5 vs 6 shot matters more than the flutes for strength.
It is easier to clean the fouling off an unfluted cylinder. While I believe that an unfluted cylinder could be stronger, I don't think that extra material really adds much in strength. After all, the thinnest part of the cylinder is still on the surface. If it is going to blow, assuming no material flaws, it is going to blow there.
Flutes go back to blackpowder days and I wonder if the fluting helped keep the revolver from clogging up. Might have blown residue on either side of the cylinder strap.
There are probably a 1000 better reasons, and none of them right.
Be interesting if anyone finds the original reason documented somewhere.
Flutes go back to blackpowder days and I wonder if the fluting helped keep the revolver from clogging up. Might have blown residue on either side of the cylinder strap.
There are probably a 1000 better reasons, and none of them right.
Be interesting if anyone finds the original reason documented somewhere.
buck460XVR
New member
Fluted/Unfluted....Redhead/Blond, I like 'em all and appreciate the differences between them.
flutes make cylinders weaker. Strictly for weight reduction. Fluted Barrels. actually make them stronger in terms of barrel whip . Think on it as you would a corrugated tin roof. if the steel were flat it then length wise it would just fold right over. Plus they too lighten the rifle considerably. Which if why most all 50 BMG sniper barrels are fluted .
45 Long,
The story's two years old now. It's been discussed on at least 15 different forums.
Here's the thread from the S&W forum. Google "new 686 feature" and some of the other threads will come up.
http://www.smithandwessonforums.com...13191-my-new-686-ssr-has-unusual-feature.html
The story's two years old now. It's been discussed on at least 15 different forums.
Here's the thread from the S&W forum. Google "new 686 feature" and some of the other threads will come up.
http://www.smithandwessonforums.com...13191-my-new-686-ssr-has-unusual-feature.html
It was touched upon already, but not expanded upon. The weakest point in 6 shot cylinders is the locking bolt cut. That's where they start to come apart. After that point is reached, it makes no difference whatsoever if its fluted or not. If it's a a 5 shot cylinder, either the side walls or walls between the chambers are the weakest point, and fluting isn't going to make any difference there either.