Pistol barrel construction 101

N

NINEX19

New member
I am not a metallurgist, gun engineer, or such so this may seem like a basic question, but here it goes.

Does the thickness of a guns barrel have bearing on the life and/or wear of a barrel. I have noticed significant differences in how thick or thin barrels are when compared even in like calibers.

This is a drastic example without having any other guns in front of me at the moment. The barrel on the CZ RAMI 9mm is at least 3 times thicker than the barrels of the LCP or Bodyguard .380. Yes they are using different cartridges, but caliber is the same and weights are similar. I am sure there are other examples you can think of.

So... Is the CZ overbuilt or for heavy usage for 9mm or are the LCP and Bodyguard built with the bear minimums for light use and limited lifespan. I guess another possibility is that the pressures of the .380 vs the 9mm are drastic enough that all barrels are built for equal usage and endurance.

As a bit of a side note, why does the LCP barrel have what appears to be an extremely thin portion (a notch cut out) in the barrel towards the muzzle. Difficult to describe and I can't post a pic, but those of you that have one, know what I am talking about.
 
As a life long machinist/mechanic I would say no, no difference in barrel/bore wear. I think a bullet traveling down a 9/16" OD barrel will wear the bore at the same rate as if the barrel were 1" OD.

The different ODs of barrels serve different purposes; a larger diameter barrel is stiffer and will "vibrate" less. A larger barrel is heavier, more stable and perhaps more balanced. "Sporting" and carry guns tend to have smaller OD barrels for lighter weight to carry where a target gun can have a larger barrel for balance and stability to make targeting easier...
 
The engineers who design barrels (and other pressure vessels) consider the operating pressure, burst pressure, manufacturing process, materials and intended use, among other needs, like how parts will fit together.
If those needs are met, there's no reason to add further weight and bulk.
 
The maximum pressure for a .380 ACP is 21,500 psi. The maximum pressure for a 9mm (9x19) is 34,084 or 35,001 psi (depending on what source you consult). That's a 50 percent boost in pressure ...
 
I have noticed with 1911s in 45 a match barrel would be thicker than the standard. The tolerances would also be tighter.
I believe the thicker barrel would be more rigid and have more mass to give a little more accuracy. Just like a bull barrel on a varmint barrel or a target pistol.
We could use a expert to explain with more detail.
 
The thin area around the barrel on guns like the LCP is to allow the barrel room in the slide to drop down and unlock, while keeping the muzzle end at the right diameter for a snug fit in the slide without a bushing. Technically, the reduction in diameter would only be needed at the top and bottom, but making it all the way around is easier in manufacturing.

The "secret" of getting that much power in a small pistol is that those guns are recoil operated; a blowback in .380 or 9mm P would have to have a much heavier slide (as in the Hi-Points).

Jim
 
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