Need terms defined/explained

I've been around semi-autos for a while now, but still am a bit unclear about certain terms.

What is meant by 'blowback' operated?

What is a 'locking breach' and how does it differ from other breach operations?

Come to think of it, a few more general questions:

Do modern polymer frames such as on the Glock and XD react/melt/mar when in contact with DET?

I know that the steel casings of Wolf ammo are effectively unreloadable, but I've heard that the primers used are part of the problem - so what's the problem?

Why are there still some firearms manufacturers based in Massecusetts (sp?)?

How do you spell Massecusetts? :mrgreen:

What's DET?

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Originally Posted by Charlie

What's DET?

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The stuff in mosquito repelant. It's a pretty aggressive solvent with some plastics.

Thanks. First I've heard of it. I don't think I've ever cleaned my gun with mosquito repellent. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: Although it is good to know if I'm shootin' where the skeeters are and I'm using a repellent around my Glock.

Blowback basically means - no extractor - Instead, the force of the gunshot throws the casing out. Most 380s are like this, as are most 22s. In handguns, most higher calibers have extractors.

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Originally Posted by Shipwreck

Blowback basically means - no extractor - Instead, the force of the gunshot throws the casing out. Most 380s are like this, as are most 22s. In handguns, most higher calibers have extractors.

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Interesting - I just pulled out my .380 FEG PPK clone - it appears to have an extractor. I'd been told by someone that it was a blowback design. Now I know better. Thanks.

Clint

I prev had a colt 380 that had an extractor. From what I have read, not many 380s have extractors.

"Blowback" may, or may not have, an extractor. In a blowback action, the barrel is ridgidly attached to the frame. Just the weight of the slide or breechblock delays premature opening of the action for cycling.

In short recoil designs (M1911, Luger etc.) the barrel and breechblock (slide) are locked together at the time of firing and travel rearward a short distance locked together. Then, the parts unlock and the slide continues to travel rearward for extraction and ejection.

In long recoil actions (seldom seen now, but Browning A5 shotgun) the barrel and breechblock are locked together and stay locked together until the end of the rearward movement. Then, the breechblock is held back and the barrel is released to go foreward. As the barrel re-seats, the bolt is then released to go forward.

There is a "delayed blowback" in which the reardward movement of the breechblock is momentarily retarded to allow pressure to dissipate prior to opening.

More than you ever wanted to know?

Bob Wright

Massachusetts.....!!!!!!!!!! I was born in that state and WILL NOT go back there...

If you'll excuse my sounding like "Mr. Know It All." steel cased ammunition is reloadable. I'm not familiar with Wolf ammunition, but it is foreign made and likely has Berdan primers. Berdan primers have the anvil as part of the cartridge case. Viewing inside the case mouth, if Berdan primed, three small flash holes will be visible. If Boxer primed, only one, centered, is visible.

Berdan primed ammunition can be reloaded, but it takes special equipment and usually not worth the effort. CCI's Blazer ammunition, the aluminum cased round, uses a special primer that is odd sized to prevent attempts at reloading.

Bob Wright

And, still further:

I cannot say about plastic framed pistols, but I had a friend years ago go hunting up in Maine, taking a then-new Dan Wesson .44 Magnum. He took along some drug-store brand of mosquito repellant, which the locals snorted at in derision. They gave him the proper local stuff.

After being on the stand for awhile, he started to lay the gun down and couldn't. The skeeter repellant had dissolved the coating on the guns grip and literally glued them to his hand. I've had some "Glade" dissolve the finish on shotgun stocks. Also, my binoculars are slowly dissolving.

What are you doing with a plastic framed gun in the woods, anyway?

Bob Wright

Shooting them! :smt068 :smt068

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What are you doing with a plastic framed gun in the woods, anyway?

Bob Wright

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Originally Posted by Bob Wright

...More than you ever wanted to know?
Bob Wright

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No. Thanks much for the details.

Clint

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Originally Posted by kansas_plainsman

Why are there still some firearms manufacturers based in Massecusetts (sp?)?

How do you spell Massecusetts? :mrgreen:

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You spell it Taxsachusetts

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Originally Posted by kansas_plainsman

How do you spell Massecusetts? :mrgreen:

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Mass e two shoes :smt082 :smt082

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Originally Posted by 1911driver

Massachusetts.....!!!!!!!!!! I was born in that state and WILL NOT go back there...

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+1 on that. Moved there when I was three years old, got out four years ago. It goes without saying that the gun laws suck. I get dragged back one week a summer for my wife's family reunion.

BTW to answer one of the original questions, Smith & Wesson is in Springfield, MA.

Is it me, or do people find it ironinc that some of the biggest gun makers are based in states with the strictest gun rules?

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Originally Posted by Todd

+1 on that. Moved there when I was three years old, got out four years ago. It goes without saying that the gun laws suck. I get dragged back one week a summer for my wife's family reunion.

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Do U go kicking and screaming? :p

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Originally Posted by Shipwreck

Do U go kicking and screaming? :p

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Kicking, screaming, whining, stomping my feet, and occasionally, crying.