Esoteric technical question about gun barrels

[nrshida]

With short recoil operated self-loading pistols, are there drawbacks to the cycling operation with a heavier barrel? Are different strength recoil springs needed?

I've tried to research on YouTube the problem there being too much information in a related area (match barrels etc).

[1stpar3]

I am no gunsmith, but just an AVID shooter/collector. I may be wrong but in my experience ITS the Recoil Spring that controls the cycling of next rounds. I have a Glock that I "Sporterized"  with Fluted barrel, its much heavier and longer with the ports extending past the stock, bore end of the slide. It works just fine with either the STOCK spring,or the one that came with the new barrel. The spring that came with the new barrel was to make recoil a bit less in conjunction with the ports, and vice versa with STOCK barrel and new spring...so..

[nrshida]

Thank you, that's probably enough to proceed on. Does the HB Glock now have softer perceived recoil due to the increased mass?

[1stpar3]

While my after market, Ported barrel isnt really what I would call a HEAVY Barrel...it is heavier(of coarse).When I think of Heavy Barrel,I tend to think of more a "BULL" barrel like some target riffles have.   I Think the reduction in recoil is quite noticeable, especially with just the STOCK spring. I didnt like the one that came with the Ported barrel, it was almost not enough to fully return to FULL BATTERY. It would leave a small bit of play in the slide..after 1 or 2 trigger pulls to zero affect..and having to bump the slide forward....I quit using it. The extra length of the barrel and the Top Ported nature of the barrel keep muzzle flip real low. I can really chew up the ammo with that pistol   I also have a full size Glock 35 in .40 S&W competition set up. The barrel is slightly heavier but they kept the weight down by having the top of the "Slide" cut out...almost 1/2 the length of the barrel. The barrel is about an inch longer also. So feels the same weight actually. The spring is a bit better as well. The recoil in the .40 is pretty close to the recoil of the 9mm I talked about earlier. I like the .40 alot better though...thats what I carry. Its bigger and harder to conceal, but i have better confidence with the .40.

[Maverick]

The recoil spring is the key element to the safe operation of your semi pistol. It has to provide enough resistance to allow gas pressure to fall off to a safe level before pulling the slide past the point where the case is being extracted from the chamber. With the exception of a fixed barrel, the slide and barrel will move as one during this process until the barrel link or cutout hits the stop that levers it down and stops rearward travel.

[nrshida]

Ah this is exactly the issue I was trying to find out about. I had gathered with short recoil that it was the inertia of the slide and barrel locked together which allowed the projectile to leave the barrel before the action began to cycle. Watching high speed footage (over 70,000 fps) it almost looks like the reaction to the bullet is impulsed through the barrel and transmitted to the slide (when locked)?

I've noticed a lot of race guns reduce slide mass, presumable to speed up the cycling of the action?

[1stpar3]

Ah this is exactly the issue I was trying to find out about. I had gathered with short recoil that it was the inertia of the slide and barrel locked together which allowed the projectile to leave the barrel before the action began to cycle. Watching high speed footage (over 70,000 fps) it almost looks like the reaction to the bullet is impulsed through the barrel and transmitted to the slide (when locked)?

I've noticed a lot of race guns reduce slide mass, presumable to speed up the cycling of the action?

You are correct, Sir. That was the whole purpose behind my G 35's cut out slide top. The mechanics are quite awesome when you think about it! Sort of like the early man could figure out witch "rock or clay in Copper situation" you could throw into a fire to get Cast Iron or other type stuff! Guess GEEKS and NERDS are an timeless commodity? 

[nrshida]

The balance between mass, impulse, timing and their mechanical application is indeed subtle and impressive. John Moses Browning was a design genius in my opinion. Although he did rather exhaust most of the interesting opportunties for solutions. The nerd. 

[1stpar3]

  Ok....IF we follow NERD or read NERD, does that make us GEEKS?