Hot loads more reliable in European guns? H&K and Glock

Moishe Appelbaum

unread,

Mar 11, 2002, 7:53:04 AM3/11/02

to

I heard that a slightly hotter load will be more reliable in European
handguns such as the H&K and the Glock. Is this true? What are NATO
standards for ammunition?

BTW,
If you are Asian in the Kitchen, African in the living room and Middle
Eastern in the Bedroom, what are you in the bathroom?

European

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Learn about rec.guns at http://doubletap.cs.umd.edu/rec.guns

Clark Magnuson

unread,

Mar 12, 2002, 7:56:51 AM3/12/02

to

The momentum of the bullet and gas are used to cycle the action.
Much of this momentum is lost and does not appear as momentum of the
slide with respect to the frame. This is because:
1) the barrel stops short
2) the coupling of momentum to the hand via the recoil spring during
slide rearward movement [the stiffer the spring, the more of this
effect]

Someone with a wimpy load, stiff recoil spring, low mass hand, and
relaxed muscles may be accused of "limp wristing" when their pistol
jams. Going to a hotter load of lighter recoil spring may solve that
problem and thus may get your higher reliability rating at the expense
of more slide stop to frame shock coupled to the hand.

Because the recoil spring slows the slide down AND couples momentum to
the hand, the recoil spring force changes are doubly effective, where as
load momentum changes are singularly effective. AND because the range of
recoil springs available is greater than the range of load momentums,
the recoil spring may be the thing to adjust for reliability.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&selm=9muhaf%24b5v%241%40xring.cs.umd.edu

Clark Magnuson

unread,

Mar 12, 2002, 7:57:01 AM3/12/02

to

The momentum of the bullet and gas are used to cycle the action.
Much of this momentum is lost and does not appear as momentum of the
slide with respect to the frame. This is because:
1) the barrel stops short
2) the coupling of momentum to the hand via the recoil spring during
slide rearward movement [the stiffer the spring, the more of this
effect]

Someone with a wimpy load, stiff recoil spring, low mass hand, and
relaxed muscles may be accused of "limp wristing" when their pistol
jams. Going to a hotter load of lighter recoil spring may solve that
problem and thus may get your higher reliability rating at the expense
of more slide stop to frame shock coupled to the hand.

Because the recoil spring slows the slide down AND couples momentum to
the hand, the recoil spring force changes are doubly effective, where as
load momentum changes are singularly effective. AND because the range of
recoil springs available is greater than the range of load momentums,
the recoil spring may be the thing to adjust for reliability.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&selm=9muhaf%24b5v%241%40xring.cs.umd.edu

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter McMullen

unread,

Mar 12, 2002, 8:15:46 AM3/12/02

to

Moishe Appelbaum wrote:

# I heard that a slightly hotter load will be more reliable in European
# handguns such as the H&K and the Glock. Is this true? What are NATO
# standards for ammunition?
#
#

The story is that Euopean semi-autos are designed to be operated with
higher pressure loads than that generated by many average American
cartridges. Can't confirm or deny this story one way or the other. I've
used average power FMJ in my H&K USP 45, and my Walther, without any stove
pipes or jams.

:o)