A few questions on pistol design

[PhilB]

I'm a mechanical engineer and think about the design of mechanical devices all the time. I guess it's one of the reasons I like guns, as well as hand-wound wrist watches.

I was thinking about the design of most auto-loading pistols. There is a common design concept that uses a moving slide external to the barrel and a barrel that is floating, which tilts as the slide moves back. One of the exceptions to this concept is the Ruger Mark series pistols. They use a barrel fixed to the grip frame and a moving bolt within the barrel and receiver.

To me, the Ruger design is quite elegant. The bolt is positively guided, the sights don't move with respect to the barrel and the bolt is much lighter and easier to cycle than a slide.

So now I'm wondering why other pistols aren't designed like the Ruger. Patents? Cost? Is there some mechanical reason why larger-caliber pistols can't use this design; grip angle, bullet geometry for loading, etc.? Are there any centerfire pistols that run like a Ruger?

--Phil

[imashooter2]

There are two basic methods of operation in an auto pistol. Blowback and recoil. Blowback is generally used for low powered cartridges. The weight of the slide and the power of the spring keep the chamber sealed until the pressure impulse passes. Recoil is used for higher pressure / power rounds. In recoil operation, the breech face and barrel are locked and move back slightly together until the pressure impulse has passed, then the breech unlocks from the barrel and the slide continues back to eject the case.

There are centerfire pistols that run like the Ruger .22's. Mostly pocket autos in .25 ACP, .32 ACP and .380 ACP. A few straight blowback guns exist in larger calibers. Hi-Points are an example.

[Arrdy]

Let's not forget Newton's 1st law.

The heavier slide along with a properly calibrated spring will reduce recoil and battering of the frame. While the rate of fire will increase , with less mass the gun will be less controllable because of the increase recoil.

Like any engineering project it's a tradeoff.

[zackattack784]

Try these two links, they may help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recoil_operation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blowback_(arms)

[PhilB]

Like any engineering project, it's a tradeoff.

That's for sure! Thanks to all for the patient replies to a novice.

--Phil