Conference foundr::firearms

    
    
    	I'd say he's full of cr*p about it dispersing heat better. A fluted
    barrel will cool faster than a non-fluted one, so I would think the
    same would apply for cylinders...
    
    
    	jim

    I'll second on the sales weenie being full of doo-doo.
    
    Surface area is the measure of heat dispersal;  a fluted barrel has
    more surface area, hence will disperse heat more readily. This is the
    reason that radiators have lots of little tubes, rather than one big
    one...
    
    Mr. Science

   The stronger cylinder argument is also BS as the weak point is typically
the distance between the charge holes not the charge hole to the outside of
the cylinder OR the space where a flute is typically cut.  I believe the
cylinder is un-fluted for 2 reasons; 1 is increased weight to dampen recoil and
2 is cost of manufacture as it's 1 (or 6) less operations...

Al

    
    
    	good point Al, although another weak spot is the cutouts for the
    hand that moves the cylinder. In some larger caliber pistols they will
    actually offset these cutouts so they don't lie on top of the charge
    hole.
    
    	jim

    Actualy the salesman wasn't wrong, just not explicite.
    
    Unfluted vs fluted,
    
    When a mass reaches it's peak thermal capacity, it begins to radeate,
    the rate of radeation is effected by surface area howerver the peak
    thermal capacity is a function of mass, that is to say the more mass
    the higher the thermal capacity.
    
    Unfluted will take longer to heat up to it's peak thermal capacity,
    once heated it will radeate at a lower coeficient than a comparable
    fluted cylinder.
    
    So...if we measure time to peak thermal capacitance the unfluted
    cylinder wins the " keep cool " prize, but if we measure rate of
    radeation the fluted cylinder wins the " cool down " prize.
                    
    I guess it depends what measurements we like best and go from there.
    
    Strength,
    
    Given same geometric configurations/machining features for each, the
    unfluted cylinder is stronger ergo more burst resistant, again it's
    simply a mass function over preassure dispersion. The more mass the
    more resistance to the preassure spike/longer impulse duration.
    
    Both are no stronger than thier weakest/thinest cross section however
    the unfluted cylinder has more mass to disperse to/spread the preasure
    impulse over and is more likely to remain intact longer.
    
    Anyway, this is what I know.
    
    Hope it helps
    
    
    
    

re: .44 mag weak points

Don't forget the hand which holds the grips :-}

S & W are famous for making special runs of pistols with 
unfluted cyclinders. I have what is called a 357 magnum
"Classic Hunter" Its special features is 1 of 5000 made
black front site and white outlined adj rear sight. Unfluted
cyclinder and a full lug barrel on an L frame which later
became the model 686. Also the gun is stainless. I know they
have made the classic hunter in 44mag also but not the 41mag.
I was told that the unfluted cyclinder doesn't reflect light
but I really don't believe that. Usually the classic hunters
6" or 8" barrels.

JC

    
     Hi,
    
     I think the biggest advantage of an unfluted cylinder,is a little
    increase in weight,which helps reduce percieved recoil. I like a
    heavy handgun. I have a German copy of a Colt Mod.P,like the Sauer
    copies. You can tell everything was set up for 45 or 44-40,cause this
    guy is in .357,and there is an awful lot of steel between the
    chambers,and it is the heaviest handgun I own. The thing just rolls a
    little with the hotest .357,something which would cause my Mod.66 to
    stand up and take notice,doesn't even wake up this German single
    action.
    
    Joe
    

    Thanks to all who responded.  I found .5 to be particularly
    enlightening.  I have to admit I like the looks of the unfluted
    cylinder, and it would appear that there isn't a huge difference. 
    Recoil reduction is certainly desirable, so I suspect I'll go with
    the unfluted cylinder.
    
    This conference is a *great* source of information, some of which is
    even probably accurate (0,-).

    >  I found .5 to be particularly enlightening.
    
    
    Personally, I found .2 to be witty, insightful, chock full of
    information, and it beat the hell out of .5.
    
    IMHO.

    
    
    	
    	ah, go sniff a floral arrangement....or something....
    
    

    Check out the Colt "Cloverleaf" of the 1870's
    It was like 4 tubes around a pivot pin.
    Ugly SOB (the GUN!!! not any of you!)