
Originally Posted by
nogoodnamesleft
That doesn't seem to quite follow. Heavier barrels are known for better accuracy and are better at dissipating heat (larger surface area [Area = pi*r^2*length for a cylinder]). Indeed, aren't machine gun barrels heavier for that very reason -- to dissipate heat?
I think he's saying that they have to be made heavier, to increase rigidity, to dampen the movement of the barrel due to forces applied by the operating system.
Also, your equation is for the volume of a cylinder. Surface area would be pi*2*r*L. I'd have to brush up on my heat transfer to confirm this, but note that the volume increases exponentially with increasing radius, but surface area only linearly. This means you're adding mass (and capacity to retain heat) faster than surface area to cool it. To effectively add surface area you really need aggressive "texturing" like annular fins. It's not that that heavier barrels dissipate heat quicker, but they do take longer to heat up and are more rigid at high temps than an otherwise identical but thinner profile.
--Josh H.
Zombies seek out and eat brains. Don't worry; you'll be safe if they attack.
Bookmarks