[TheForge] Just watched the Mythbusters try to shatter hammers

[dann at wctatel.net]

The same show that they did the hammers, they tried to shoot a 9mm glock
auto bullet into a 38 special revolver chamber.  Then initially they said
that it didn't work because the 9mm was larger diameter than the 38
special.  Made me grin and want to write in.  9 mms are 2 thousands
Smaller than 38's. I went out for a beer to drink about then, and by the
end of the segment, they did "prove the myth".

9mm are supposed to be sized .356 diameter, being forced into a barrel
bore sized .355 . 38 special are supposed to be sized .358 being forced
down a barrel bore of .357.   Nothing is perfect, and manufacturing can be
off a few thousands.. <grins> mythbusters missed the mark on that part of
the show as well.

Final point in case is that many Rugar Blackhawk - Single Six ( cow boy
style handguns came with both a  357 mag / 38 special cylinder and an
interchangeable  9mm cylinder.

That plus their hammer fiasco makes me more skeptical about their other
shows.

Dann

> Thus Spake Mike Linn (bamablacksmith at comcast.net):
>>
>> Part of the problem is that they were rehardning their hammers using a
>> BBQ
>> grill and a pile of charcoal briquets..I dont think they got their
>> hammer
>> heads to critical, then they quenched in used motor oil under the guise
>> of
>> infusing carbon into the steel to make it harder. They just dropped the
>> head into a pan of oil, no swishing or anything. If anything they made
>> the
>> heads softer than they were when they started.
>>
>> Heat them to critical, and water quench them, then all you have to do is
>> drop it on the floor to watch it shatter...
>>
>> mike
>>
>>
> Exactly what I was thinking, or given the state of modern tools,
> possibly watch them shatter in the quench, or if they're still too soft,
> superquench.
>
> The bad metalurgy on this particular episode has me wondering if anyone
> associated with the show knows anything about heat treating, or if they
> were deliberately giving out misinformation to avoid lawsuits.
>
> --doug
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