What Bell wrote about Burrard and Thomas was indeed out of context--and incorrect. He has Thomas disagreeing with Burrard and offering proof that long shells don't cause a problem in short chambers.
That's what I said!!
Nowhere does he write "Burrard should have said".
You best re-read all your copies of Thomas, because that is EXACTLY what he did say. I no longer have access to the book it was in so can't quote you exact passage. Was offered first dibs on the book & if I didn't buy was going to E-Bay. It went to E-Bay.
"When a true 2 3/4" cartridge is fired in a 2 1/2" chamber the pressure is increased for two separate and distinct reasons: (1) the length of the loaded cartridge is exactly the same as that of the actual chamber and so, when the turnover is opened on firing the mouth of the case is prevented from opening completely by the chamber cone; . . . " Thomas is correct in straightening out that issue: " . . . the main danger arises, not from the constriction when the cartridge is fired, but from the fact that the longer-cased cartridges he had in mind invariably carried heavier loads; . . . "
When Burrard wrote this all the "True 2 3/4" cases were loaded to the higher intensity & also put up in roll crimp cases. What Sir Gerald was speaking of was the distinct possibility of the loaded shell being squeezed into the cone prior to firing, which even today I fell should not be recommended.
When the fold crimp was introduced extensive studies were done on putting the satandard 2½" load in a 2 3/4" case with the crimp closure. This made the loaded shell shorter & it did not extend into the cone until after opening upon firing. Burrard gave a full report on this at the time it was taking place. This was a report on a "New Condition" not a correction of "Wrong" data.
" Thomas is correct in straightening out that issue: "
Neither Burard, Thomas nor Bell "Straightened Out" that issue. It was correct as written & still is to this day. There "IS" a potential of dangerous pressures being developed if a shell long enough to enter the cone prior to firing is used. This gives a very similar effect to an extra heavy crimp requiring much more force to open it. Pressure is rising at an astronomical rate as the powder begins to burn, but before the shot actually starts to move. Even a very, very short delay in that initial movement can prove catastrophic.
The propblem is "Both" Thomas & Bell took those statements of Burrard's (which were & are correct) totally out of their context & said He flatly condemned any use of the longer case in a shorter chamber. If you don't believe that my friend you just haven't understood what they said.
