Originally Posted By: craigd
But, except for the blowup pictures, there doesn't seem to be much holding the shot in barrel when a shell is lit off.


Inertia holds it in the barrel. The shot continually accelerates until it clears the muzzle. Being acclerated by the wad, the inertia of the shot causes a force on the wad toward the breech. The pressure from the hot gases from the burned / burning powder causes an opposing force on the wad and pushes the wad, and thus the shot, towards the muzzle. The force on the powder side of the wad is much greater than the force caused by the inertia on the other side of the wad. This differences accounts for the extreme acceleration of 0 to 1200fps in two and one half feet.

Last edited by AmarilloMike; 04/13/16 04:01 PM.

I am glad to be here.