Why is the Nagant 1895 the only gas-sealing revolver?

[jgr_lv]

Another answer to a question nobody asked, IMHO

The Nagant was complicated, and simpler is better, especially for critical gear like a military or police weapon. Contrast the design with the Smith & Wesson Triple Lock and all its descendants and you'll see what I mean. Yes, black powder revolvers were a pain to clean and the Nagant greatly simplifies that task. Yes, revolvers do lose some velocity because of the cylinder gap. For proof of that, my S&W Model 52, an autoloader based on the 9mm S&W Model 39 but modified to shoot .38 Special, will put a squib load with nothing but a primer through a target 7 yards downrange about eight inches lower than a properly loaded midrange target round. (Don't ask how I know that.) The same squib load will probably stick in the barrel of my S&W Mod. 14 revolver. All that said, not many people on the wrong end of a revolver live to complain about the lack of velocity, and not many people use black powder for social purposes. You use modern smokeless powder, cram in a little extra to make up what you lose through the gap and keep shooting. Simple and rugged generally wins the day over complicated and finicky, which is why the Nagant is an historical relic and the S&W DA revolver is still in production.

 

[Onmilo]

Post 26, funny is funny.
The Nagant is waaaay simpler than a S&W double action lockwork, you obviously have never had one completely apart.
Nagant revolvers are still being used in Russia and other countries and can be rented at shooting ranges all over that region.
Caliber and option choices have kept Smith and Wesson revolvers valid.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Anybody know someone who has tried to make a Nagant DA pull as light as possible while maintaining reliable ignition?

 

[MCgunner]

I would suspect more velocity is lost in a high pressure round than in a normal handgun cartridge caliber like .45 Colt or .44 special or .38. I say suspect, but I don't know this. I've read something in the neighborhood of 40-60 fps is lost due to the cylinder gap at best in modern revolvers.

A Nagant would do me no good. The trigger is so awful, i couldn't hit squat with it in SINGLE action, let alone double action. The miserable trigger is reason enough to me.

 

[Ranb]

I own/shoot a suppressed 1895 Nagant. It is a joke, but still fun to shoot.

Ranb

 

[Sailct41]

Load Data Anyone

I was intrigued by the crono comment but can find nothing in the few books I own. I have a bunch of boxes of the PPU and have fired it a few times. Now it is in the back of the safe waiting for the time when I say "That one needs a good cleaning. might as well shoot it first!" If someone were to point out that hot load data and a gunsmith that could lower the trigger pull I might put it closer to the front. Anyone?