Author Topic: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?  (Read 1821 times)

Offline David Rase

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Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« on: January 13, 2025, 06:47:44 AM »
A friend of mine took this photo of one of our guys firing his rifle at last Sundays monthly shoot.  Very interesting photo.  If you look closely, and we blew the picture up, you can see that the flame coming out the end of the barrel appears to be spiraling.  Tell me what you think.     


Offline smylee grouch

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2025, 06:55:50 AM »
Almost looks that way. I wonder if you could figure out the twist rate. Maybe I have too much time on my hanfs.  ;D

Offline Daniel Coats

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2025, 04:54:35 PM »
My wild guess is it's a one of a kind photo and man is it cool looking!
Dan

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Offline 45-110

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2025, 05:56:57 PM »
It looks like the whole compressed ignited powder charge cylinder is spinning as it comes out.

Offline JPK

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2025, 05:57:26 PM »
If the flame is indicative of the rifling then he has about a 1 in 12” twist. Neat photo none the less.
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Offline Pukka Bundook

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2025, 06:45:36 PM »
Its like one of those medieval depictions, of where the devil is riding the ball out the muzzle, or not!

Very  neat picture!

Offline Daryl

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2025, 11:47:36 PM »
It is a neat picture, one I've never seen before, although I've seen pictures of muzzle flash.


Daryl

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Offline wolf

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2025, 02:33:45 AM »
it looks like a right hand twist to me!
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Offline Flint62Smoothie

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2025, 03:22:43 PM »
In the photo the barrel is moving, so I’d say it is more an artifact of the barrel movement, than rifling. FWIW I’ve tens of photos of rifle muzzle blasts and none show any spiral effect, nor do any slow motion videos I’ve seen on YouTube.
All of my muzzleloaders will shoot into one ragged hole ALL DAY LONG ... it's just the 2nd or 3rd & other shots that tend to open up my groups ... !

Offline tooguns

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2025, 05:43:19 PM »
IMHO, CGI rate of twist is too fast for a round ball barrel.  but, I could be wrong!
It is best to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove any and all doubt....

Offline Daryl

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2025, 11:06:27 PM »
Certainly looks that way to me as well.
Then notice 2 feet from the muzzle, the rot slows to a round ball twist.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline tooguns

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2025, 05:00:09 PM »
I might be wrong, but wouldn't the flash follow the rot say 1 in 48?
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Offline Daryl

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2025, 01:42:23 AM »
If it followed the rifling, then it should show the ROT. The picture Dave put up shows a VERY fast twist that appears to slow down to almost straight, very quickly.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline taterbug

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2025, 04:02:00 AM »
it may be an artifact of 'digitizing'. 

Offline Dphariss

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #14 on: January 22, 2025, 03:00:48 AM »
It appears to be a very fast twist by the look of it so I thing its something other than that.
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Offline Daryl

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #15 on: January 24, 2025, 04:58:11 AM »
it may be an artifact of 'digitizing'.

My thought, as well as the rate of twist quickly slows down.
Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a spaniel without ears" King George V

Offline Ky-Flinter

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #16 on: January 24, 2025, 06:22:49 AM »
It looks like those bolts of light (?) in Raiders of the Ark, when they opened the Ark!

Very cool picture David.  Maybe it's gain twist?

Ron
« Last Edit: January 24, 2025, 06:25:54 AM by Ky-Flinter »
Ron Winfield

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Offline 5judge

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #17 on: January 25, 2025, 04:54:29 AM »
Believe one can detect the rifling in this shot the muzzle blast of a 7-inch Confederate Brooke rifle speaking at the naval museum at Columbus, Georgia....




Offline Robert Wolfe

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #18 on: January 25, 2025, 05:14:56 PM »
Regardless of it's origin - that twisting fire is very cool. Wonderful picture.
Robert Wolfe
Northern Indiana

Offline tooguns

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Re: Does rifling cause the muzzle flash to spiral?
« Reply #19 on: January 29, 2025, 04:40:11 PM »
He's a which!!! IT'S lightening!
It is best to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one's mouth and remove any and all doubt....