Does a flame pig cause the barrel to heat up?

DaveTec · Feb 11, 2011

After 50 rounds, not in rapid fire succession either, the damn flame pig was so hot, I couldn't unscrew it for nearly 5 minutes. Its on a keltec PLR16, and most of that gun is plastic. I'm worried it'll over heat and deform.

Any suggestions? Advice?

RobC · Feb 11, 2011

Your KX3 will generate more back pressure and therefore heat than an A2 flash suppressor or other brakes. Whether or not it will cause the gun damage is up to your rate of fire and the design of the gun. I have gotten my SBRs and silencers hot enough to set grass and wooden shooting benches on fire. I've deformed my gas tube and warped plastic handguards. I have made my KAC NT4 suppressor visibly glow red as a matter of routine. Based on that I would say that it is possible to damage a Keltec's plastic receiver, if you abuse it like I do, but I've never owned or shot one. You might ask at the Keltec forum.

Rob

DaveTec · Feb 14, 2011

Thank you Rob. I will.

english kanigit · Feb 14, 2011

Think of a KX3 as a combustion chamber. Essentially, it's purpose is to keep the explosion generated by the primer and powder within the gun for as long as possible. This is beneficial on very short rifles, say 10" or less, as it can help them operate more reliably. For this reason the KX3 is going to get hot, very hot.

Frankly, there's not much of a reason to run that big chunk of steel on the end of a light weight, 16" rifle. The gun doesn't need it and it may in fact cause excessive wear as the gun will operate harder and quicker due to the increased back-pressure.

YMMV of course.
Ek

DaveTec · Feb 15, 2011

So, by that logic, (longer burn time) can I extrapolate that the velocity of the bullet is also increased? That would be a beneficial use for this thing. Otherwise, I don't see a need for it.

I think I'll use it sparingly, in a situation that would allow for cooling between rounds.

I just can't believe how hot it got, so quickly.

Seadog · Feb 15, 2011

This is kinda off note but I realy like my PLR16. Have a red dot on it and it is amazingly accurate. I had put an old M16 three prong on the end of it to try and tame the flashbut that didnt work, so I just put the factory brake back on it. Some friends and I dumped about 300 or so of thoses cheap russian wolf rounds through it kinda quick and it got WARM. Ive been taking it to the range a bit and am blown away with how accurate this beautiful monstrosity is...

RobC · Feb 15, 2011

Bullets that travel through silencers do generally increase in velocity a bit. This is called free bore boost. It happens because the bullet no longer has the friction of the barrel to slow it down but still has the gas pressure behind it. However, the increase in velocity is usually around 50fps or so. This is also with an average silencer length of 7 or so inches and of course varies with how 'tight' a fit the bullet has as it passes through the baffles. With your KX3 there is only one baffle before the gasses can escape around the bullet. It's also less than an inch from the muzzle. I doubt that it would give you a measurable increase in muzzle velocity.

You might keep in mind that heat is the enemy of your barrel. You can damage or wear out your barrel prematurely with excessive heat. I wrecked an LMT 10.5 inch, chrome-lined, barrel in less than 7,000 rounds with a silencer and an abusive firing schedule.

Rob

DaveTec · Feb 20, 2011

Thanks for the great info RobC!

DaveTec · Feb 20, 2011

Seadog said:
This is kinda off note but I realy like my PLR16. Have a red dot on it and it is amazingly accurate. I had put an old M16 three prong on the end of it to try and tame the flashbut that didnt work, so I just put the factory brake back on it. Some friends and I dumped about 300 or so of thoses cheap russian wolf rounds through it kinda quick and it got WARM. Ive been taking it to the range a bit and am blown away with how accurate this beautiful monstrosity is...

It is VERY accurate. I love mine! Never have had a ftl, ftf, or fte from it yet either.

Does a flame pig cause the barrel to heat up?

DaveTec

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