Cannelure

Function

In the Minié ball the purpose of the cannelure is to hold a lubricant. Cannelures for this purpose are commonly called "grease grooves" or "lubrication (lube) grooves" or just "grooves" by bullet casters (see the glossary of firearms technical terminology maintained by SAAMI). The lubricant reduces metal fouling by lead that is rubbed off the projectile and onto the bore by friction. It also reduces the rate of bore fouling by black powder residue.

While bullet setback can be a problem with any self-loading gun, it can also be a problem with bolt-action rifles if the cartridges used are rimmed or semi-rimmed and are not positioned in a magazine so that the topmost cartridge can move freely into the chamber, without catching on and moving the cartridge below it. If this happens the lower cartridge may have its bullet damaged and also setback into the cartridge creating a dangerous problem. It is also a concern in guns with tubular magazines, such as lever-action rifles, as the column of cartridges in the magazine compress the feed spring that can bounce during recoil, thereby slapping the cartridges against each other's noses. Dropping a rifle with a tubular magazine can also inflict a damaging inertial pounding on the noses of the cartridges within it.

Revolvers that have heavy recoil (and even some that do not if used with poorly crimped cartridges) can have their bullet move forward out of the case. Once they move far enough, the cylinder movement will be stopped by the protruding bullet.

Setback

Bullet setback describes the condition when the bullet is seated deeper inside the cartridge case than it should be. In cartridges, the cannelure is a band pressed into the case which helps prevent cartridge setback when the case mouth is properly crimped onto the cannelure. Bullet setback of .1" can increase pressure beyond safe limits and possibly cause a catastrophic failure.

File:BasesOfFullMetalJacketBullets.png|The first 3 of these rifle bullets have cannelures File:Tamisier cannelures.jpg|Minie Ball with 3 Cannelures

File:Glaser Powerball Cartridges with Case Cannelure.jpg|Glaser Powerball with cannelured cases File:9 x 19mm Cartridge, Bullet Setback.jpg|9×19mm Parabellum with bullet setback by 1.2 mm

References

External reference

• Revolver that exploded, note the position of the bullet
• https://newatlas.com/compbullets-faster-with-vents/20806/
• https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2011/12/06/bullet-compensator-compbullet/

References

1. "cannelure". thefreedictionary.com.
2. "Crimping". exteriorballistics.com.
3. "Glossary of Firearms Terms". Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute.
4. "Handgun Cartridge Crimping". massreloading.com.
5. "Cannelure". hallowellco.com.
6. "Cartridges Rims: Rimmed vs. Semi-Rimmed vs. Rimless vs. Belted vs. Rebated - Part III".
7. "Sport Handgun Revolver Bullet". Nosler.
8. (2001). "The Gun Digest Book of the 1911". Gun Digest Books.