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Wrecked my Gold Cup Yesterday

butbut Member Posts: 113 ✭✭
edited August 2002 in General Discussion
Yesterday was a bad day for me. I took my pre 70 series Gold Cup to the range and was shooting some old reloads (230 FMJ, 5.5 W231) when I had a major cartridge failure. Got some gas in the face and in the hand and that's about it for me, the gun on the other hand was totally locked up with a 1/8" gap between the slide and frame on left side. Removed the barrel bushing and looked down with flashlight and could see barrel had split from the chamber to about half way up. Slide is bulged slightly and frame is dished on one side. I'm sick to say the least. I've had this gun for 20 years and it still looked like new and shot like it was new. My smith is going to see what he can do with it but he already told me that he doesn't work miracles but might be able to do something with it. I'm totally bummed. Thanks for listening to me ramble.
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Comments

  • kgnovumkgnovum Member Posts: 594 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Wow! What a shame. Even if it cannot be restored/repaired, maybe you can clean it up well, find a good enclosed frame, make a gold plaque commerating the date, time and event - and you'll have great memories of the gun and the time you spent shooting it over the years. KG
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  • HAIRYHAIRY Member Posts: 23,606
    edited November -1
    At least you didn't get hurt. Thank goodness for that.

    It's not what you know that gets you in trouble, it's what you know that just ain't so!
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  • lokdok1lokdok1 Member Posts: 383 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey but!
    It's a good thing that you still have your eyesight!You can't read any of these posts if your blind.That plaque thing from knovum sounds like an interesting idea. I'd look into that.Again, i'ts good your not hurt.

    Bartman
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  • lokdok1lokdok1 Member Posts: 383 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Oh, yeah... too bad about the Gold Cup, wish I had one!
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  • Richie RichRichie Rich Member Posts: 439 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    yea, and it would suck typing with a straw in your mouth.. you are lucking and should be glad only the weapon was damaged as tragic as it is. The idea of a case is a good idea.

    Remember,"your woman may not find you handsome, But atleast she'll find ya handy". I love that show..............
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  • snarlgardsnarlgard Member Posts: 1,310 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You should frame it (as is)
    as the lucky day it was
    How many can say they blew up a gun like this with no injurys

    SMILE...MAKE EM WONDER WHAT YOUR UP TO
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thats such a sad story. Chicken soup for the gun lover's soul. Makes me want to cry.

    If I'm wrong please correct me, I won't be offended.

    The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house fatser than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !
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  • punchiepunchie Member Posts: 2,792 ✭
    edited November -1
    I agree with snarlgard. Glad you are ok even if you did have to use up a couple of years of good luck.

    AN ARMED SOCIETY IS A POLITE SOCIETY
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  • nunnnunn Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 36,085 ******
    edited November -1
    Send it to Colt. They may deny the warranty claim because of reloads, but it can't hurt.

    SIG pistol armorer/FFL Dealer/Full time Peace Officer, Moderator of General Discussion Board on Gunbroker. Visit www.gunbroker.com, the best gun auction site on the Net! Email davidnunn@texoma.net
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  • Matt45Matt45 Member Posts: 3,185
    edited November -1
    Wow- I'm truly sorry to hear that, I bulged a barrel in my Dad's 1911A1 when I was younger and just learning to re-load- I had my scale on an un-even surface and was throwing between 6.3 and 6.9 grains of Win 231, (I think 6.2 is max published for 230Gr Lead RN). No major damage other than to the barrel which wedged the slide open about 1/4". Replaced the barrel with a Colt NM and all has been well since, except that I am still not allowed to touch that particular pistol.

    Reserving my Right to Arm Bears!!!!

    Edited by - Matt45 on 08/13/2002 10:06:37
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  • BufflerBuffler Member Posts: 821 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Have you thought about give/donate parts to Gunsmith/s we live
    for this stuff!!! BE SAFE!!! Buffler
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  • Shootist3006Shootist3006 Member Posts: 4,171
    edited November -1
    Sounds like a good news/bad news joke. Good news is you weren't hurt - bad news....what a bummer.

    Quod principi placuit legis habet vigorem.Semper Fidelis
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  • JudgeColtJudgeColt Member Posts: 1,790 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank goodness you were not hurt. I think the pistol can be saved if the damage is slight as you seem to describe. A press, some hardwood blocks, maybe some jigs and patience can work wonders. The slide will be relatively easy to repair, but the frame being bowed in will be a lot tougher fix. That might take making some jigs or the like to apply pressure to the necessary place on the frame. I assume the frame bow is in the magazine well area, which will allow working from the bottom and the other side to a degree.

    Seeing Dr. Pig mention a damaging load with nine grains of Unique reminds me of an article in Guns & Ammo (in the late 1960s or early 1970s - I think I have it somewhere) about maximum loads for the .45ACP where the loads were OVER nine grains using 185-grain bullets! (The light bullets are the only reason these loads did not destroy anything. Before getting cold feet, I loaded a box and actually fired the maximum load with no damage to myself, the gun or cases, but I used new Remington target cases with their much thicker web. I am not so brave, or foolish, today.) I doubt that such ultra-maximum loads would get by the editors these days. Liability was not so much of an issue in those days.
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  • butbut Member Posts: 113 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for your replys guys. My gunsmith has it right now for a damage accessment but I not expecting good news. I'm still bummed, like I lost a limb or something but I guess this will eventually pass.

    Saxon--- I don't know what happened yet. I'm hoping to learn something when my smith gets it apart. A double charge?...possibly, but I don't think so. My thoughts are case failure which I hate to say might be my fault. I was using old cases (70's & 80's vintage)and lost track long ago how many times they were reloaded. Even though I inspect every case before loading it's possible when got by me. The sad part is I was going to use up this ammo and then toss the cases because I knew they were well past their prime. I going to disassenble the remaining ammo to salvage the bullets.

    Buffler---That's a good idea if it turns out to be unserviceable, it would make many brownie points with my smith.
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  • ReloaderReloader Member Posts: 10 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Clean it up real nice and sell it to some unsuspecting loser at a gun show.
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