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A friend blew up his Savage 99 last week
jimdeere
Member, Moderator Posts: 26,160 ******
He brought it over last Sunday and had an issue with it not ejecting the brass. I measured the brass and he was a few 1000ths over length. He trimmed his brass and loaded Accurate 5744 thinking he was using 3031. Upon firing, it split the fore end and butstock, loosened the barrel, and jammed the action. He only got a black eye from the scope and some shrapnel in his arm.
It was a beautiful gun without a blemish. I hated it for him. He had killed several deer with it over the years.
It looked just like this one.
Comments
That is too bad, glad he is OK.
That’s why I have never taken up reloading. I know my limits, and would most certainly make some sort of catastrophic mistake sooner or later.
He was lucky. Anytime case extraction becomes difficult means to cease and desist especially when shooting reloads.
Reloading is all about attention to detail. IMHO there is no excuse for using the wrong powder.
No radios, or tv in the reloading room, concentrate!
...Agree, glad he only had a minor injury...
...To me, another good reason for ME not to reload, unless you shoot a LOT...it only takes one mistake...family owned small shop by me that has been in business 50+ years, sells guns, new ammo and their reloads...
Well good on him for swallowing his pride and sharing the real story.
Its a good reminder for all of us.
I am glad he will be OK.
I have quite a few 99 Savage rifles. I picked up a .243 and did not want to reload so I bought a box each from the "Big three". The Winchester had sticky extraction and threw a group about 8-9 inches at 100 yards. The Federal was worse and had sticky extraction. I thought I bought a lemon. The Remington I could have easily covered 3 shots with a quarter and the lever popped open with two fingers. You have all probably heard of a receiver "springing". It is quite common with rear locking rifles and heavy loads. Here is a tip: Never buy ammunition from gun shops that reload or use new components. I jammed a 99 Savage HiPower like that. I am pretty sure they used the heavy load for modern bolt action test rifles.
Glad he wasn't hurt worse
Bummer. Glad he will be ok.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I have been reloading since I was knee high. I feel bad for both of you guys. Never assume anything with reloading check an double check. thanks the good lord he did not get killed. an bolt gun might have killed him. That Savage is a very strong action to be blown like that. Pull the rest of the ammo an see if you can find the problem.
If he used 5744 instead of 3031 I think we know the problem.
It is still VERY sound advice to pull the bullets so someone doesn’t find them on a shelf in 20 years and light one off with the same result.
Sad but inexcusable. I had a good friend who blew up a mint Remington 760 in .222. He somehow used ball pistol powder instead of the ball rifle powder he wanted. He loaded one round, then went out in the yard to try it. He always tests new loads while standing behind a large tree and holding the gun on the far side. In this case, it saved him from injury.
It blew the magazine out of the action, bulged the sides of the receiver, swelled and cracked the chamber and turned the forearm into splinters. The locking lugs held. He sent the sorry mess to Remington with a note telling them not to ask questions, just fix it. They did, but he got back a .223; they said they were out of .222 barrels. He paid around what a new rifle cost
They sent back a note saying their lab techs estimated his rifle was subjected to 110 to 120 thousand pounds per squire inch of pressure. Included was a coupon for 10% off on a box of Remington factory ammo.