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gunblowup pics
pulsarnc
Member Posts: 6,256 ✭✭✭✭
as promised here are the pics of my weatherbyhttp://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/camera5114.jpg/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/820/camera5114.jpg/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/camera5103.jpg/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/339/camera5107.jpg/http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/88/camera5116.jpg/ I also consulted with a gunsmith who agrees that there was no barrel obstruction He was an army marksman ship team member and teaches gunsmithing at an area college.He had no explanation and neither do I
cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war.....
Comments
A barrel obstruction normally ruptures the barrel with little or no harm to the action. A blown receiver like this is a sign of a gross overload, soft casehead, or the elusive "detonation." The barrel may be undamaged.
Best.
has one week-end a year for PUBLIC SIGHTING-IN days. We had a blowup close to this years ago . Guy had a bolt action Mauser type rifle in 30/06 and a marlin in 35 Remington . mixed up his reloaded cartridges. KABOOM. after that we now check ammo against each gun only one gun per shooter then move to the back of the line. We used to allow one shooter to come to the line with any number of guns.
All I can figure is,....
1. double charge
2. detonation
3. oversized projectile
Can you post more pictures? Some close ups of the bolt, bolt lugs and the chamber area.....
And the barrel....the chamber end.
Did that take any hide off'ya?
U gonna levy a heavy law sute?
I'm happy that the only major damage was to the rifle. You may not believe it but your a lucky man.
If you look at the bolt it was venting a LOT of gas it almost looks plasma burned. I am still suspecting a double charge.
+1
is there anything currently in the bore[?]
First all thanks to all for the kind thoughts and well wishes thanks to God I was not seriously hurt. TO answer some of the obvious questions #1 no barrel obstruction found in fact gunsmith says barrel could easily be reused . #2 The only bullets on hand were all .30cal as I own nothing larger. I was weighing every charge as I loaded .Do not think I double charged but I guess anything is possible.I have been in contact with the powder company and will be sending them some of the loads for inspection /testing maybe we will figure it out eventually
Glad you're not too damaged. Please let us know of any results you may get.
You used (IIRC) a 29-gr charge. I just tested it, and 58 grains of A5744 fills a .30-06 case right to the base of the neck. You'd have felt nothing odd while seating a bullet.
The more I consider this, the more I gravitate to the opinion that you somehow must have double-charged a case. A distraction, a simple mental lapse, something...
You used (IIRC) a 29-gr charge. I just tested it, and 58 grains of A5744 fills a .30-06 case right to the base of the neck. You'd have felt nothing odd while seating a bullet.
BINGO!
The pressures required to shatter a modern receiver with modern metallurgical chemistry, heat treating and quality control are mind boggling. The pressures would have to be off the chart to do that much damage to a gun. The fact the bolt lugs held fast probably save your life.
Again, thank the Lord above you are in one piece and the gun took the hit. WOW!
The more I consider this, the more I gravitate to the opinion that you somehow must have double-charged a case. A distraction, a simple mental lapse, something...
You used (IIRC) a 29-gr charge. I just tested it, and 58 grains of A5744 fills a .30-06 case right to the base of the neck. You'd have felt nothing odd while seating a bullet.
Thanks, Rocky.
I was pretty sure it was possible, but did not say anything because I don't have the brass or powder to experiment with.
Did anybody notice that the trigger might still be good?[;)][:D]
[:D][:D]
Maybe the recoil pad could be salvaged too?[:I]
quote:Originally posted by sandwarrior
Did anybody notice that the trigger might still be good?[;)][:D]
[:D][:D]
Maybe the recoil pad could be salvaged too?[:I]
Yep, that too, all the recoil went down or up. I'm not thinking the shooters pants would be worth salvaging though....[xx(][xx(]....[;)][:D]
You lucky man [;)]
quote:Originally posted by oneoldsap
The question begging to asked is , why would anyone use such a fast burning powder in a .30 Cal. rifle ! . Althought you don't mention the actual chambering , so we're left to assume .308 Win. or 30-06 , neither of which works for beans with a half full case ! Your velocity readings must have been very low on the ones you did record ? The lesson here is , select powders that fill the case to at least 80% of capicity . Double charging will be impossible , and these powders will produce the best velocity . This is something an experienced reloader should know , for his own safety , and those around him at the range or wherever ! Oh that sphincter muscle tightening is known as shock .
The question begging to asked is , why would anyone use such a fast burning powder in a .30 Cal. rifle ! . Althought you don't mention the actual chambering , so we're left to assume .308 Win. or 30-06 , neither of which works for beans with a half full case ! Your velocity readings must have been very low on the ones you did record ? The lesson here is , select powders that fill the case to at least 80% of capicity . Double charging will be impossible , and these powders will produce the best velocity . This is something an experienced reloader should know , for his own safety , and those around him at the range or wherever ! Oh that sphincter muscle tightening is known as shock .
Oneoldsap,
5744 is often used in reduced recoil loads. Wisdom shows many of us though, what you have stated. Picking a powder that will substantially fill more than half a case.
When my 257 Wby blew up, I lost an estimated 3-4 pints of blood, was Lifeflighted to the closest trauma center, required almost 6 hours surgery, had my jaw wired shut for 8 weeks, and still have a lot of nerve damage that makes my face look like I've had a stroke.
My error was not having the Enfield action magnafluxed before installing the new barrel.
The question begging to asked is , why would anyone use such a fast burning powder in a .30 Cal. rifle ! . Althought you don't mention the actual chambering , so we're left to assume .308 Win. or 30-06 , neither of which works for beans with a half full case ! Your velocity readings must have been very low on the ones you did record ? The lesson here is , select powders that fill the case to at least 80% of capicity . Double charging will be impossible , and these powders will produce the best velocity . This is something an experienced reloader should know , for his own safety , and those around him at the range or wherever ! Oh that sphincter muscle tightening is known as shock .
XM-5744 is burned by the ton safely pushing cast lead bullets in rifle cases. It is a "go-to" powder for cast bullet shooting.
Another very popular powder for cast bullets in the 30-06 is Unique. About 16 grains of Unique shooting a 170 grain plus cast bullet has proven time after time to be a great load, accurate and powerful enough to kill deer out to 100 yards. At 16 grains you could over charge the case by several charges and still not fill the case to the neck.
A double charge is a double charge; Unique, Red Dot, 2400 or 5744, the pressures are going to Mars and nothing good is going to happen when the firing pin ignites the primer.
Did you get a chronograph reading on the shot that caused the blow-up? If so, how did it compare to the previous readings?
Did the chronograph get a reading?
I suspect double charge of powder! (the factory cautions about double loads when using 5744)
I've used 5744 in several rifles of several calibers, for example 30-06, 7mm Rem mag, 7mm WBY magnum, 270, 223's for reduced loads, reduced recoil for several years. (the reduced load data for 5744 that I use comes from reloading manuals or factory recommendations)
I'm very careful and keep a heads up alert, knowing that a double charge could be easily overlooked until the trigger is pulled!The 223's are very accurate to 75 yards reduced loads are used at 22 mag velocities and 22 mag sound levels for squirrel hunting. (can use same gun at high velocities for varmits (coyotes) and low velocities for squirrel hunting)
On my regular Hunting rifle loads I start testing and normally select powders that fill the case to 80% or more for at least two reasons, first usually the most consistently accuracy is found with the slower burning powders and also lessens the chance of a double charge!
I agree, that is a TON of gas venting down the magazine well. The OP has stated that the chrono gave 3 readings for the 3 prior rounds,..so I guess we can eliminate a bore obstruction.
All I can figure is,....
1. double charge
2. detonation
3. oversized projectile
You cannot eliminate bore obstruction, unless you know for sure the bullet the shooter was using, was not gas checked. We do know, if I remember the original post correctly, that these were reduced loads with lead bullets. Being a rifle, of moderate velocity for lead loads, it most likely had a gas check. The gas check could have, fell off and obstructed the bore, while the rest of the bullet, went on to exit the barrel, and cross the chronograph. Seen it happen before in a friends Colt Python.
Best