Always wear Eye Protection

[Underdude]

While doing a little shooting in Nevada this morning I witnessed my first burst bbl.
Dad was firing his Glock 27 and on the fifth round the it happened. Metal shot skyward and other parts went in all directions. Aside from a sore hand and a deep scratch on his goggles all is well. I have pictures and will post them when I return home.
Please always be careful.

 

[C_Carson]

Eek, glad he's okay!!!

 

[Underdude]

Yes he is.
Thank you.

 

[C_Carson]

Out of curiosity, what ammo were y'all shooting?

 

[Underdude]

Forgot to list that.
Winchester White Box 155gr FMJ

 

[Frost]

Damn!
Sucks that had to happen.
I'm glad your dad is ok.

Was it a factory barrel?
I wonder if Winchester is going to do anything for you?

 

[Clicker]

So what was the deal - squib round stuck in the barrel followed by another round? That's the only thing I can imagine causing such a failure.

 

[Underdude]

That's what we think, a squib.
It was the factory barrel. He's going to contact Glock and Winchester today.
His hand is just sore today. Anyone witnessed this type of thing before?

 

[C_Carson]

We had a squib with our Bersa .380 shooting Monarch ammo (made in Serbia, probably reloaded since it was pretty cheap stuff) and noticed it only because it made a funny "poomf" sound. Had to use a cleaning rod to "encourage" it all the way out of the barrel. Hope Glock/Winchester can do something for your dad; that really sucks. How bad is the damage to the gun?

 

[Underdude]

The extractor disappeared, top portion of half the barrel is gone, recoil spring blew in two pieces, and the plastic part of the trigger exploded. Front part of the slide lifted off the frame and is completely stuck fast. There was no damage at all to the frame of magazine. He decided to leave it as is and not try and disassemble it.

 

[Dirk Pitt]

I've had a bulged barrel in my Beretta 92F that was ether from shooting through a squib or rounds that were to hot.

My uncle had a smith model 10 blow up on him once when shooting factory ammo. Bit that was years ago I don't know if the ammo company replaced it or of he just did.

 

[Clicker]

I know a guy that blew up a Glock 20, but it was his reloads not factory ammo.
Didn't split the barrel just wrecked the frame. The load was way over pressure which caused the failure - not a squib round.

 

[PCShogun]

That is what scares me about reloads. Nearly all failures like this that I have read about have been from reloads. Yours is the first from factory ammo.

Had a guy next to me firing a .357 revolver, BANG!, BANG! Pfft...

I gave him a funny look and noticed him taking the slack up on the trigger for another shot. Just as I started to dive under the table, he realized something about that last round sounded funny and eased up. The bullet was about 2 inches down his 5 inch barrel. Again, a reload.

 

[Underdude]

I've been reloading now nearly 15 years and have done it for a living almost 2 years without any issues. Whenever possible I use powders that would overflow if double charged. Just in 9mm and 40 I've loaded maybe over 100,000 rounds. I have had 3 rounds that the primer ended up backwards and 2 rounds with a cracked case but I inspect every round before I box them up. Also I only reload calibers I use so I get to test them all. All these precautions slow me down but I'd rather deal with that than the other.

 

[Clicker]

So you hold a type 06 FFL?

 

[Underdude]

Is this a test?

 

[Clicker]

No test, at least I didn't think so. Just nice to know where people stand and what skill sets they possess.

 

[Pops]

I always get nervous the first time a take a new gun to the range, even a factory new gun.
I know these kinds of things can happen, but I'v neve see it first hand.

I'm just learning to do my own hand loads, I hope I can maintain the kind of dicipline underdude mentions when I work.

I saw Frost shoot some of his home loads in a Ruger RedHawk many years ago. The cinder block walls of the building were bowed out after a few cylinders. The guys in the gunshop up front looked around at the customers and tried to comfort them.

Pops

 

[Underdude]

No test, at least I didn't think so. Just nice to know where people stand and what skill sets they possess.

Sorry then, seemed like I was being called out. There is always mistrust when using someones reloads.
No offense, but I avoid questions like yours, right or wrong.
I will explain myself to customers though.

 

[Clicker]

Well first off I'm an avid reloader so I doubt I'll ever be a customer. I guess that means you won't explain yourself to me.

Most folks in business take every opportunity to toot their own horns yet this is the first time you have mentioned your ammo biz.

That said this thread has developed an odd feel to it (for me at least) and now you're taking a defensive tact. Hope I'm wrong and perhaps you can offer some expertise in the reloading arena cuz I could use some input on 308 subsonic loads with Trailboss about now.