Rifle Explosion

[Kevin Cram]

I got a phone call from a friend of mine who was on their way back from elk hunting in Colorado. Apparently on the last day of the hunt they seen some very large bulls and were finally going to get some shooting. I don't know the range but I guess he missed on the first shot and being so excited he threw in the second round only to pull the trigger and here a click. I figured he had a misfire and ejected the shell and threw in the third round. Well apparently he forgot to put powder in the second which is probably why it didn't fire but the primer ignition had enough pressure to apparently push the bullet down the barrel a few inches. When he touched off the third round the gun blew apart. I guess no one was hurt as he grabbed someone else's gun and finished the job. I'm hoping to get to take some pictures of the rifle when he gets home and I will attach them later. It really puts it into perspective how dangerous things can get when one small overlook such as forgetting to put powder in could have cost him his life.

 

[Pdvdh]

It really puts it into perspective how dangerous things can get when one small overlook such as forgetting to put powder in could have cost him his life.

Whoa! Glad he's OK.

Looking forward to seeing the pics. Sounds like it's a big overlook to me. I make it a practice to inspect each case prior to seating the bullets to help ensure they're all powdered to the same height in the cases. It's help me avoid some similar type errors of my own. Reloading time needs to be undisturbed time so we don't overlook the proper and methodical procedures.

 

[RugerM77.270]

You have got to be careful I got my dummy round I use for COAL mixed up with a live round one time and got a bullet stuck in the barrel. It was only my second session of reloading and I had accidently primed my dummy round. Than goodness I was in load development and only loading one at a time and caught my mistake.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

Similar but different story worth remembering:

The guy next to me on the firing line was shooting a T/C Omega muzzleloader. It was in the spring and apparently the first range session for him in the new year.

He measure his powder charge and dumped it down the barrel. Then he started a sabot bullet and drove it home with the ramrod. Put a 209 primer in place and squeezed the trigger. KA-BOOM

Lots of noise, lots of smoke and a considerable amount of recoil. Shooter is VERY surprised by this occurrence but the gun looks OK and the reloading sequence is repeated. When the sabot is driven down onto the new powder charge the guy says "hey - the rod went down much farther this time".

It wasn't long before he & I realized what had caused the KA-BOOM. The muzzleloader, which the guy left loaded between outings last fall had been left fully charged (no primer) all winter while the rifle sat in his gun cabinet. He admitted that he could not remember ever taking the charge out at the end of the year.

On this first day out again he put a second powder charge and a second projectile right on top of the one that was in the bore all winter. KA-BOOM The fact that the gun withstood this level of abuse is a testament to the high strength of T/C's muzzleloaders. The fact that the guy didn't get hurt and that he continued to shoot that rifle was simply amazing.

I guess it's a mistake that anyone could make now that we have new non-corrosive BP substitute powders available and don't have to unload BP rifles that are not fired afield.

 

[Derek M.]

He would have heard more than just a "click" on that second round if the primer sent a bullet into the rifling. If anyone ever pulls a trigger and hears less than the typical report of the rifle but more than just a click, best pay close attention to the ejected hull.

I realize that in the excitment of the hunt, we cannot all remember to examine such details, however, that is still the advice I recommend.

Hopefully, it will never happen again.

 

[Kevin Cram]

I thought too he should have heard more than a click, but I imagine in the excitement the thought never crossed his mind. He shoud be arriving home late tonight or early tommorrow morning. I'm going to try to get some photos of whatever is left later this week and post.

 

[3006savage]

That is a testiment to the action that he was not even injured. What rifle was he shooting anyway.

 

[Kevin Cram]

I'm pretty sure it was a Reminton 700. Lilja barrel chambered in 7mm STW.

 

[7mmSendaro]

Similar but different story worth remembering:

The guy next to me on the firing line was shooting a T/C Omega muzzleloader. It was in the spring and apparently the first range session for him in the new year.

He measure his powder charge and dumped it down the barrel. Then he started a sabot bullet and drove it home with the ramrod. Put a 209 primer in place and squeezed the trigger. KA-BOOM

Lots of noise, lots of smoke and a considerable amount of recoil. Shooter is VERY surprised by this occurrence but the gun looks OK and the reloading sequence is repeated. When the sabot is driven down onto the new powder charge the guy says "hey - the rod went down much farther this time".

It wasn't long before he & I realized what had caused the KA-BOOM. The muzzleloader, which the guy left loaded between outings last fall had been left fully charged (no primer) all winter while the rifle sat in his gun cabinet. He admitted that he could not remember ever taking the charge out at the end of the year.

On this first day out again he put a second powder charge and a second projectile right on top of the one that was in the bore all winter. KA-BOOM The fact that the gun withstood this level of abuse is a testament to the high strength of T/C's muzzleloaders. The fact that the guy didn't get hurt and that he continued to shoot that rifle was simply amazing.

I guess it's a mistake that anyone could make now that we have new non-corrosive BP substitute powders available and don't have to unload BP rifles that are not fired afield.

Don't mean to highjack this thread but I have made this exact same mistake. The only reason I caught it was because I marked my ramrod at the end of the muzzle for my load. When I realized what had happened, it gave me chills but fortunately I caught it. MARK YOUR RAMROD!

 

[Boss Hoss]

Jezzzzz I worry about fools like that when I am on the line during a match -- would hate to die or become a veg because someone was drinking too many beers or watching the game while loading. He might want to seriously evaluate his technique and ensure there are no distractions when loading. That is why I always load the night before the match after everybody has gone to bed and I have the kitchen table all to myself!!

 

[Captn C]

I forgot to check all the cases before seating bullets last week and weighted all the loaded cases...found I had missed one.

Normally I doubt I would have been concerned that I didn't check them, but the wife is hunting with the gun and I know she wouldn't notice what might have happened. That and it being she is hunting with my ex-7mm RUM (hers now she shot two backs last weekend) and I would fear the action not holding up.

I'll be paying closer attention on all my reloading.