Exploding Handgun

[gun toting monkeyboy]

First, I would have taken it straight to the people at the range, and showed them what happened. If you walked out, I would say you are SOL. There is not really any way for you to prove that it happened there and happened with their ammo at this late date. It sucks, but that's just the way things are.

Second, I would Advise that You Learn how to use Capitalization when you are Writing Posts. Because it is Very Distracting when You use It Wrong. It Tends to Lower your Credibility as a Poster.

-Mb

[Citadelgrad87]

So if you're doing a competition, or a drill that involves rapid fire...how is the user supposed to stop when a squib happens. Based on the fact that you can't always avoid firing after a squib....I'd say the range that made/sold the defective ammo is more than 50% at fault here......

But this guys wasn't in a competition. The round was undeniably defective. It was a known reload. Shooter needs to pay very close attention. In fact, he noticed it.

[ambiguous216]

OP glad you are ok. What brand reloads were you using?

[1st Generation Gun Owner]

When I did the ejection just a shell case came out, I dropped the Mag rack the pistol 2 to 3 time to make sure all was clear...I will try to post some pictures asap....

It just had a Strange Pop not like a normal round being fired

When that happens, wait 30 seconds, holding the gun in a safe direction as it may fire. Then clear the gun normally, plus check the barrel for obstruction, either by poking something down it, or by taking the gun apart and looking through the barrel. Racking the gun isn't enough, because that only "clears" the gun by grabbing the extraction grove on the casing. The bullet itself doesn't have one of those. If it's in the barrel by itself, it'll stay there when you rack the gun.

I made sure the Pistol is cleared and looking down the barrel, you can see a spent case, it is Spit down the bottom and there is a good size hole blown through it-Damn Im Lucky...

I can't break down the pistol its jammed up pretty good,

Looking down the barrel it looks as if the chrome lining was blown off the barrel...crazy

You might want to stop doing that... There probably isn't any unburnt powder in there, but if there's a case in there then it obviously isn't cleared...

I was at the range when a guy's revolver blew the top strap off. They took him to the hospital with many cuts to his face. There was revolver shrapnel stuck in the awning

Ouch!

Agreed. I actually had something similar happen the other day - waited thirty seconds after the dry fire-esque click, dropped the mag, pulled back the slide, caught the ejected casing, attempted to put a rifle chamber flag down the barrel, found the an obstruction, and proceeded to use a rod and hammer to remove the squib. Not fun. That being said, the manufacturer's CS was extremely professional and serious when contacted regarding the matter.

That's the way!

And just to put this out there, I want to say that I don't feel it was a squib because after a removed the weak rounds by hand I fired the Pistol many more times before that round Exploded in my handgun, it didn't happen after a weak round was fired...

I think you're right. If the last shot before the boom was normal, then it probably wasn't you. You should still learn to clear a squib properly, though.

Last clear chance to avoid the problem would rest with the shooter.

Your scenario is like getting a crappy brake job from a discount shop, then REALIZING the brakes aren't working correctly, but continuing on with a planned day at the race track.

Not if the previous shot was good. He didn't clear the squibs right, but if the shot before the boom was normal, then he might not have been able to avoid this while using that ammo.

So if you're doing a competition, or a drill that involves rapid fire...how is the user supposed to stop when a squib happens. Based on the fact that you can't always avoid firing after a squib....I'd say the range that made/sold the defective ammo is more than 50% at fault here......

Why would you use cheap reloads in a competition? If you're going to do something where you'd have to fire after a squib, then load quality new ammo to minimize that risk.

[Chaos47]

So if you're doing a competition, or a drill that involves rapid fire...how is the user supposed to stop when a squib happens. Based on the fact that you can't always avoid firing after a squib....I'd say the range that made/sold the defective ammo is more than 50% at fault here......

Even in a competition is it worth the risk of damaging your firearm and more importantly yourself (and others)?

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Unfortunate incident, glad no one was hurt. I concur with squib load diagnosis. You could rack the slide 100 times, it would not help.

The MFG will probably not help due to it being reloads. If the range reloads were bought on a previous trip, it may be hard to prove it was their loads that did it.

Guns can be replaced. Eyes and teeth, not so much.

[waveslayer]

Last clear chance to avoid the problem would rest with the shooter.

Your scenario is like getting a crappy brake job from a discount shop, then REALIZING the brakes aren't working correctly, but continuing on with a planned day at the race track.

Or driving back to the brake shop to have them inspected or repaired and the brakes fail....

[gesundheit]

Right-Im really Lucky I still have my Fingers and the Slide rail didn't come back at my Face...It just had a Strange Pop not like a normal round being fired and actually the range master stated that the range was responsible and I need to go back tomorrow and speak the the owner of the Range-So thats what I will be doing

It their responsibility to replace the gun for you. None of this BS, sharing the costs with them. They have to replace the pistol or reimburse the cost to you.

[Citadelgrad87]

Or driving back to the brake shop to have them inspected or repaired and the brakes fail....

...which has no bearing on what op did. He wasnt injured by a hang fire on his way to return the ammo, he continued to shoot as if nothing had happened.

That's why I picked an accurate analogy rather than a silly one, like you did, to illustrate my point.

Give it up. Im not saying the reloader was blameless, im saying op had the last clear chance to avoid this.

[Fishslayer]

A strange pop is a squib.

Or nothing at all. The only squib I've had in a semi auto was just "click" and an empty case ejected when I racked the slide. No smoke, no "pop" no "psst" no nothin'. I wear plugs plus muffs indoors though...

Thankfully the bullet didn't get far & I was able to tap it out the breech end with no drama.

[PatC415]

Sorry to see your new XD had a Kaboom, bummer.
Very hard to tell from the pic and description. Could have been a double charge. Your new XD has an ORIGINAL purchaser Lifetime Warranty. I would send the gun back to Springfield, let THEM tell you what they think before you get too far ahead.
My experiences with Springfield have been excellent. It MAY or MAY NOT be an ammunition problem. All you might lose is the shipping.
I would ask the range too have a look, but breaking down the weapon might void any help from Springfield.
Hope you have a positive outcome.

[desertjosh]

Wow looks like XD built a solid gun. Glad you weren't hurt OP.

[SWalt]

Since I have an XD its good to see it failed in a relatively safe manner. Glad you are ok OP.

Since it looks like you will only be able to salvage a few parts, if the gun is destroyed make sure its reported as destroyed to DOJ and have yourself removed as owning it. It could save you grief in the future.

[PseudoTsuga]

Wow Springfield they built a fine gun. Glad you came away without a scratch.

My take too.
Another reason to love my "service" xd .45.

[elsupermanny14]

Could you you please let me know which range provided you the ammunition? It would not dissuade me from using that range, but it would be nice to let us know who sells bad ammo. Think of it as a public safety announcement. Whether it was user error or not, I'm not here to judge. The fact of the matter is that bad ammo was the initial culprit.

When I first started shooting I used reloads a lot. Then I bought a bag of 38 Special Surefire ammo from a gun show and had three squibs in the first 100 rounds. Surefire did right by me and gave me a full refund plus a few extra bucks to cover my troubles. It was very nice of them.

I also used 38 Special LAX Range reloads that came in the 1000 round plastic cans. That ammo was not very good either. A LOT of the casings were cracked when I ejected them and about 15 rounds had warped casings that would even fit in the cylinder of my Vaquero because they were warped.

Very curious on who provided those to you. I stopped buying range reloads after those experiences and then I learned you can buy new ammo online for cheaper than what ranges in LA charge for their reloads.

I buy a lot of my Ammo at MunireUSA if your curious. They are awesome because they ship to Los Angeles.