Exploding Handgun

[P5Ret]

It's damn near impossible to tell what happened from just the picture's without a hands on inspection. I've seen a few squib rounds, and one or two over charged rounds. I've never seen that much lead build up at the muzzle before, if it is lead as it appears. Then again I've never been witness to a non-jacketed round that was a squib in an autoloader.

[TurboChrisB]

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.

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......

[SkyHawk]

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...

Be sure you emphasize this in all future retellings of the story. The way you told it initially left a lot of room for operator error. So I would leave out anything about weak rounds or manually clearing cases etc, if this is truly what happened. Why confuse the issue? Really all that matters is the shot just before this round, and then this round.

If the gun and ammo was working fine right before this happened, and this round loaded automatically as normal with no manual intervention then blew your gun apart, just leave it at that when you talk to range owner and Springfield CS.

[Citadelgrad87]

Which then leans towards range error for not reloading safe ammo...

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.

[nice shot]

I will be back tomorrow to do a follow up to what Happens...Again thanks to all who responded I really do appreciate all the great info...I'll Be Back

[Bill Steele]

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...

It will be easy for the shop owner to tell if it was a squib and kaboom or a double charge kaboom.

In any case, he owes you something. In the former, I would be content for half the replacement value, in the event of the later, he owes you a new gun.

Good luck.

[dotfortune]

Consider yourself lucky. Not everyone who experiences a kB! can walk away unscathed. Sure your wallet may be hurting after this, but nothing's worth your life.

I know the "common" routine when you experience a malfunction is to go "Tap, Rack, Bang", but that error clearing drill was intended to be used in circumstances where you don't have time, or don't have a need to investigate what went wrong. If you're at the range, you're in a controlled environment. You might as well take the time to figure out what went wrong.

Glad you're ok, OP!

[xMAC1x]

I don't know what happened, what's important is nobody was injured.

[xMAC1x]

Looks like a squib.

[_TomT_]

Glad you are okay OP, the range should be held responsible. If they can charge you the price of a new box of ammo for their reloads then they should have to stand behind their products. Hope you get a new gun and everyone turns out well.

[cannon]

OP, Very glad you are O.K.

You have nothing to lose in asking for the range to replace your almost new pistol. Of course settling for less may be prudent too.

[waveslayer]

Not to be a jerk, and maybe you're trolling, but it sounds like you might have squibbed two, then fired a round into an obstructed barrel, which sounds a lot like operator error.

Which then leans towards range error for not reloading safe ammo...

[73 RB-Z]

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...

Sounds like a double charge and/or wrong powder then.

Everyone suspected the revolver blew up due to a double charge.

In either case, it's great you weren't harmed and the range is going to come through for you

[xMAC1x]

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

[pablo7]

Glad no one got hurt.