(Update) Exploding Handgun

[nice shot]

Ok-just to clear something up, I DID NOT have 3 bad rounds in a row they were randomly shot in between the 200 rounds that I had taking to the range that day. I can see now the confusion by my first post-(Sorry for that)...after reading all of the responses I now know that it was user error and some bad reloads. Im a new shooter that did not recognize the signs of a squib round and am lucky I still have all my finger...I wont be making that mistake again.

[walmart_ar15]

Also if your gun is out of battery and you pull the trigger you can cause major gun damage


West Coast Shooting Stars

Modern firearms will not allow u hit the primer if the gun is out of battery. If it did then it will be a recall and guaranteed as manufacturer's design flaw unless tinkered by the user.

[boopiejones]

if this were me, i'd go back when the manager/owner was on duty and discuss with them. i'd ask for at least 50% of the cost of a new gun and a refund of the rest of the ammo you bought (i think you said you still had 700 rounds).

if they refuse, i'd ask if they will change their tone if you send it to the manufacturer and they determine it was a squib.

while i agree that the gun owner has a responsibility to recognize something is wrong with their gun/ammo, i also believe that a gun owner should be able to rely on the ammo they purchase. if LAX reloads caused a squib, then they and the gun owner are both at fault. i'm not sure who is more at fault, but they both have some liability, so splitting the cost of a new gun 50/50 and refunding the cost of the unused ammo seems like a good compromise for both parties.

[magnusson]

No. LAX is the kind of range that has a sign posted saying all spent brass belongs to the range. My guess is that is how they get the brass for reloads otherwise why would they care if you picked up your own brass??

What the manager did in taking the brass out and rulling that it was not from the reload is just funny. There is nothing he could have deducted from looking at that brass.

All that said and not trying to be insensetive to the OP but this is 100% user error and if anyone comes up with any compensation it would be mighty nice of them. It is like I sell you a rethreaded tire for cheaper than new. You drive out and get a flat but keep driving till you ruin the rim completely. Is it the tires fault that the rim got ruined??? No, it could have happened with a new tire just the same. It is you the operator that should have been savy enough to recognize a flat tire and/or a squib in the case of a reloaded .45 acp round.

Looking at original pictures of that barrel's muzzle and the amount of shiny lead smear, it screemed squib.

It happens, accept it as your own mistake or lack of skills without blaming anyone.

This. Just be glad they haven't hit you with a lawsuit for potentially hurting other shooters that day. Look at it as a glass half full. You and everyone around you escaped injury free and id bet my bottom dollar this will never happen to you again.

[enegue]

I agree. Their ammo is expensive and they pull the bait and switch on you by advertising cheap reloads online and selling them at much steep price in the store. When you ask them about the online pricing, they get really defensive and outright rude.

All you have to do is read their FAQ (https://www.laxammo.com/faqs) or call to ask. That's the exact definition of it NOT being a bait and switch. Everything is spelled out for you if you bother to read it. If you think that it's expensive then don't buy it - it's clear from their success that you're in the minority.

[mulyhuntr]

Ya the barrel is done, the lower frame is done and I'm sure the slide and striker are toast also...I need to bring the barrel to the range and show the manager the barrel now that I was able to get it a part...And I think I'm going to leave out that I used reload ammo when I send it back to Springfield

Maybe it's just me, but I'd feel guilty lying to a company and trying to get them to replace a firearm that reloaded ammo that I chose to use, ruined the gun...

It's either on the ammo manufacturer or you for choosing to shoot reloaded ammo. Shouldn't cost the gun manufacturer a dime in this case IMO.

On a side note, I had a glock that I installed a frame plug in and it cracked the frame. I called them and told them what happened and said I'd pay for a frame, but they ended up sending me a whole new gun and all I had to pay was shipping to them.

Maybe you'll get as lucky with springfield, but I'd try to pin it on LAX first.

[colossians323]

Maybe it's just me, but I'd feel guilty lying to a company and trying to get them to replace a firearm that reloaded ammo that I chose to use, ruined the gun...

It's either on the ammo manufacturer or you for choosing to shoot reloaded ammo. Shouldn't cost the gun manufacturer a dime in this case IMO.

On a side note, I had a glock that I installed a frame plug in and it cracked the frame. I called them and told them what happened and said I'd pay for a frame, but they ended up sending me a whole new gun and all I had to pay was shipping to them.

Maybe you'll get as lucky with springfield, but I'd try to pin it on LAX first.

I thought he had to use their ammo?

Ya that's one of the first thing the range tells you, you need to use there ammo so I saw nothing wrong with that, just a dumb rookie mistake by assuming they were good rounds...I have shot quit a few reloads from the range with no problem...

[L-2]

http://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/firearms/forms/BOF4546NLIP0209.pdf?

Sorry for the damaged gun. I'm glad there were no injuries.

I wanted to add, obtain and keep any/all documentation as you may want to someday submit the referenced form. Even though there are instructions, I found DoJ may later, still request a document not requested in the instructions.

On a more positive note, what might the original poster be considering for a replacement firearm?

[tuna quesadilla]

DON'T SHOOT THIRD-PARTY RELOADS.

Jesus how hard is this for people to get through their heads?

[JTROKS]

It seems the problem was a squib round in which did not destroy the gun ,but set the ball rolling for the destruction of the weapon and placing the OP in danger. What caused the gun to blow up was the subsequent firing of a round with the plugged barrel. So depending on where LAX Range owner stand on this will determine the outcome. OP I know you're frustrated, but if you stopped and checked for a blockage then the owner of LAX Range owes you for gunsmithing fees to clear your barrel and inspection that it is good to go.

To me it sounds like the squib round sent the bullet into the barrel and it lodge in there. The next round you fed did not fully seat due to the lodged bullet preventing it. Now that round may have pushed it in a little and enough for the next round to be chambered fully and fired.

I say your argument on this is you did not have that level of experience to assess the situation. And I understand how you feel that if that round they sold to you functioned properly then your gun will still be functional and all is happy.
With that said some of the folks here that are more experienced with weapons malfunction will blame you and tell you to chalk it up as an expensive learning experience. I say talk to the owner again because the faulty ammo set the ball rolling on this disaster. I'm glad you're OK and no one was seriously hurt.

DON'T SHOOT THIRD-PARTY RELOADS.

Jesus how hard is this for people to get through their heads?

Exactly! The range sold the ammo so the OP put his trust in them. If some big named ammo manufacturer was the ammo in question everyone here would say that manufacturer owes the OP a new gun.

[L-2]

I suppose any ammo, new or reloaded, could result in a squib. Next, if the squib isn't recognized, it be almost reflexive to quickly "tap-rack-&-bang" sending another round right behind the stuck round.

It just may have a higher probability of occurring in reloads. Some folks may go their entire shooting experience and never have a squib or a faulty reload.

It's already a dangerous hobby/sport, I agree, spending more money on new ammo instead of reloads is a good practice.

I'm interested to see how this situation "pans out" and will stay subscribed for a bit longer.

[ducitis]

I only see "i shot there ammo" on the thread....

I do not believe springfield will cover squib unless its your first bullet since purchasing then there could be barrel imperfection.

When you mean (there ammo), you purchased ammo reloaded by the range? that's a big NO NO!.. and a another NO! and lets add another NO!

but if its factory remanufactured then ammo manufacturer will cover the cost.

[mievil]

The funniest thing about that picture is that there are more bullets in the barrel than are in 1 cylinder.


.

Except in any Taurus or Smith 8 shot revolver.

[JTROKS]

I suppose any ammo, new or reloaded, could result in a squib. Next, if the squib isn't recognized, it be almost reflexive to quickly "tap-rack-&-bang" sending another round right behind the stuck round.

It just may have a higher probability of occurring in reloads. Some folks may go their entire shooting experience and never have a squib or a faulty reload.

It's already a dangerous hobby/sport, I agree, spending more money on new ammo instead of reloads is a good practice.

I'm interested to see how this situation "pans out" and will stay subscribed for a bit longer.

My uncle had a problem with new ammo resulting in his Marlin 30-30 lever action being damaged. The ammo manufacturer covered the cost of a new gun and sent my uncle a case of ammo and a letter stating the lot of ammo that caused the damaged was recalled. That was back in the days when Walmart sold guns.

[L-2]

During the great ammo shortage, I bought a case or two of Cabela's steel-cased Herter's .45ACP ammo. I had one box of fifty almost all of which were underloaded with powder resulting in squib after squib. I see Cabela's no longer carries this specific steel-cased stuff.

I started bringing a rod and hammer with me to the range to hammer out any squibs, but haven't had to use it since using up this ammo.