Ruger Mark III Kaboom!

[psango]

*Posted it here instead of the rimfire forum thought it might be of interest to a wider audience.

Firearm: Ruger Mark III stainless Target (only a few hundred rds.total through it)

Ammo: CCI mini mag solid point. Much dirtier than other CCI ammo I have used. (still have about 3500 rds. left, but not all from the same lot.

Ruger Mark III Kaboom: I cleaned and inspected the pistol prior to going to the Range. After about 60 rounds into my range session, Kaboom! Anyone else have this happen?

I think it was the ammo, I shot the remainder of the 100 round box in my clean Ruger SP101 22 revolver, and they were tight seating in the cylinder.

There was no squib prior to this, I pushed the cartridge out with a cleaning rod. The barrel was clear, only the cartridge casing was partly seated in the chamber. The next round was still in the magazine no double feed. Bolt looks normal firing pin moves freely.

Blew the LCI out of the receiver. Barrel seems undamaged, hard get a picture of that. I checked the chamber for burrs, nope. The Bolt moves freely. A proof round seats fully in the chamber. I Tried my go and no go gauges and head space looks OK. I will check it again after I get my new parts from Ruger and re-assemble the pistol.

Interesting!

[Tank 57]

Looks like ammo failure.I've had a few case heads seperate.There is a member on rimfirecentral.com who makes filler plates to replace LCI.Actually look better than original plastic part does.

[psango]

good idea

Looks like ammo failure.I've had a few case heads seperate.There is a member on rimfirecentral.com who makes filler plates to replace LCI.Actually look better than original plastic part does.

I have his address and will will order one tomorrow. I will keep the new LCI parts if I resell the gun. I have already installed a new hammer and bushing and removed the magazine disconnect and ILS. So might as well complete the job of making it a Mark II.

[CK_32]

Never seen that.

More a snap krackle and pop than a kaboom. Never head a 22 go boom

[psango]

nice orange flash

Never seen that.

More a snap krackle and pop than a kaboom. Never head a 22 go boom

Made a very nice orange flash out the side of the receiver where the LCI had been.

[DCF]

At least the failure point is at the useless LCI rather than other important parts.

[ojisan]

Bad case.
Good gun.

[Daisy'sDad]

Looking at the pics, could your firing pin have punctured the round?

[psango]

case rim intact

Looking at the pics, could your firing pin have punctured the round?

The case rim is intact and the firing pin strike looks normal or even a little light too me. Don't know if it show up in the picture well. It's right next to ware the side of the case flare out in the picture.
right across from the bottom part in the CCI "C". The black spot is a shadow from the little flake of metal near it, and not a hole.

[psango]

love the Mark Pistols

Bad case.
Good gun.

Even I shoot good with these pistols, I was shooting some pretty tight groups for me until this happened, had to switch to a revolver.

This is my 2nd. Mark III, I sold my blued one and bought this stainless steel version.

My son is taking my Mark II target, yeah I'm spoiling him,but what the heck he appreciates it.

[ke6guj]

I think it was the ammo, I shot the remainder of the 100 round box in my clean Ruger SP101 22 revolver, and they were tight seating in the cylinder.

at that point, you should have stopped using that ammo and contacted CCI about it. they would have probably wanted the LOT# and might have had you ship back some of the rounds so they could look at it see if it was a one-off fluke or if the LOT was bad. how else will they know if they need to do a recall? And they probably would have paid for the repairs on your gun.

[psango]

you are correct

at that point, you should have stopped using that ammo and contacted CCI about it. they would have probably wanted the LOT# and might have had you ship back some of the rounds so they could look at it see if it was a one-off fluke or if the LOT was bad. how else will they know if they need to do a recall? And they probably would have paid for the repairs on your gun.

I didn't think of that at the time. I do have more ammo from that Lot and saved the casing.

Ruger is sending me the parts for free. Don't know why but they are.

[G-forceJunkie]

Never seen that.

More a snap krackle and pop than a kaboom. Never head a 22 go boom

If you shoot rimfire enough, it happens. I've had two and seen two others. It doesnt matter what gun, it doesnt matter what ammo, it just happens. Important thing is to check and make sure the bullet is not stuck in the barrel. Launching the Extractor is also common when this happens.

[beretta929mm]

Besides the blown extractor, what else is damaged on your Ruger Mk III?

[psango]

Besides the blown extractor, what else is damaged on your Ruger Mk III?

Nothing but the LCI.