AR-15 Upper Explodes on Camp Pendleton

[Heretodaygonetomorrow]

I just talked to my son-in-law. He's an instructor down at Pendleton and was down on the grenade range when it happened. According to him the problem was a bore obstruction due to a primer pop (failed to ignite or no main charge).

The people around the shooter were more hurt than the shooter was, injuries due to pieces of the destroyed gun.

[6114DAVE]

"Longrifle" the Camp Pendleton range control just released a widest dissemination letter Regarding a range accident today.
At 0833 today while conducting BZO a Marine's rifle exploded on the 9th shot of the day. Initial investigation leads to possible double charged ammo as the cause. All ammo is Federal 5.56 green tip, with the shooter using 2 separate lots. The round blew the whole front off of the rifle and only the Marine's safety glasses kept him from loading an eye.
Be careful out there and I'll add lot numbers and positive case when it comes up!

You mean m16a4 or a m4 right? I wAs issued a m16a4 with irons and later acog...never a AR15

[five.five-six]

Yeah....um double charge? Not really a problem with M855

Oh sure

Manufacturer__ Powder__ Bullet Diam.___ C.O.L.__ Grs.__ Vel. (ft/s)__ Pressure

Hodgdon_______H335_____ .224" ________2.200" __46.0___250____ 140,800 CUP*SDECL*


*SDECL* denotes super super extra compressed load

[sigstroker]

The report says double charge. Could be that detonation thing, but out of battery is super unlucky. Also our SOP for BZO is 3 shot groups so the 10th shot would be in a new group. That rules out a squib because you would only have 2 holes for the last group.

The report is wrong. It's impossible to get anywhere near a double charge in a 5.56 case. You can barely get in a single charge.

It wasn't the barrel nut either. The gas tube keeps the barrel nut from coming off. Even if it's loose, the bolt is locked into the barrel extension and doesn't depend on the barrel nut for anything.

[LiferLance]

So it was a pop then a shot. Someone's getting fired for this.

[Heretodaygonetomorrow]

Yes, that's what I have been told.

Nobody is getting fired over this. The Trainee should have had better firing discipline/fire control. Blame it on video game use.

[LiferLance]

Lol. I've seen range OICs get adverse fitreps for a guy falling out of a truck. A rifle going boom is ruining someone's career.