Near Catastrophic Failure

[diginit]

I was shooting my Kimber 1911 LARG today when my face got sprayed with gunpowder. Maybe a bit of brass. It seems the 4th shell down in the mag went off with the recoil from the fired round. It popped one round out with the expended case and turned the 2 rounds above it upright and sent it's bullet into the feed ramp. It was just sitting there. Like it wanted to complete it's journey through the barrel. Guess I got lucky. Scratch one 8rnd mag though. This ever happen to anyone else here? What could cause this?
Sorry for the cellphone pic, But you can see the flat, shattered case jamming the follower. It's actually wrapped around it.

[SJgunguy24]

Damn James, I'm glad it was only the mag and not your hand.

[diginit]

You're tellin' me! Just lucky the ejection port was open. If this had been on a closed slide it could have been a real mess.

[MKfan]

Primer not seated to proper depth?

[Ding126]

ammo type?

[diginit]

I check each primer before I box the round. If I can't see and feel an indention, I rebuild that round. I guess it could have backed out if the pocket was too big. But it would still be a flat surface against the primer. It doesn't seem like it would be a strong enough strike to ignite it, But it definately went off somehow.

[manuelcardenas77]

Dude glad to see your well!!!!

[diginit]

230g Bear Creek Moly LRN in twice fired brass with 6.9g of Unique At 1230 OAL with a slight taper crimp and Winchester primers.

[robcoe]

Glad your hand is ok.

[diginit]

OK this is wierd, Here's the follower:

[Turbinator]

Man!! I've never seen that before. Glad you're ok!

Turby

[Sajedene]

Scary Again, to repeat. Glad you are alright. This could have been worse but so glad it is not.

[diginit]

Thank you all for the concern, I hate to see people hurt also.
There is just a slight bulge in the mag body, But look at my poor spring...Just can't figure this one out.

[diginit]

I'm racking my brain trying to figure this one out. The pieces just don't fit. As you can see.



If the round was inserted upright in the mag, It would not have held all 8. A round will not fit between the "V" in the follower as the exploded case head is positioned. It is an anti tilt follower anyways. Even if the round was inserted backwards, It couldn't have assumed this position. WTF! Only thing I can figure is a loose primer pocket and a very violent reaction. If you look at a 1911, The only thing between your hand and the round is a rubber or wood grip and the mag. But it is the same for any semi auto pistol. I'm only buying stainless steel mags from now on. I don't think a blued steel mag would have been strong enough to contain this.

[kurac]

weird things happen when there are exposion in confined places. I am glad you are alright.