Near Catastrophic Failure

[johnthomas]

I don't reload, have been thinking about it, this gives me pause. I assume by your vernacular that you have been doing this a long time. I understand that each round is not perfect, but if this can happen to a seasoned reloader, a novice could really blow himself up.

[CSACANNONEER]

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. 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.

That would be my guess. Please, keep that mag follower just like it is. It'll be a great visual aid when you repeat your story in the years to come.

[diginit]

That would be my guess. Please, keep that mag follower just like it is. It'll be a great visual aid when you repeat your story in the years to come.

So, This has happened to you? More than once? LOL. Is enlarged primer pocket the problem here? If so, I'll start micin' them. I've reloaded at least 5000 rnds of 45. This is my first problem with one.

[diginit]

I don't reload, have been thinking about it, this gives me pause. I assume by your vernacular that you have been doing this a long time. I understand that each round is not perfect, but if this can happen to a seasoned reloader, a novice could really blow himself up.

There are steps for a reloader to take to assure safety. Start low and work up. Alot of people take shortcuts. Not good. Brand new factory ammo can be bad also. Keep in mind that factory reloaded ammo is considered factory ammo. And will not void your warranty. But can dissasemble a gun just as fast.
You can reload better than factory ammo, as you fine tune it for accuracy to your gun. But there is always a risk when you set off a contained explosion, Like a bullet. That is why ranges stress using safety gear. Glasses, Gloves, Etc. When I showed this to the RO. He just schrugged his shoulders and laughed. Saying he has seen much worse. You don't have to shove the muzzle in the mud for a gun to schrapnel. No matter what ammo you use.

[Rukus]

Very glad to hear that only a magazine was lost...possibly a pair of underwear as well.

Definitely looks like it could have been MUCH worse.

[diginit]

Nope. It would take alot more than this to leave a skidmark. Just alittle confused and really PO'ed. It was a $25 Mag. I'll dig the brass out of my forehead tomorrow. Just don't want it to happen again. Or to anyone else, For that matter.

[diginit]

johnthomas, Here's an example of some NEW factory Winchester 22 mag. I bought a while back. I sent it back to Win and they sent me a $10 gift certificate. Big Whoop! I still have the expired cert. somewhere.
There is a reason lot numbers are stamped on ammo boxes.
Nobody's perfect....And none of my reloads look like this!


I still think reloading is better because you can inspect each round rather than just assume it's good out of the box and fire it.

[bsg]

you are either very unlucky or very lucky; or all of the above. glad you are okay to tell the story....

-Brady

[develown]

Yea i would have to blame the ammo, you might be able to get some sort of refund from the factory or even compensation. Might be worth a try

[HCz]

wow

I'm glad you are ok. This is one of a kind.

[Joe]

Crazy! glad you're ok

[gbp]

do you hand prime or use a progressive or press to do the priming?

[asheron2]

I don't think a blued steel mag would have been strong enough to contain this.

What makes you think the stainless magazine is stronger?
The blued steel mag may actually be stronger.........yet not as tough.

[VictorFranko]

Wow, glad your're not hurt!

If you had been shooting a Glock, all the Glock haters would blame the Glock and tell you that you should have bought a 1911 or a Sig.
So let me say it:
You should have bought a Glock.......

[Ed_in_Sac]

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.

The only thing I can think of is a foreign object caught in the primer pocket when the primer was seated.