Rifle Blow Up

[Delmonico]

I posted this on the RATS Forum, but I thought someone over here might be interested in this also.  This ain't a CAS gun, but it is a good example of why one should only have one powder on the loading bench at a time to prevent mistakes.  Now I wish he could remember who he bought the rounds from.

My nephew has/had a Mark 2 M-77 in 308.  My brother called last evening and told me Dan had blew up his rifle and they were headed to the hospital.  We later met at mom's and Dan was ok, some metal in his thumb and some nasty zits on his face but not in his eyes thanks to glasses.  Anyway he'd bought some rounds a couple years ago at a gun show, 110 gr FMJRN.  That is what took it apart.  Anyway we got the bolt open, I have the mother of all flattened primers and the case head is in pieces. 

I took the other 7 rounds he had left, not counting the ones in the yard at the farm that blew out of the mag.

Found a full case of what appears to be 748 in 4 of them, 53 grs.  Right at max.  But the other 3 had about a 1/3 real fine ball powder mixed in. looks like AA2 or similar.  Gonna have the rifle checked out, I think it can be fixed witha few parts like extractor, collar, mag well, and floor plate,  A chambering reamer should remove the case, he wanted a synthetic stock any way.

I am nothing less than impressed as to how the gun vented the gas and everything considered, it could have been a lot worse.

[Camille Eonich]

I'll buy factory ammo or load my own.  There are very few people that I would trust to load ammo for me.  I can count them on one hand.

[RRio]

Thank God it was hurt any more serious than that.

[Delmonico]

His Dad and I had a long talk with him about buying reloads.  He loads his own shotshells, the next project is his uncle teaching him the ways of metallics.  He can use my gear anytime he wants.

[El Peludo]

Wow!  That thing sure took that stock apart.  I'm happy to hear that he was not hurt very badly; the rifle did the job it was designed to do, venting the way it did.

- - - - his uncle teaching him the ways of metallics.  He can use my gear anytime he wants.

Good on ya', Del.  Everybody needs a mentor sometimes.  I was lucky to have a good one when I first started reloading, and now have a whole world of "cyber-mentors" I can call on when things get dicey; but, I don't think cyber-learning is the best was to get the basics - hands on, guided instruction is best for that.  I just wish more folks would seek out a real live person to learn the ropes from, rather than trying to get info and learn technique throught the internet; once you have the basics down good, then info from the ether can be sifted and applied with some level of understanding.

[Modoc]

Del,

Could you please PM me with a write-up and as large a picture file as possible?  I teach Hunter Safety for the State of CA and am looking for good examples of what can go wrong.  Items like this defenitely get the point accross to the students.

I'll include your nephew Dan for a prayer of Thanksgiving tonight.

Thank you,

[Delmonico]

I've got 3 large ones on file, but I'll have to E-Mail them to you rather than PM.  I'll right up all that I have in my mind on this. 

I have a project to do some time when I get time and I'll post pictures and if I forget, remind me and I'll send you some on that one also.  A friend gave me a cheap CVA in-line that someone gave him.  It had Pyrodex shot in it last fall and it was not cleaned, nasty looking inside, the bore is rough.   I'm thinking about 100 grains of Bullseye and a looooog string and my old pick=up with the tailgate pointed toward the thing to hid behind.  I no longer teach Hunter Ed, but it's remains will be donated to the City Parks and Rec Range where many friends still teach.

[Modoc]

Delmonico,

THANK YOU!!  I received the e-mail and it is Great!  The quality of the shots is excelent.  I am going to see how it turns out as an overhead flimsy. 
We have been lucky in that the local smith has not had any come through of late.  I do have a picture to post some time of an oops on the CAS firing line that involved a Schofield replica.  It just peeled the whole thing open like a bannana.  We just finished our latest class with 33 students in it , like to wore me out!  Good class tho, the best part was that they all paid attention (wish the ones that I taught at the local school were that good).

Again, Thank you for the timely response

[Delmonico]

No problem I think it will be spring before I get to that In-Line, but I'll send you pictures of that wreck also.   Or heck, I might just take a day and do it, sounds like fun.

Got a cheap side-hammer with an octagon barrel that has a stripped bolster and the lock has already been scavaged gave to me, plastic stock type, also with a pitted barrel.  Gonna strip it and turn the barrel over to one of my blacksmith friends.  Ya ever here the stories of the Hawken rifles and others that made it to Cally-forn-ia durning the gold rush that got made into crow-bars.  Gonna have me one of them octy-gon gold rush crow-bars to keep in my camp.

[Chance]

Pleased the boy's OK, Del.

Here in the UK it is illegal for a dealer to sell reloaded ammo but I guess individuals can still make a buck or two out of others who cannot be bothered to reload.

[Delmonico]

Here it is illeagal to sell it unless you are licensed, since he can't rember who and where he bought it from there is nothing that can be done.

[geo]

thank goodness it was a bolt rifle. have heard about similar blow ups with .17 ammo in semi's. talked to a fellow who over loaded a swedish sniper in 6.5 mm. the bolt saved his life by discharging down through through the magazine. take care...