Blowing up a GP 100

dmathers

dmathers

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I am embarrassed to say that at the gun range the other day I blew the cylinder apart on my fairly new Ruger GP 100, froze it forever in place and even bent the top of its frame. I am new to reloading and despite what I thought was careful rechecking, MUST have double loaded a round of .357, not 7.2 gr's of Tightgroup but 14+. Can't think of any other explanation. Thank god no one was injured. I confess this blatant stupidity, carelessness whatever, just to remind all other beginners to take oft-repeated warnings carefully.

Believe me, I'm beating myself up about this one. Probably no need for another smack up the head.
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You are lucky you didn't lose your hand.
Last time I heard this kind of story is on THR, the guy was shooting reloads in his FiveSeven, one round exploded before being in the pipe, the "entirely polymer made" frame blew up, and he still has bits of brass in his hand.
Reloading is very, very serious business. ;)
 
If someone would explain how to post a more detailed picture, additional damage to my ego or not, I will. Careful instructions as to what buttons/icons to push is what I need.
 
Go to: http://www.imageshack.us/
Select upload Image. Select the desired size (600x800 is ok), Upload it.
You will be sent to a new page after a few seconds, you will see your pic in small, click on it, you will see it in big.
Right click on it, click the lowest button, you will see "URL" somewhere, it's the url adress, copy it, then come back here, press "Ctrl-V" to put it on your screen, then put a "
", your pic will show up. :D
 
What happens when this happens to a gun, I mean the legal aspect? It doesn't look like you could repair it, so does it get turned in and destroyed?
 
Sent it into the Ruger repair center. They said it was beyond repair and warranty was void as I was using re-loads. They transferred the gun to themselves and I...guess, will destroy it. Love the 'won't buff out.' And no, there was no squib involved.
 
Yes, if you notice the bent frame above the cylinder. Jammed/frozen solid. I sent it in like that, not wanting to try and knock/hammer it out. The release was jammed as well. There seemed no point given the damage to cylinder and frame.
 
I managed to blow up a gun once and it managed to scare the hell out of me. I remember having my hand go numb and having to actually look down to verify my hand was still attached. The first thing I said was "Oh thank god. I still have my hand."

It was about 6 months before I went to the range again and about a year before I got back into reloading. At the time I had reloaded and fired about 20,000 rounds of pistol and rifle.
 
Did the cylinder turn after the explosion or is that the way it stayed after the kaboom? Just kind of weird that the top strap is bent but the cylinder is ripped open at the bottom... Maybe it spun as it let go? I would have bet that that the gap between the front & back of cylinder would have let off more pressure than that or that it would have moved the cylinder back against the frame before letting go like that! I guess I would have lost that bet. Glad to hear your ok.
 
dmathers said:
Sent it into the Ruger repair center. They said it was beyond repair and warranty was void as I was using re-loads. They transferred the gun to themselves and I...guess, will destroy it. Love the 'won't buff out.' And no, there was no squib involved.
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Really? I would of thought the gun would of stayed with you.... I would have kept it, had it reclasified as a dewat or inoperable then framed it and put it on my wall as a reminder.

You did spend $600+ on it so why don't you get to keep it?
 
scotty said:
I would have kept it, had it reclasified as a dewat or inoperable then framed it and put it on my wall as a reminder.
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Unless you get the cylinder welded to the frame so that it can't be loaded, it's still considered a weapon. A friend of mine blewup a S&W model 10. Half the cylinder gone and the topstrap gone. He looked into getting it deregistered but he was told he would have to weld it closed as he could "get a new cylinder and get it to fire .":slap:

My friend kept it as is. Turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the revolver was a prohib, it got him his 12-6 status:D

Sticker
 
Glad to hear that you have all your fingers still!

Not to be preachy,but it really brings home the point that you have to be very careful loading Titegroup into a long case like a 357.A double (or even a triple charge) can easily be missed.I like TG and use it in my 44,but the most I load is 50% of a max charge,in this way,if I double charge(and I really try not to!),no harm will be done.If I want to load heavier,I use a more bulky powder so an double etc,will be immediately obvious.

Thanks for sharing your misfortune,it sure reminded me that reloading isnt an area to become complacent in!
 
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