Accidentally fired .223 out of 7.62x39 rifle

M

Michael94

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Today I messed up and feel like a complete idiot and fired a .223 round out of my vz58. I was in a rush and found a .223 round in the trunk and tossed it into my 7.62 ammo box since it was closest.

By the time I got to the range I completely forgot about that. When I was loading my mags I was talking to the guy next to me and not paying attention. Started firing and on the last round I heard a "poof" like a squid load. Dropped the mag, waited a minute, slid the dust cover back. First thing I noticed was that the casing was brass and not steel. Pulled the casing out and it formed to the size of the 7.62 chamber and was split down the side. When I looked down the barrel I could see a line of unburned powder and the barrel looked okay and everything seemed to work.

I left the rifle with a gunsmith to check it over. Luckily no one got hurt and I learned my lesson. Won't be taking any shortcuts and will be paying extra attention when loading mags.
 
Neat, the length of cartridges are close enough that with the 5.56 round stuffed into the throat of the chamber the firing pin could hit the primer close enough to centre to make it go bang.
Clean the powder out of the chamber and it'll be good to go. The bullet must have left with about 63 ft/sec velocity and an interesting trajectory.
 
Surprised it fired. I let a friend load magazines and he ended up using .223 in one and tried firing it out of my Vz 58. The cartridge got stuck. First and last time I let anyone load my mags, experience be damned.
 
The bullet just rattled around when it went down the barrel . Not something to do on a regular basis for shure . Have heard of similar happenings 308 in 30/06, 20 gauge in a 12 , 303 sav and 303 British mix ups. Your not the first this has happened to and most likely not the last . Live and learn you got off easy this time .:wave:
 
9mmGunGuy said:
Same thing happens when ammunition is set on fire. Without a chamber to restrict the expanding gases, there's just a fizzle.
Click to expand...

And your experience to this is what ?
The SAMMI video of a pallet of ammo cooking off ?
But, I digress... yes a golden rule of safety was glossed over...Use Correct Ammunition.
Glad the op had a learning moment that included nobody getting hurt.
Rob
 
FLHTCUI said:
And your experience to this is what ?
The SAMMI video of a pallet of ammo cooking off ?
But, I digress... yes a golden rule of safety was glossed over...Use Correct Ammunition.
Glad the op had a learning moment that included nobody getting hurt.
Rob
Click to expand...

Have you never cooked off a few rounds in a campfire just to see what would happen? It was a teenage right of passage where I came from.

Stupid sure, but hey teenage boys are nothing if not stupid...
 
Innavedaw said:
Have you never cooked off a few rounds in a campfire just to see what would happen? It was a teenage right of passage where I came from.

Stupid sure, but hey teenage boys are nothing if not stupid...
Click to expand...

Hah! I have learnt that stupidity does not necessarily diminish with age. It just gets more difficult to get into trouble as you get older because it can get more physically demanding .

Watch out for live rounds in the fire, indeed.
Voice of wisdom;- Be careful and pay attention when you sweep up the workshop floor and toss it onto the burn pile.

You wont be dodging the bullets, it is the lighter brass casings that go whizzing past your head.
 
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