BCL 102 catastrophic failure

My apologies, I must have gotten that confused or saw some wrong info.

I don't think you are wrong. SFRC posted in the Troy 102 pre-order thread that BCL's planned NR 5.56 rifle was deemed to be restricted. Is that the badger? I don't know the names of BCL products as I generally avoid them like the plague.
 
To them, knowing what happened is very worth the cost of a rifle. Not to mention the resulting sweet taste in everyones mouth that is following along. Well played by them.
 
honestly, you are lucky. Most manufacturers err on the side of reloading error - which is a reasonable position given the ver very vast majority of these incidents began on the reloading bench, no mater who made the rifle.
 
I don't think you are wrong. SFRC posted in the Troy 102 pre-order thread that BCL's planned NR 5.56 rifle was deemed to be restricted. Is that the badger? I don't know the names of BCL products as I generally avoid them like the plague.

BCL's 5.56mm is the Badger, Troy's is the 102b. The Troy was deemed prohibited, source being one of the SFRC threads.

Good news that the OP got a replacement rifle, but I hope this thread doesn't die. It would be interested to know what caused the issue, especially after reading 21 pages of responses and theories. Someone should start a pool.
 
BCL's 5.56mm is the Badger, Troy's is the 102b. The Troy was deemed prohibited, source being one of the SFRC threads.

Good news that the OP got a replacement rifle, but I hope this thread doesn't die. It would be interested to know what caused the issue, especially after reading 21 pages of responses and theories. Someone should start a pool.

Unlikely BCL/NEA will say it was an error on their part now that the rifle is being shipped to them for replacement. They basically dodged a bullet by getting the owner to send it to them rather than taking a chance on having an independent third party find a problem with their rifle and be forced to make changes and/or potentially have to recall hundreds or thousands of rifles for repairs.
 
I suspect a broken firing pin. Years ago, I had a SPECTRE 9mm semi-auto go full-auto on me at the gun club for precisely that reason; the firing pin had broken and was jammed in the bolt sticking out just enough to set off the cartridges as they were being chambered. I remember loading the magazine into the gun, pulling back the bolt, releasing it and then BRAAAP! Finger was nowhere near the trigger, and fortunately the gun was pointed in a safe direction - two rounds through the bench, and three more rounds in the floor downrange before it jammed (it was a 30 round magazine.) The next day I brought the gun back and traded it in for a nice safe revolver lol.
 
I suspect a broken firing pin. Years ago, I had a SPECTRE 9mm semi-auto go full-auto on me at the gun club for precisely that reason; the firing pin had broken and was jammed in the bolt sticking out just enough to set off the cartridges as they were being chambered. I remember loading the magazine into the gun, pulling back the bolt, releasing it and then BRAAAP! Finger was nowhere near the trigger, and fortunately the gun was pointed in a safe direction - two rounds through the bench, and three more rounds in the floor downrange before it jammed (it was a 30 round magazine.) The next day I brought the gun back and traded it in for a nice safe revolver lol.

I've seen an M14 do that as well but not from broken firing pin , instead from brass chunks as it was piercing primers on norinco surplus. The brass shrapnel bits were small enough to pass through the firing pin hole and then lodge in the firing pin channel. The firing pin was jammed forward resulting in the rifle firing out of control and emptying the magazine in short order. Luckily that rifle's safety bridge was properly machined , preventing the rifle from firing out of battery.
 
I suspect a broken firing pin. Years ago, I had a SPECTRE 9mm semi-auto go full-auto on me at the gun club for precisely that reason; the firing pin had broken and was jammed in the bolt sticking out just enough to set off the cartridges as they were being chambered. I remember loading the magazine into the gun, pulling back the bolt, releasing it and then BRAAAP! Finger was nowhere near the trigger, and fortunately the gun was pointed in a safe direction - two rounds through the bench, and three more rounds in the floor downrange before it jammed (it was a 30 round magazine.) The next day I brought the gun back and traded it in for a nice safe revolver lol.

OP said he pulled the trigger when this happened. It didn't slam fire.
 
BCL's 5.56mm is the Badger, Troy's is the 102b. The Troy was deemed prohibited, source being one of the SFRC threads.

Good news that the OP got a replacement rifle, but I hope this thread doesn't die. It would be interested to know what caused the issue, especially after reading 21 pages of responses and theories. Someone should start a pool.

It was restricted not prohibited.
 
OP - Please tell us you're not going to continue reloading commercial brass 5 times without trimming... Also, do you ever inspect your brass for incipient separation?
 
Would any high-end/expensive AR15 manufacturer provide the OP with a new replacement rifle given the fact he used reloads?

I think BCL deserves praise for this gesture and even much more if they could determine and reveal the cause.

In my humble opinion I would bet the kaboom was caused by a case failure.
 
Would any high-end/expensive AR15 manufacturer provide the OP with a new replacement rifle given the fact he used reloads?

I think BCL deserves praise for this gesture and even much more if they could determine and reveal the cause.

In my humble opinion I would bet the kaboom was caused by a case failure.

Case failure doesn't explain an out of battery discharge when trigger is pulled

OP said he pulled the trigger when this happened. It didn't slam fire.
 
If there was an out of battery discharge...

My best guess is a broken cam pin judging by the gouging of the upper receiver and apparent lack of damage to the bolt lugs. Quite possible that it broke when going into battery. The top part of the pin rotated into place in the receiver but the bolt itself didn't turn and lock in behind the lugs on the barrel extension. When fired the bcg moved rewards, the broken cam pin didn't rotate (causing the gouging of the receiver) and the bolt didn't catch on the barrel extension lugs because it wasn't rotated in behind them which explains the lack of damage to the bolt lugs. The bolt could have been fully into battery but not rotated when fired.

Just a guess, or maybe I don't have a clue... Who knows. Curious to find out what the actual problem is found out to be.
 
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