I was shooting some 230 gr lead cast .45acp reloads in my 1911 and kaboom! The reloaded ammo was purchased from Moregun Supplies a few years ago. Do you think this is a result of double powder charge or weak brass causing case head seperation?
Double powder charge?
- Thread starter Ngyukon
- Start date
I was shooting a Les Baer 1911 Thunder Ranch. I got a good puff of gas in the face. The loaded magazine was blown to pieces releasing the pressure down the the bottom of magazine well. The pressure pushed out my wooden grips and cracked a small piece near the bottom. It could have been a lot worst, but the Les Baer is really well built.
After the shot went off, I could not eject the round or pull back on the slide. The guys at the range had a borescope to verify the round did go off and the bullet cleared the barrel. There were pieces rattling in the pistol and I thought the guide rod might have broken. Luckily a gunsmith was able to remove the round and suprisingly the only damage was to the wooden grip and a destroyed magazine. I was only able to find some small pieces of the Tripp Research magazine. Also, had some minor cuts to my face. A reminder to always wear eye and ear protection!!
I have seen this before. It was with reloaded ammo in a 1911 pistol in 9mm. I do not know what make the gun was. I do not beleive it is caused by overloading but rather it is caused by the shell firing when it is not all the way in the chamber and so the case it not completely suported at the back.
The fellow I saw it happen to said it only happened to him with his reloads and it never happen with factory loads. I figure then it had to be something that he was doing in the reloading steps he was taking.
Graydog
The fellow I saw it happen to said it only happened to him with his reloads and it never happen with factory loads. I figure then it had to be something that he was doing in the reloading steps he was taking.
Graydog
punkrockboy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Eastern Bantario!
Possible high seated primer ,resulting in firing out of battery.
NShunter1254
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia Canada
Yup overcharged
Agree with the bell shaped blow out it looks like out of battery
If the reload did fired out of battery, what reloading step would cause this besides the primer being seated too high?
I am thinking the problem is more with the ammo than with the pistol. The gunsmith thoroughly checked the pistol after the incident and the pistol was functional except for the stuck case. However, what would you check for on the pistol?
Also, I still have 500 rounds of the reloads. I am going to weigh them for obvious double charge and look at the primers.
I am thinking the problem is more with the ammo than with the pistol. The gunsmith thoroughly checked the pistol after the incident and the pistol was functional except for the stuck case. However, what would you check for on the pistol?
Also, I still have 500 rounds of the reloads. I am going to weigh them for obvious double charge and look at the primers.
My feeling on this matter is that it is a problem with the case or how it was resized or taper crimped when it was reloaded. I am thinking if it is just a wee bit oversized it might not go in the chamber all the way but just enought to fire and the fact that the 1911 doesn't support the case all the way around might cause this or maybe it was resized to much and it lets it #### to obe side when it chambers. This is just an idea of mine, I am not expert here on this matter.
Graydog
- Location
- Banana Republik of Kebekistan
Glad you are fine.
1. Thoroughly inspect all remaining unfired rounds for improperly seated primers. Neutralize (scrap) those with primer protruding from the base of the shell;
2. Take the barrel out of your gun and try them all out to ensure they chamber properly;
3. If you could afford such a fine gun, you should be able afford good ammo. With all due respect, stop trying to save on cheap ammo or reloaded ammo from shady sources. Some good ones out there so choose those.
4. Put your meanest baddest face on and visit the shop that sold you that *crap*. See if they will be honorable enough to cover your expenses at fixing a premium gun.
EDIT: 5. If you decide to shoot them, take the time to ensure the slide or breech fully closes prior to pull the trigger. Wear a full face helmet thick clothing and leather glove - just exaggerating a little bit here
Good luck and feed your guns good stuff!
Thanks for sharing your experience, we all learn from incidents like that.
Cheers
1. Thoroughly inspect all remaining unfired rounds for improperly seated primers. Neutralize (scrap) those with primer protruding from the base of the shell;
2. Take the barrel out of your gun and try them all out to ensure they chamber properly;
3. If you could afford such a fine gun, you should be able afford good ammo. With all due respect, stop trying to save on cheap ammo or reloaded ammo from shady sources. Some good ones out there so choose those.
4. Put your meanest baddest face on and visit the shop that sold you that *crap*. See if they will be honorable enough to cover your expenses at fixing a premium gun.
EDIT: 5. If you decide to shoot them, take the time to ensure the slide or breech fully closes prior to pull the trigger. Wear a full face helmet thick clothing and leather glove - just exaggerating a little bit here
Good luck and feed your guns good stuff!
Thanks for sharing your experience, we all learn from incidents like that.
Cheers
Thank you for the suggestions! I agree with feeding your guns good stuff. I usually use factory ammo or my own reloads, but had these reloads to use up.
After examining 200 rounds, I found the following:
-Primers were seated to proper depth, but one primer fell out when I picked up the round!! The primer pocket is too large or worn.
- 6 rounds did not fit in my .45acp case gauge. The taper or crimp was not set correctly. This could cause firing out of battery!
- The scariest is 4 rounds appears to be doubled charge based on comparing the weight of the rounds.
I don't think these reloads are safe to use and will neutralize and dispose of them. If anyone wants to pull the bullets or want the brass, they can have reloads for free in Calgary.
when you say you weighed them, how exactly are you doing that? if your weighing the whole cartridge, then that won't give you an accurate reading.
and can you move to toronto for a day or 2, i will take the reloads
when you say you weighed them, how exactly are you doing that? if your weighing the whole cartridge, then that won't give you an accurate reading.
and can you move to toronto for a day or 2, i will take the reloads
I was weighing the whole cartridge. The weight of reloads ranged from 297 to 301gr. The 4 rounds that I suspect are overcharged had a weight greater than 306 gr. Of course this still could be due to variation in the brass and lead cast. I am ignoring this and assuming a typical 4.5 to 6 gr powder for 230gr lead cast bullets. The purpose was a quick way to sort out the outliers. I will have to pull the bullet and weigh the powder to verify the charges.
I hear if you move west there are free reloads!
First, virtually all semi-auto handguns leave a portion of the case head unsupported. Normally, under proper working pressures, this is not an issue.
Second, while it is possible for some semi-auto handguns to fire slightly out of battery, it's generally not likely to occur. Case head failures are very commonly mistaken for out of battery ignitions.
Thirdly, what type of reloaded ammo I this? Factory reloads such as Wolf???? Or some fly-by-night idiot who has no business reloading for themselves let alone for sale. The fact that you had a case where the primer fell out on its own is an indication that the brass is done and could be the cause of the head failure although I suspect an over-charge (or even both).
I would not fire even one more round of that ammo.
Spawn-inc, I hope you would be tearing those rounds down for components and not being foolish by shooting them :/
Second, while it is possible for some semi-auto handguns to fire slightly out of battery, it's generally not likely to occur. Case head failures are very commonly mistaken for out of battery ignitions.
Thirdly, what type of reloaded ammo I this? Factory reloads such as Wolf???? Or some fly-by-night idiot who has no business reloading for themselves let alone for sale. The fact that you had a case where the primer fell out on its own is an indication that the brass is done and could be the cause of the head failure although I suspect an over-charge (or even both).
I would not fire even one more round of that ammo.
Spawn-inc, I hope you would be tearing those rounds down for components and not being foolish by shooting them :/
