LE No 1 blowup or how not to dissemble a Lee Enfield (Update post #97)

The American H.P. White Laboratories are one of the premier firearms testing labs in North America and I am paraphrasing from a H.P White document.

The majority of catastrophic firearms failures are not due to one single high pressure event. The majority of these catastrophic firearms failures are caused by a series of much lower over pressure events that ultimately cause the firearm to fail.

The pipe wrench marks on the barrel were a very good sign that Bubba the amateur bicycle mechanic had been at work and the reason for the catastrophic failure.
 
bigedp51 said:
The American H.P. White Laboratories are one of the premier firearms testing labs in North America and I am paraphrasing from a H.P White document.

The majority of catastrophic firearms failures are not due to one single high pressure event. The majority of these catastrophic firearms failures are caused by a series of much lower over pressure events that ultimately cause the firearm to fail.

The pipe wrench marks on the barrel were a very good sign that Bubba the amateur bicycle mechanic had been at work and the reason for the catastrophic failure.
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I thought Bubba was a sackbarrow mechanic as he failed first the bicycle course & then the wheelbarrow course?
 
bdft said:
It will be a cold day in Hell before I give anything to the RCMP voluntarily. I can't believe anybody would even suggest it. Some of you guys haven't been paying attention.

I think I'll stick to 22 for a while, maybe my AR15. :D
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Yah that would work.. lol
 
Nabs said:
Given what is left of that rifle to the RCMP will only encourage them to disarm the collectors and shooters even more as it would likely be done to "save us from these dangerous things".

I would take it to a reputable gunsmith and avoid the RCMP.
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Definately..
 
Looking at how one side peeled and the other blew right off, I'd say it was previously cracked and finally let go. Possibly an over charge, possibly excessive headspace ( which I doubt), maybe when you went to close the bolt it shoved the bullet way in and compressed the powder, I've had a couple 303 rounds push the bullets in from jamming on the chamber..

But seriously frame that thing, put it on the wall with your metal inlayed safety glasses and the ruined pair of underwear. You are one lucky guy
 
We want a picture of the safety glasses with the embedded metal chunks from the kaboom.

Nice visual object lesson on why to wear eye protection.
 
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Some time ago I remember DND was going to scrap the issue 303 enfield.Not because of out dated,but of issues of guns " blowing up" in the UK ,ones used by the cadets( I assume they shoot 303 still).My understanding was these rifles were fired so much,in excess of 100,000rounds in its life time and barrel replacements,the metal has work hardened,became brittle,and at the rite time........BOOM...

Can not back up with writings....I am sure someone will find it!!
 
I think you need to leave that mag in it, and put it in a nice shadow box in your man cave. Worth the $150 for an artifact you can pass down, the rifle that almost killed you .
 
skip1600 said:
Looking at how one side peeled and the other blew right off, I'd say it was previously cracked and finally let go. Possibly an over charge, possibly excessive headspace ( which I doubt), maybe when you went to close the bolt it shoved the bullet way in and compressed the powder, I've had a couple 303 rounds push the bullets in from jamming on the chamber..

But seriously frame that thing, put it on the wall with your metal inlayed safety glasses and the ruined pair of underwear. You are one lucky guy
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I agree, thats a good conversation piece now.
 
Congrats on surviving intact! In addition to the pipe wrench marks already mentioned, I see on the lower side of the receiver face in your 4th photo, what IMO can only be the track of a hacksaw where someone undercut the previous barrel to remove it and did it too close to the receiver.

Not really a factor in this blowup, but along with the one piece stock, evidence that the rifle has been severely mucked around with since new. The one-piece stock modification was not done by any UK gunsmiths for sporting rifles in that era AFAIK, so it's some home-shop guy here in Canada who did it. Who knows what else he did!

From the proof mark on the flat of the bolt knob, this was probably a Lee Enfield MkI or MkI* Carbine action originally. The serial number that would have helped confirm that is out on the range somewhere - do you remember the number?

Being a LEC action doesn't mean it is any weaker obviously, but it might help to date the action.

Some good close up photos of the fracture surfaces would help. I can't suggest any reason other than those already covered by Claven2 except that there are flaws and defects in some proportion of all rifle's metallurgy and after at least 107 years of who knows what abuse this is bound to happen occasionally.

As for turning the remains in to any police force, WTH would be the point of that?! (OP: not directed at you!) Why give ammo to those who would like to ban older rifles? The BS from the UK MoD about cadet rifles supposedly blowing up has been dealt with by Peter Laidler on another site and he knew the details personally. It was some idiots taking DP rifles without bolt heads onto a range and mixing them up with serviceable rifles. WTH they would have DP rifles without bolt heads is a mystery someone else will have to answer!

Send the receiver for metallurgical analysis or hang it on the wall with a picture of yourself and "The one that got away" as the caption.;)
 
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The post above adds evidence to the idea that the barrel was changed. If it was change, it might not have been changed to another 303 Brit. If I was making a sporter (which, as it happens, I am) it would be the 303 chamber in a 30 cal or 7mm barrel.

When I was with CIL ammo division, we produced a 25 cal made with the 303 case. Apparently is was popular in Australia.

If the barrel was tighter than 30 cal, I can see it blowing up the gun.
 
Excellent point Ganderite; are there any proof marks on the barrel? I think I see the old two step Nock's Form, but can't be sure.

Could just be the photo or my eye, but that chamber mouth looks larger than standard. Did the barrel swell at the breach from the explosion?

Could someone have reamed the chamber for a .303 "improved" cartridge?

DSCN1507_zpsf875e837.jpg
 
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