The rifle will not fire with the bolt open. The cocking cam turns the bolt down. In all likelyhood, the energy required to turn the bilt down would be great enough that the primer would not be struck hard enough to fire the rifle. If it did fire, the bolt would be closed enough to be OK; with a normal load.
Model 70 explosion
- Thread starter Buckmastr
- Start date
I've experimented with this using a Mauser action, and even if the bolt is only slightly ajar, there isn't enough energy left in the firing pin to ignite the primer.
You can, however, demonstrate that it won't fire by using a primed case with no powder or bullet.
Ted
How much pressure would be developed if a defective case without a flash-hole was fired in a rifle? Would it create more back-thrust against the bolt than when a normal case is fired where the case walls grip the chamber walls?
Also, what would cause the case head to blow out on the off-side of the extractor cut? If the case head was defective I would think it would let go on the weaker side with the cut.
Also, what would cause the case head to blow out on the off-side of the extractor cut? If the case head was defective I would think it would let go on the weaker side with the cut.
Wouldnt that be the same effect as firing primer? How would primer set off the powder without a flashhole?
Who said the powder within the cartridge was set off? If there was no flash-hole - a long shot I will admit - all the power of the primer would blow back against the bolt face.
While this is probably as I mentioned a low odds scenario I do know I have found 2 cases over the last 20 years - one Winchester and one Federal - in bulk reloading brass that didn't have a flash-hole punched.
I am curious though if any tests have ever been recorded to measure rearwards thrust when a case without a hole was fired in a rifle chamber .
If a primer could generate enough pressure to do that to an action you wouldn't need cartridges with powder in them.
Any more insight into what may have happened here? Terrible the shooter was injured. Any updates on his condition?
Very disconcerting when thinking about nuzzling up to a rifle to put rounds downrange.
Cheers
Jay
Very disconcerting when thinking about nuzzling up to a rifle to put rounds downrange.
Cheers
Jay
I have had a gun or three disassemble itself on me before. That really looks like a case of wrong powder (pistol/shotgun instead of rifle). Of course someone would blame it on factory ammo anyway. Might have a chance at compensation right? Federal will know if it was their ammo. Their lot to lot tracking is actually pretty impressive. Hard to tell but it doesn't look like the loaded round on the table is a SP..?
Totally a possibility.
I'm not active on any other firearms forums or groups, so I haven't heard if there was any other explanation out there, but if there in fact was an injured party I'm guessing that somebody out there would know them and corroborate the story and provide more info or better photos of the relevant parts. If that was the case I'd suspect it would filter back to here.
Hi. Just saw this. Have not read the posts past the one I am responding to.
This is the kind of incident that gives the company lawyer grey hair.
The remaining ammo should be pulled part, with the components all kept together in 18 envelopes. If it is ball powder, there is the possibility that a jug of pistol ball powder got added to the loading machine. A number of rounds would then get almost pure pistol powder and a number of others would be contaminated and hot. If this is the cause there will be/there were other similar incidents. This is why there is a lot # stamped on every box. It can be recalled.
The violence of the burst is similar to how a M70 reacts to a case of pistol powder.
A barrel obstruction would not look like this, based on my observations.
The other thing that could pipe bomb a M70 is a wrong ammo. Suppose a magnum round was in the box that was a bit shorter, with a fatter bullet was in the box or on the bench?
I recall an incident where a 25-06 was blown up at the proof house. They used a 308 round.
As I sit here I don't know what round would be shorter and fatter that could be chambered. Something like a 35 Whelen, but that would look different.
I don't know how this factory worked, but at the factories I worked at, the ammo went into big bins and then went to final inspection and packaging. A given box could have rounds that were loaded 20,000 rounds later. The best indicator of pistol powder (it has happened) is other similar blown rifles.
This happens. If the odd round will chamber, but has a fat bullet, it will blow the action. This has been done.
