Revolver blew up

lyman54

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 90%
18   2   0
Yesterday I was shooting my Pietta 1873 45Colt. I've been reloading it for over a year now, no problems. Decided to try some loads close to the max of 7.3gr 6.8 actually. Was accurate and going good until a rather loud boom. The cylinder blew in half and bent the top strap upwards but didn't break it. The action itself works fine and barrel is good, I'm fine too. Going to take it to a an excellent smith here in Ottawa, see what he says. It will need a new cylinder if the frame can be fixed but I don't know if a cylinder can be imported. Any thoughts? Be gentle I'm still in mourning. If I could post photos I would. Thanks. :bangHead:
 
That one might be a good candidate to hand over to Turdo for compensation if the smith can't fix it. LOL :)

Good you are ok
 
That SUCKS!

Glad you are okay, but the second bummer is you can not replace it if it can not be fixed!

If all you need is a cylinder, I can't see that being a problem? It's not the frame...
 
using lead bullet data with jacketed bullets? 1873 is a light duty design originally intended for black powder loads...yes current steel is stronger and heat treating helps but....was load intended for ruger blackhawks?
 
Maybe you could try and see if the
factory would replace the frame
They could number it the same as it
is a factory replacement
Did that decade's ago with a Colt
AR15 lower receiver that had issues
 
Courtesy of the OP... :O

sDLgffs.jpg
 
Post your load (powder, primer, bullet).

I'm wondering if you used Blackhawk or jacketed loads for a lead bullet.

Or maybe you double charged?

I suspect the frame will be toast, but gunco will know for sure.
 
using lead bullet data with jacketed bullets? 1873 is a light duty design originally intended for black powder loads...yes current steel is stronger and heat treating helps but....was load intended for ruger blackhawks?

Well AFAIK jacketed or lead use the same data. These were 250gr jacketed I also use 250gr lead sometimes. I know those Rugers can take double the loads I would never go there. If it can't be fixed then there will be a lot of .45 loading stuff for sale.
 
What was your load, exactly? That kind of damage isn't going to occur from using lead data with a jacketed bullet. Looks like a double charge to me...
 
Sure glad your unmarked by the hand grenade but I'm afraid anything else I can say wont comfort you much.

That frame is toast for all intensive purposes. When that top strap stretches', everything else that needs to line up shifts position as well. The bore and axle C/L will never return to original orientation without very stringent metal jigs to help with line-up. I'm not saying it is impossible but unless you have a buddy with some very expensive measuring equipment that only the most proficient miachinist/tool maker could use and will do the work free, a commercial program cost would be many time the gun's value. Even if you can get it trued up again , I would be suspicious of cracking started at the corners & junctions of the frame pieces from the original injury and maybe compounded during straightening.
A month ago you could have ordered a new frame from VTI but unfortunately that window was slammed shut.

As far as cause of the original injury goes we probably will never know if it was a double charge or the fact that the fickle fait of Italian gun manufacture just jumped up at you... I am forever getting jacked up on this forum for saying that even though they are chambered for magnum or similar rounds....they just aint strong enough sometimes and their aint no second chance on a hand grenade...when those BP designs get hit with a Smokeless powder pressure curve 1873 designs loose every time.
 
Well AFAIK jacketed or lead use the same data. These were 250gr jacketed I also use 250gr lead sometimes. I know those Rugers can take double the loads I would never go there. If it can't be fixed then there will be a lot of .45 loading stuff for sale.

That is the first I ever heard of that. Lead bullets normally use less powder, due to lead requiring less resistance going down the barrel, than a jacketed bullet.
 
I do not believe a normal even max load will result in this outcome on any current manufactured revolver.
 
Back
Top Bottom