Shotgun Accident in Kelowna

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Shoot545

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This happened earlier today, the locals news is saying the shotgun cartridge was loaded with too much powder.

From www.castanet.net.

Gun explodes, injures two
by Rachael Kimola - Story: 44303
Jan 10, 2009 / 1:01 pm

A freak accident involving an exploding gun sent two men to hospital in Kelowna Saturday morning.

Emergency officials were called to the Kelowna and District Fish and Game Club on Casorso Road just after 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Staff Sergeant Bob Reuter of the Kelowna RCMP says a man was practicing trap shooting when the gun he was using exploded, sending pieces of shrapnel flying.

“The shot gun malfunctioned, it just blew apart. He pulled the trigger and the gun exploded. Shrapnel hit a man standing on the left hand side of the shooter, it grazed his head. A second man, standing on the right hand side, was hit in the leg,” says Reuter.

He says both men were taken to Kelowna General Hospital.

“Their injuries are not life threatening, but I believe the man hit in the leg will require some care. I believe the man whose head was grazed will at least need a couple of stitches. The shooter was not injured.”

Reuter says he has heard of guns malfunctioning like that, but never personally seen it until now.

“It could have been worse. Given the considerable force exerted, it could have been much worse. To the best of my knowledge, the club will remain open, we have no reason to keep it closed as this appears to be nothing more than a horrible accident.”

He says he believes the three men are known to each other, but couldn’t say if they were shooting at the club together.
 
Wow. I've been to that range many times. Goes to show that even if you are sure of your loads that you should still wear eye protection. And even if you are just watching.

I haven't done any shotgun shell reloading but wouldn't you notice that you had too much powder before you load the wad and lead? More so than with a rifle or handgun round? Doesn't the wad and lead shot just sit on top of the powder charge and would thus be noticeable on the end product?

To me it sounds like it might have been the wrong powder. Halfway through reloading he added some more powder to the reloader but it was Bullseye instead of whatever. I'm just guessing out load here.

Shoot545, do you know the people involved?


Fudd
 
I especially like how they portray it as a HANDGUN in the pictures of that so called newspaper,.. making the inexperienced think, "oh just another handgun accident"

WTF, it was a shotgun, not a handgun,.. I thinking the writer needs to be "informed"

But on a side note,. was it a handgun, and not a shotgun,.. I wish reporters would get their crapola together.
 
Just thinking about that too.

Names haven't been released but I hope it's not anyone I know...
And you're right, eye protection is key. A lot of ranges don't enforce those rules as much as they should, but I guess it's the member's responsibility to follow all proper safety procedures. I suppose we can just be thankful this was at a range and not somewhere out in the boonies where there is no cell phone service and things could have been much more serious.

I'm curious to find out what exactly happened, the news report said the evidence was taken to the lab to see if it was indeed too much powder.
 
Jasontheterrible said:
I especially like how they portray it as a HANDGUN in the pictures of that so called newspaper,.. making the inexperienced think, "oh just another handgun accident"

WTF, it was a shotgun, not a handgun,.. I thinking the writer needs to be "informed"

But on a side note,. was it a handgun, and not a shotgun,.. I wish reporters would get their crapola together.
Click to expand...

I noticed that too!
I think it was just an old file photo. Castanet is local online news site and I have noticed a ton of things on the site that are a little misleading. I mean, before I started reading the article I really thought it was a handgun accident because of the photo. I don't care enough to email them about but I'm thinking someone probably will, it is after all Kelowna, everyone's got to beak off about something!

The news story cleared everything up for me. If anyone gets CHBC I'm sure it will be on later again.

Apparently the initial 911 call was thought to be a criminal act so SIX police cars and 3 ambulances were dispatched.
 
#1bcshooter said:
Is it just me or are you noticing more reloading disasters . I have been reloading for 30+ yrs & always pay special attention to powder & charge .
Some people must be :onCrack: wile reloading
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I think people are realizing that it's cheaper to load rounds yourself. I think you break even if you load your own shotgun ammo rather than just head over to Wally World and buy it, but for some it's more of a fun hobby. I know it's much cheaper to load your own .303, but that's about the maximum experience I have had with it. I've done it and it's definitely a good way to kill a rainy Sunday or a boring weeknight evening, so perhaps some people view it as more of a fun hobby, and don't realize it's potentially lethal if you screw it up!
People don't take enough care or pay enough attention when they're doing it anymore, and that could be why the shell was either overloaded or had the wrong powder in it.
 
ElmerFudd said:
I haven't done any shotgun shell reloading but wouldn't you notice that you had too much powder before you load the wad and lead?
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Not before but you should notice after. I've double loaded shells and when it happens either the primer has backed out or the crimp is bulged.
 
There are way more reloaders out there now than 10 and 20 years ago.
Also, I am hearing about shotgun accidents from around the world all the time. Snow in the barrels, specially snow that melted and moved down the barrel and re-froze causes a lot of trouble. Mud in the barrel does its share of damage too. Even on a trap pad there is a chance for snow getting into the muzzle.
 
I should start wearing safety glasses...and hearing protection..ahh its too late for that. One thing is, i'll never use anyone's reloads and i won't reload for anyone else. shotgun barrels are pretty weak at the muzzle. I've seen two split like a banana and send no metal flying. One with crap in the barrel and the other guy was trying to shoot fish...and blew the gun apart. He borrowed the gun from a friend. LOL....he didn't get any fish either.
 
Claybuster said:
It is profoundly stupid to shoot clays without eye protection.
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Ya, i'm a stupid ####er alright. After shooting 10's of thousands of rds from MG's with no eye wear,i quess i'm lucky..and i don't wear condoms either. Most old school shooters that don't frequent ranges NEVER wear glasses.
 
jamiejaf said:
Ya, i'm a stupid f**ker alright. After shooting 10's of thousands of rds from MG's with no eye wear,i quess i'm lucky..and i don't wear condoms either. Most old school shooters that don't frequent ranges NEVER wear glasses.
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Great. We don't miss people so profoundly stupid that they don't understand that shooting clay targets presents three potential threats to an unprotected eye.

And on the off chance someone stumbles in without safety glasses and refuses to wear those provided by the club we throw their dumb asses off the property.
 
Claybuster said:
Great. We don't miss people so profoundly stupid that they don't understand that shooting clay targets presents three potential threats to an unprotected eye.

And on the off chance someone stumbles in without safety glasses and refuses to wear those provided by the club we throw their dumb asses off the property.
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Good too hear. Anyone not wearing safety glasses or hearing protection, can I have your firearms. I SAID I'LL TAKE EM! I"M OVER HERE!:p:slap:
I've been at a sporting clay shoot where a guy dumped a double charge (I think Red Dot) & not too much happened other than a louder bang. Can't speak for all powders, but knowing a lot of trap shooters who have a tendency to rest the end of their barrel on their shoe between shooting, I tend to think the barrel was probably obstructed. That or Damascus barrels on granpa's old rabbit eared shotgun finally gave up the ghost with smokeless powder.
 
jamiejaf said:
Ya, i'm a stupid f**ker alright. After shooting 10's of thousands of rds from MG's with no eye wear,i quess i'm lucky..and i don't wear condoms either. Most old school shooters that don't frequent ranges NEVER wear glasses.
Click to expand...

I'll bet the reason you don't wear Condoms is that you never have the opportunity too. With an attitude like yours.
 
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