Shotgun Exploded at Range

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cooner said:
So here is the moral of my story,if you reload dont reload 2 piece hulls usually cheaper shells. Cut them open after you fire them and see if the base inside is one or two pieces.-cooner
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I would change your moral to, if you use 2 piece hulls over and over again, be aware that the base may separate.

If you limit your loading to one piece hulls you do not have much to choose from.

Makes me wonder what loaders did before one piece compression formed hulls came along? I remember they loaded them one or two times and chucked them. The compression formed hull made popular by AA spoiled reloaders. Now loaders expect multiple preformance and got the notion that the premium stuff must be better just because of its price or that it is not sold at wally world:confused:

My moral is that reloading requires caution and attention to detail.
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exploding gun

Had an old double years ago that split the barrels about 6" 1/2 down the barrel was not a plugged barrell as I had shot couple hundred earlier in the day, what my friend told me was that he heard 2 bangs when I fired and their was only one field in operation at the time, gunsmith figgured maybe a hang fire , Loades were hot hunting loads and probally old double barrels couldent take it. I did break the target and no one was hurt , didn't even notice until friend cae running up and said to check my gun.??

Supermag
 
I have personal experience with two shotguns that blew up about 35 years apart.

Both shotguns were shooting handloads.

The shells were not over loaded.

The shells had been loaded on a machine that had a broken finger on the wad guide. That caused a wad to be seated quite crooked. The cup part of the wad that was supposed to cover the powder and work as a seal to push the shot column when fired was so crooked it did not seal the powder and the pressure. Basically the shot column hardly moved as the pressure peaked and the chamber split. This was determined by examining other reloads. You could pick out the ones with the crooked wad seated... the side of the hull had a bulge.

In the first instance there was a lawsuit against the reloading machine manufacturer. The shooter lost the case as he had not read the owners manual nor learned how to actually use the machine correctly. The shooter had suffered a permanent finger injury.

In the second instance there was no permanent injury, just a BT99 destroyed. The left side of the chamber blew out causing the barrel to pivot in the shooters hand with the muzzle coming around and hitting the side of his head... knocking his glasses off. He had a shooting glove on and did not get any splinter from the escaping gases blowing the stock apart. Everyone on the trap line quit using his handloads...

Blown%20up%20BT99.jpg



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To add to the above statement, the cause is not always overloaded powder on hand loads that cause damage. A shell with not enough or no powder, could have enough power to open the hull and push the wad into the barrel. If the wad is not removed, the next shot usually isn't a pleasant one.
Allot of the time the wad on an under powdered load will leave the barrel, but if you don't check....
 
Jacky, you got nice legs!!! Hope you heal soon.

I am assuming that these pictures are public domain, as they got to me third hand at least by now.

If you want them posted Jacky, just let me know.
 
Wow good thing it wasnt a little lower and took out your knee. I guess it is the risk we take for the sport huh. Hope you heal up soon.
 
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