Interesting Blowup Story

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:09 pm

I'm putting this up for those of you tired of "off-topic" topics. I was browsing for reloading info and ran across this story:

I was shooting pistol in the early 1980s when, from the bay next door, came the loudest bang I have ever heard. I stuck my head round the partition to see a guy holding the handle of a S&W model 66. The barrel, apparently in pefect condition was 15 feet in front of him on the floor and there was a rectangular hole in the corrugated iron roof where the rear sight and top strap went through. They are probably still in orbit.
He insisted that he was only using 3 grains of Bullseye with a 150grn SWC bullet.
We pulled some of his remaining rounds and found them to be full of compressed Bullseye. He had just bought a new scale and couldn't tell the difference between 3grn and 30.

OUCH!

don Tomás · Post by **don Tomás** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:44 pm

Man - that had to leave a mark...

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed May 07, 2008 1:53 pm

I can understand the confusion with new and or different scales. I went from an ancient Redding scale with two adjusting weights, to an RCBS 5-0-5 scale with 3 adjusting weights. It took me some time to learn the difference and to make sure of what I was doing.

However I cannot believe that the guy couldn't understand that 3 grains of Bullseye will not fill up a 38 case. Seems to me that he had a major brain fanny burp. Hope he learned to use his scale after that.

Joe

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:06 pm

I thought you were going to talk about The WHite Sox locker room...

30gr? Yeah, that sight's in orbit... that or imbedded in Hubble...

505stevec · Post by **505stevec** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:42 pm

Oooh man! I am getting into reloading now and that makes me really nervous

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Wed May 07, 2008 2:50 pm

HEY !!!! GET OFF THE WHITE SOX !!!!

Yeah, 3gr or 30gr of Bullseye, what's the difference?

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:00 pm

meanc wrote:HEY !!!! GET OFF THE WHITE SOX !!!!

So, you approve of Ozzie's most recent "Team Motivation"/Slump Breaker programme?

I guess it doesn't matter since it didn't work.

Blow Up Misses

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:30 pm

505SteveC - you ought to be a little bit nervous.
Enough so so that you check and double-check
what you're doing, you check EVERY case for a double
charge if you're throwing powder manually, you check
EVERY case for the first dozen rounds or so when you change
your charge weight on a progressive press, you double-check
that the powder you're using is the correct type, that you check
a sample from EVERY box of bullets to make sure that they are the correct
diameter and weight, you check EVERY case to make sure that
it's not cracked, and you double-check you that you read the reloading
manual's recipe right.

If you're just a wee bit nervous and careful like an old woman,
you'll load fine ammo and have a blast.

And if you have questions, ask. There is a LOT of experience on
this forum, and most of these fine men and women are happy to
share with ya.

30 grains of unique?! That's a bomb, baby..........

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:35 pm

Yeah - check your powder twice!!

(Bullseye - not Unique - sheesh.....)

1886 · Post by **1886** » Wed May 07, 2008 3:35 pm

Anyone who is remotely versed in reloading knows the difference between 3grs and 30grs. A scale is not necessary to discern between the two charge weights. The eye test should tell the whole story. 1886.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Wed May 07, 2008 5:02 pm

Some other safety comments:
>Keep only ONE container of powder on the bench at a time.

>Empty your powder hopper into the correct container each time your finished loading.

>30 grs of Bullseye will detonate just about any hand gun chambered for just about any cartridge. This includes magnums.

Joe

meanc · Post by **meanc** » Wed May 07, 2008 6:35 pm

So, you approve of Ozzie's most recent "Team Motivation"/Slump Breaker programme?

OI, I had no idea that took place. But man, THAT IS SOME FUNNY STUFF !!!

ScottT · Post by **ScottT** » Wed May 07, 2008 6:38 pm

It has always amazed me that when revolvers let go, generally the shooter is not hurt badly. I have never had one come unglued in my presence, but have seen quite a number of them over the years. It must be unnerving to have it let go in your hand.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed May 07, 2008 8:34 pm

30 grains of Bullseye in a pistol case. That's impressive!

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Wed May 07, 2008 9:56 pm

meanc wrote:
So, you approve of Ozzie's most recent "Team Motivation"/Slump Breaker programme?

OI, I had no idea that took place. But man, THAT IS SOME FUNNY STUFF !!!

Gotta love Ozzie...

Too bad the Cubs are destined to win this year.

piller · Post by **piller** » Wed May 07, 2008 10:37 pm

At least someone provided an example of what to never duplicate.

Hope that bad example wasn't hurt.

Post by **Hobie** » Thu May 08, 2008 9:05 am

Mike Venturino has told how he subbed Universal Clays for Clays and how he blew the topstrap off a nice Colt SA. It happens and you have to pay attention to detail to avoid it happening to you. I've caught myself and rather than continue just walk away from the bench.

Bluehawk · Post by **Bluehawk** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:34 am

After 35 years of reloading even though it takes MUCH LONGER I charge an individual case then seat the bullet IN THAT CASE Just for that reason I DO NOT charge a whole tray of ready cases then go to the seating process its the way I have seen MOST over charges to occur with a th 3 grains of BUlleseye load its WAY to easy to double charge a case that way . I do that regardless of the cal rifle or handgun I KNOW it takes a lot longer one round at a time but I DONT want any problems IF I EVEN suspect I may have over charged a case i dump it and start from scratch . IM always too scared

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Thu May 08, 2008 10:49 am

Bet the flash blinded him

Bet it knocked his ear plugs in a bit farther too

Nath.

Texican · Post by **Texican** » Thu May 08, 2008 12:31 pm

This story mirrors almost exactly an experience I witnessed at the old LSFSC range in Chico (probably about '95) except that it was with a new-to-reloading CAS shooter who blew the topstrap and three chambers of the cylinder of his Uberti SAA into the next county. This was during some informal plinking after the match and we were sharing the East bay. Spooky part was he hadn't waited for me to step back after I fired before he touched it off. He just stepped even with me and shot. He was five feet to my right, if his arms had been shorter I might not be here. I've never been so startled

. My friend, Nobuddy, was on the other side of the berm near the target shed and heard a piece of shrapnel go overhead like a 'giant hornet'. The real kicker is he didn't know what he'd done and tried to cock the revolver again

(while I was yelling 'STOP, STOP, STOP!!!' [I might have yelled other things too.]) My angel got hazardous duty pay that day, no doubt. Afterwards he denied fault, claiming hardfast that the charge was accurate and that it must have been a 'detonation'. I didn't see him again after that; maybe CAS was too expensive.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Thu May 08, 2008 8:36 pm

Bluehawk wrote:After 35 years of reloading even though it takes MUCH LONGER I charge an individual case then seat the bullet IN THAT CASE Just for that reason I DO NOT charge a whole tray of ready cases then go to the seating process its the way I have seen MOST over charges to occur ...

Ditto. THat is why I dislike Single Stage Presses. I use either a Progressive or a Lee Loader. Both fill/make one cartridge at a time.