About 15 years ago, I had a Dan Wesson .357 magnum revolver blow up with factory ammo. The cylinder was perfectly intact, but there were cracks across the recoil shield and top strap. In fact, the top strap with the rear sight on it almost came off. The cylinder set back about 1/4 inch from the forcing cone. The only explanation: a badly investment cast frame. I reported this event in some gun forums, and some people were hotly disputing that it could have happened. Well, it did. Dan Wesson refunded me my money. It was a "Pistol Pac," and had four different barrel lengths. The barrel was fine. I had previously sent it back to Dan Wesson because it was out of time. It came back with a beautiful trigger pull--the best I've ever experienced on a double-action revolver. The gun was, of course, completely ruined. I've never bought a handgun with an investment cast frame or cylinder after that. There's too much that can go wrong with investment casting. I hear about how it can be very strong, and I'm sure that Ruger has the process pretty much perfected, but I just lost my confidence in that method of manufacture after getting my hand burned with hot powder particles. The ammo, by the way, was Remington half-jacketed loads, i.e., the bullet protruding above the case neck was jacketed, but the part within the case was not. The revolver always leaded badly. I kept it scrupulously clean, so if there was any lead buildup, it occurred during this one particular shooting session. This was the first and only catastrophic firearm failure I have ever personally experienced. Dan Wesson is doing better these days; in the mid-1980s, it was having bad quality control problems. Those of you who might own or shoot vintage Dan Wesson revolvers should take note.

That looks more like a Model 29, but it could be the light. The extent of the damage suggests a double charge. A close overhead inspection of the loading block before seating the bullets might have prevented this.

WOW, I agree with mcdlacrosse9... amazing no shrapnel came up and caught him in the face

when using new rounds that you're unfamilliar with try doin'some research online first.If you want to shoot a new round and you're reading this right now check a website and do some reasearch,you might not be as lucky as this guy got!

My uncle knows a guy that was reloading his own ammo (in a bolt action rifle) im pretty sure it was a 375 H&H and when he pulled the trigger, the round snapped the bolt off, shooting the bolt into his forearm and taking out his right eye. Now he has no use for his right arm and has to shoot left handed, still shooting and reloading today.

I wonder if this would qualify for our scumbag mayor's $200 firearm hand in payment?

he could have been killed!!

One question for Mr. Blauvelt, The rounds in the adjacent chambers, can you tell if they ignited when the gun was fired?

He is lucky to be alive!

A similar thing happened while out shooting but I wasn't the shooter. A WW1 Colt 45 revolver. My friend was standing about 3 paces to my right firing this gun and I heard and felt a hot rush of air followed by a gun part spinning through the air at a high rate of speed right by my head. After inspecting the gun, half of the cylinder was missing and the top strap was bowed up and barely attached. We never found the partial cylinder that whizzed by my head. NOTE: Just factory loads! Small mistakes can have serious results.