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Expert Gunsmith JC Blauvelt on Over-Pressure Rounds and Exploding Handguns

Expert Gunsmith JC Blauvelt on Over-Pressure Rounds and Exploding Handguns

blown gun 1

Photo Gallery Comments (20)

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from 99explorer wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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.

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from mcdlacrosse9 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

Wow talk about good luck. I don't imagine he'll be trying out many new rounds in the near future.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Hrdicka wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from ChevJames wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from K. Oney wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

he sure is lucky that it didnt turn out worse than it did! granted, losing a gun is a major calamity, but losing a hand or an eye is worse.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from coho310 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from fishfreak98 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

I think we can all learn from that!!

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from jreed54 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

Thanks for posting these pictures. I think this is a strong reminder that even with careful reloading practices accidents can and do occur. Glad to hear that it was only a gash and not anything more serious.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from mihunter wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

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.

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from jmalbon wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

thats insane what was the powder load in those shells?

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from Nycflyangler wrote 2 years 11 weeks ago

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

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from fractured100 wrote 2 years 8 weeks ago

WOW...i don't know what else to say... just WOW

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from whitetailkjf wrote 2 years 8 weeks ago

he could have been killed!!

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from 82BUCKEYETOM wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

The owner of this revolver is one lucky guy. With the damage shown in these photos the fact that he's still alive is incredible. That old saying about
"Measure twice and,then "check it again" should be his mantra from now on. If he doesn't I expect his next entry into the internet will be on the Darwin Awards.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from 82BUCKEYETOM wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

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

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from the cowboy wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

too bad looked like a nice gun. ill use3 this as a precaution for using the appropriat ammo for my savage 30-30 lever

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from Jere Smith wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

He is lucky to be alive!

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from MilesBlogger@Gu... wrote 2 years 3 weeks ago

This guy is really lucky. It s a good reminder to all of us that reload to be careful when we reload.

Miles@Gunsellers.com

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from GrizzlyGus wrote 2 years 3 weeks ago

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.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from blackdawgz wrote 1 year 43 weeks ago

He was lucky to not be injured badly.

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from ChevJames wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from jreed54 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

Thanks for posting these pictures. I think this is a strong reminder that even with careful reloading practices accidents can and do occur. Glad to hear that it was only a gash and not anything more serious.

+2 Good Comment? | | Report
from 99explorer wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from mcdlacrosse9 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

Wow talk about good luck. I don't imagine he'll be trying out many new rounds in the near future.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Hrdicka wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from K. Oney wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

he sure is lucky that it didnt turn out worse than it did! granted, losing a gun is a major calamity, but losing a hand or an eye is worse.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from coho310 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

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!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from fishfreak98 wrote 2 years 13 weeks ago

I think we can all learn from that!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from mihunter wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

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.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from jmalbon wrote 2 years 12 weeks ago

thats insane what was the powder load in those shells?

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Nycflyangler wrote 2 years 11 weeks ago

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

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from fractured100 wrote 2 years 8 weeks ago

WOW...i don't know what else to say... just WOW

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from whitetailkjf wrote 2 years 8 weeks ago

he could have been killed!!

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from 82BUCKEYETOM wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

The owner of this revolver is one lucky guy. With the damage shown in these photos the fact that he's still alive is incredible. That old saying about
"Measure twice and,then "check it again" should be his mantra from now on. If he doesn't I expect his next entry into the internet will be on the Darwin Awards.

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from 82BUCKEYETOM wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

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

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from the cowboy wrote 2 years 7 weeks ago

too bad looked like a nice gun. ill use3 this as a precaution for using the appropriat ammo for my savage 30-30 lever

+1 Good Comment? | | Report
from Jere Smith wrote 2 years 5 weeks ago

He is lucky to be alive!

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from MilesBlogger@Gu... wrote 2 years 3 weeks ago

This guy is really lucky. It s a good reminder to all of us that reload to be careful when we reload.

Miles@Gunsellers.com

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from GrizzlyGus wrote 2 years 3 weeks ago

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.

0 Good Comment? | | Report
from blackdawgz wrote 1 year 43 weeks ago

He was lucky to not be injured badly.

0 Good Comment? | | Report

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