45 colt destroyed

[Doc_Stihl]

I still would like to know what that pistol would have had to look like for someone to say. "BAD METAL" or "The Pistol Failed".
It's easy to blame the ammo when there's NO way to rule it out after the fact.

[DeanWinchester]

Gotta wonder what they would have said had you not told them you were shooting reloads.

[Buckshot]

I did this through not paying attention, and thinking I was a very safe reloader. This happened maybe 20 years ago and was the result of a double charge of IMR 4227 under the Lyman 311284. The rifle was a nice old Springfield NRA Sporter. The only thing left of value was the trigger guard and buttplate. No one was hurt so all turned out okay considering the alternatives. If me showing this photo, same as the OP being man enough to display his, and it prevents this from happening to anyone else it will be time well spent. In case anyone is interested, the 218gr Lyman slug tripped the PACT Chrono at a tad over 3,000 fps.


.................Buckshot

[Piedmont]

These threads always make me want to load a powder that fills over half the case.

Then the cheapskate in me takes over and I buy more fast burning stuff. Hope it doesn't turn out to be expensive in the long run.

[John Boy]

These threads always make me want to load a powder that fills over half the case.

Start shooting black powder! In a 45 Colt, 30 -35grs of powder looks like Mt Everest in the case! Double charge and the spilled powder will be all over the press and on your loading bench ... especially using a progress press like a Dillon. Yep, I use a 550B for my BP reloads
Plus ... original gunpowder is a weak powder! One can compress the powder column to the lips like a brick and you'll have heavier recoil but NEVER will your firearm be damaged

[oldred]

And besides that it's just plain fun!!!!

[jeepyj]

Thank you for sharing. A very good reminder how quickly things can change. Posts like this help all who read them stay sharp. I'm oh so glad there were no injuries.
Jeepyj

[doc1876]

OMG! Well all I can and will say is I also thank you for sharing, and for the education here. I am glad you and none of yours were hurt, but please don't give up on the LC, it is a great gun.

as to the weigh cases comment, I weigh all of my reloads, cases, bullets, charges, knowing the numbers will be different, I weigh whole match, and am still afraid of an over charge. Yes it takes all day, but I have today, might not have tomorrow.

[doc1876]

is this the same gun with the timing issue about a month ago? could that have been the real culprit again?

[beezapilot]

I recently acquired a Uberti .45 Cattleman, took it apart & cleaned it well. I noticed on reassembly that the cylinder seemed out of time, played around with it a bit and noted that (unlike the Blackhawks) the cylinder pin did not lock positively into the frame- it seemed as though there was a "stop" when it was dang near seated all the way, but allowed the cylinder to turn but mis-time, then a second stop when the pin was all the way in that removed all the slop and allowed the cylinder to fully engage the locking mechanism. Just a thought....

[Idz]

I was trying to figure out how to get a double charge on my Lee pro-1000 progressive and was unable too until I found one of my Pro-Auto-Disk powder measures was loose enough to reset itself from its own weight. Then by retracting the ram about 1/3 stroke and extending it again I could get a double charge. My fix was easy, simply prevent the auto-disk from resetting itself.
I made a spring clip that catches and holds the powder lever. Then since the Lee rest chain often got tangled and broke I replaced it with a bent coat hanger. Finally since the autodisk and bullet feeder interfere I made a new bracket and moved the autodisk actuator over to where the primer lockout screw is. Now without breaking something on the press I can't get a double-charge. I still have a light so I can visually check the charge as I place the bullet.

[bbqncigars]

It's great that no injuries were sustained. I double charged a couple of times on a 550B, but caught it. Also had erratic charges due to bridging in the drop tube on my LNL AP. All caught by good lighting and the hairy eyeball. Everyone screws up sometime, you just have to be careful and take your time.

[.45Cole]

The truth is this happens every once in a while here and it serves to keep us all vigilant. You have THE case for a double charge, as a .45 colt is almost large enough for a triple charge. I usually double charge a case at the end of a run and put it in the block to visually check all the cases to see if they look like a 2x'er.
The main thing is you're ok, and I think maybe a pride band-aid is in order. Get another .45 colt and keep on slingin' lead.
(maybe you could put the cylinder back in and "display" it at a locally owned gun store to help serve as a reminder to always be vigilant!)


Can't order one of those out of the catalog (unless china's getting into the business)

[jonp]

Final word

Its hard to read.

Condition received --- Poor ... Firearm has Catostrophic incident top strap has bowed upwards & cylinder has been blown apart.

6-5-14. Gun has been blown up by overcharged ammo.
RO spoke with customer, customer was using reloads Not warranty. Marked unsafe to fire. Sent back to customer.




Their we have it folks.


Thanks all lesson learned. Weigh your loaded rounds when using large cases with small loads.

Glad they marked it "unsafe to fire". I might have stuck a cork in the barrel, filled with blackpowder and given it a whirl.

[jonp]

Start shooting black powder! In a 45 Colt, 30 -35grs of powder looks like Mt Everest in the case! Double charge and the spilled powder will be all over the press and on your loading bench ... especially using a progress press like a Dillon. Yep, I use a 550B for my BP reloads
Plus ... original gunpowder is a weak powder! One can compress the powder column to the lips like a brick and you'll have heavier recoil but NEVER will your firearm be damaged

Or fill it full of Trailboss (if you can find it)! The important thing is no-one was hurt.

BTW: thanks for the pictures and the reminder to concentrate on what you are doing and always double check the charges before seating.

[Tackleberry41]

I guess once the OP said 'reloads' that was the end of the discussion as far us Uberti was concerned. And the guy on the phone didnt have to be rude, but again now that its not a warranty issue, maybe customer service is no longer required.

[JHeath]

[QUOTE=Buckshot;

I did this through not paying attention, and thinking I was a very safe reloader. This happened maybe 20 years ago and was the result of a double charge of IMR 4227 under the Lyman 311284. The rifle was a nice old Springfield NRA Sporter. The only thing left of value was the trigger guard and buttplate. No one was hurt so all turned out okay considering the alternatives. If me showing this photo, same as the OP being man enough to display his, and it prevents this from happening to anyone else it will be time well spent. In case anyone is interested, the 218gr Lyman slug tripped the PACT Chrono at a tad over 3,000 fps.


.................Buckshot[/QUOTE]

Buckshot, thanks for including the MV, that's one of the most interesting pieces of info on this thread.

Say . . . I saw an NRA sporter in a shop recently. I noticed it was a low-numbered receiver (heat treatment problems). I mentioned it to the clerk, who pretended ignorance and put it back on the rack. I am sure he knew the problem before he showed it to me, and counted on my ignorance. Also that he'll sell it to somebody who doesn't know.

Any chance yours was a low-number receiver?

[swheeler]

I did this through not paying attention, and thinking I was a very safe reloader. This happened maybe 20 years ago and was the result of a double charge of IMR 4227 under the Lyman 311284. The rifle was a nice old Springfield NRA Sporter. The only thing left of value was the trigger guard and buttplate. No one was hurt so all turned out okay considering the alternatives. If me showing this photo, same as the OP being man enough to display his, and it prevents this from happening to anyone else it will be time well spent. In case anyone is interested, the 218gr Lyman slug tripped the PACT Chrono at a tad over 3,000 fps.


.................Buckshot

There you go trying to push the velocity envelope again! I heard it could be dangerous

[GoodOlBoy]

I am going to throw my 2 cents in the ring even though I KNOW I am late to the conversation.

I have seen blown revolvers before, mostly clones, and mostly due to double charges, OR overpower loads. What strikes me in THIS case is that the brass of BOTH of the rounds to either side of the failure seem to be blown out pretty cleanly and evenly for a double charge. I know that a double charge is most likely, I am not disputing that. I am always terrified of doing it myself. I am wondering if it wasn't due to a air pocket, or fault in the steel used to cut the cylinder from. I wouldn't rule that out either. Would it make me even more vigilant in my reloading? Yes. Would I automatically assume it was a double charge? No. I have seen some clones that had cylinder throats that were either too far under spec or too far over. Heck my own blackhawk had one chamber that I suspected was the culprit to why I ALWAYS had one flier out of six rounds. When measured it turned out the cylinder throat on that chamber, and ONLY that chamber was .447. Not .452-453 like the rest. Ruger offered to fix it, but a buddy had just bought a throat reaming kit for his 45 colt to fix a similar problem so we just did it ourselves. I still shudder to think about what that chamber might have done if I had been shooting anything but soft lead cowboy loads.

My point is that if the chamber had a defect, and if the throats were on the small side, and if the bullets were on the large side it wouldn't take an incredible number of rounds to blow the cylinder due to continued weakening of the chamber wall until it failed. Honestly we will never know.

Like others I echo the fact that at least nobody got hurt and that's the most important thing.

BTW Yes if ever you send a gun to a manufacturer with damage and tell them you reload you pretty well automatically go to the "it's the end user's fault" line.

Also I noticed that the reload data on the sheet with the PB powder says 45 ACP. I am not saying that it IS the cause of a failure, but that isn't the reload data you used is it?

Thanks

GoodOlBoy

[flyingmonkey35]

Goodolboy

Nope that was not the reloading data that I was using for the lc.

I also reload 45 acp as well