CZ Scorpion fired out of battery

[GARD72977]

My 20 yr old step daughter was shooting my CZ Scorpion. She has limited gun experience. She really had no idea about how the gun recoiled or when it actually fired. She was shooting a 20rd mag and this happened in the middle of the mag.

I loaded the ammo. It was close to max with a 147gr PC bullet.

The shell extracted but was not ejected from the gun. Nothing was jammed. This case was in the action and it was not locked back.

Looks to me as if the firing pin hit the primer when the case was partrially chambered.

The dark line is not a crack. Its just discoloration . the case is completely intact. Never seen anything even close to this

[Moleman-]

Had a similar thing happen with a 9mm carbine. Was shooting it and had a puff of smoke and burning on my left forearm. The ejected case had blown out and looking at the ground there were several ballooned up cases along with one that had ruptured. Checking out the gun, what had happened was a small amount of sand had got in the gun and was keeping it open by about 1/8" to 3/16". Ended up with what looked like mild sunburn on the inside of my left forearm from where the gas came out of the magwell, deflected off of the drum then onto my forearm. They were mild 124gr cast loads and the gun was shooting normally up until then.

[crankycalico]

talk about an unsupported chamber.... oh the superior automatic.

[Peregrine]

Very interesting how that case has deformed, thanks for sharing. That's wild!

I have zero experience with the Scorpion so I can't speculate as to the mechanical causes, but I am very glad the case did not actually burst and cause any distress or injury to your daughter. While even in that case it probably would be minor it for sure could have soured her on shooting.

[Hossfly]

Glad she didn’t get hurt. That is really strange looking. You wouldn’t think that brass could stretch that far and not separate. I wouldn’t think it would balloon like that unless it was very soft.

[owejia]

This one should go in your cartridge collection!!! Really symmetrical swell, would be hard to make one like that on purpose. Glad no harm came from it.

[Mr_Sheesh]

It took me a second staring at the picture wondering "what sort of widget is that case inserted into?" before I realized it was just the case! No sleep last night though, that's my excuse :P

Dang, definitely glad that wasn't worse! Something to figure out and fix, definitely.

[GARD72977]

I posted a pic because it was so odd. My personal opinion is the brass is not weak at all but of exceptional quality. I think the quality is why it was able to form completely symmetric. Just my opinion.

What ever allowed it was certainly rare.

[EMC45]

That's nearly perfect.

[JBinMN]

GARD72977,


I am Very glad to read that no one was hurt or worse, and what an amazing thing to see!

Thanks for sharing!

--------------------------

It took me a second staring at the picture wondering "what sort of widget is that case inserted into?" before I realized it was just the case! No sleep last night though, that's my excuse :P

Dang, definitely glad that wasn't worse! Something to figure out and fix, definitely.

You are not alone. Early this morning I did the same thing, thinking it was a case inserted into something else.

[725]

Glad no injuries. Had a Colt 9mm AR do a similar thing. The owner is a reasonable gun guy, but we never decided why it happened.

[SOFMatchstaff]

I have had several instances in sub guns that produced the same bulged ring, and every time it was caused by a case separation that left the front portion of the case in the chamber, thus a short chamber depth and out of battery ignition.

You dont say whether you continued to shoot after the incident. When I first read the "CZ Scorpion, 147gr " I thought 32acp, 147gr, close to max, ....WOW .. A closer look at the headstamp explained what you didnt indicate in the post. Also is it a semi auto or NFA weapon? I would bet on an under-resized case or a fouled chamber of some sort. Just some thoughts with my AM coffee...

[Smoke4320]

Balloon head cases what a rarity
Glad everyone is OK

[Hickok]

It surely does say a lot for the strength of that brass case!

[Winger Ed.]

Wow. I saw a case bulged/swollen out, but not ruptured from a 1911 that a guy had overdone the ramp job at the rear of the barrel.
But nothing like that. Its surprising the case didn't rupture out like a piece of pop corn.

[GARD72977]

The gun is standard 9mm scorpion 16" BBL.

I'm not sure what caused the cartridge to not chamber. We had shot over 100 rd from the same lot ( my reloads) . The gun had no chamber obstruction and was fairly clean. After I examined the gun and found nothing wrong I shot mag through it. Never malfunctioned again.

I'm just not sure if the firing pin was stuck toward or what. I would like to know what caused it to fire.

[jsizemore]

Was that mixed headstamp brass and did you check with a case gage?

[GARD72977]

Yes mixed brass. It was loaded on a Dillon 1050. Did not check with case gauge.

[clum553946]

Does it dry fire with the bolt retracted?

[WheelgunConvert]

Have you put a magnet to it to see if it is some of that brass washed steel that seems to be more common?