This will ruin anybody’s day!

[GregLaROCHE]

https://youtu.be/JmzEPsMD-Ig

[DW475]

Good grief, never seen anything like that before!

[lefty o]

oops!

[lead-1]

The front fell off, that really stinks. But seriously could've a lot worse.

[Kimber1911]

That is amazing!!!

[Snow ninja]

Nah, that's the new line of disposable S&W's. One time use only.

[oldhenry]

Is this the 2 piece S&W barrel I've heard about.

[bmortell]

is it legal in California now?

[Cast_outlaw]

So was that a cylinder timing issue or botched reload my vote is for a malfunction in the cylinder and bth bullet hit the side of the barrel

[Sig556r]

that's the new takedown version

[JBinMN]

Whoah! Looks like no one was hurt but for the pistol being wrecked, so that is good.

As for the cause...
My "WAG" is that someone over-torqued the barrel/frame connection & it had a small crack in it, or, at some time, someone dropped the pistol & that connection was cracked. Might have been weak heat treat somewhere around that connection, but I think a mechanical issue more likely.

That is just a guess from me, anyway. Just pondering.

Likely will not ever know...

[John Ross]

More photos:

https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2017/09/18/video-500-smith-wesson-experiences-catastrophic-failure-enigmatic-cause/

[Earlwb]

It sort of leave one speechless. I suspect that the cylinder was not latched. Then when he fired it the cylinder was slightly out of time. Thus causing it to come out and the barrel to be forced off.

[flyingmonkey35]

Good luck getting it replaced. Even with factory loads the ammo manufacturers vs the gun manufacturers will blame the user3.

Just glad his not hurt.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[MrHarmless]

Honestly I'm seriously impressed at how cleanly and "safely" that gun failed. It directed pretty much everything away from the user.

[ddixie884]

That went very well, considering.

[Stephen Cohen]

I bet that guy has a flinch he will never cure. Glad he still has his hands and face could have been much worse. Regards Stephen

[jonp]

Looked to me like one of the comments under the video was spot on. No bulge in the barrel just a perfect split and it came off right at the threads. Manu defect caused by over torquing the barrel or something like that causing a hairline crack right at the frame? Cylinder not latched tight causing sideways movement enough to blow it up?

I am impressed that the shooter didn't move after the gun self-destructed.

[dverna]

And what are the chances that it woukd be captured on video?

[Petrol & Powder]

Glad the shooter is OK. That could have been bad.

Hard to say what caused that: Manufacturing defect, barrel obstruction, gross timing issue, over pressure cartridge, ???

The barrel split right at the forcing cone/threads and the photos show a pretty clean split. I can only guess but my first WAG is the barrel was cracked before that shot.

[georgerkahn]

I witnessed/was there for two different revolver explosions -- both attributed to toooooo much powder in handloads. Neither had threaded barrel end even closely resembling this one! Two questions immediately come to my mind: 1/ Was factory-recommended commercial ammunition employed? and, 2/ Is this the only similar recorded failure of this model firearm? Seems to me my latter query is most germane -- e.g., it did not take that many low-serial-number (poor heat treatment) Springfield's before the word got out re this manufacture defect. With quite the bulk of purchase price on current firearms purportedly going to their legal department, it seems to me each firearm would be test fired? (Also, if nothing else, to supply the mandated fired-empty case.)
I just pray this doesn't occur to anyone again. Re the 2nd blow-up at range, it was a .357 Mag, and one thing not mentioned was the NOISE level -- albeit we were all wearing muffs, I recall actually having ringing in ears for a bit after...

[Buck Butcher]

Thanks for letting us know the guy was OK! I clicked on the video and cringed, and backed out! Now that I know he’s alright, I’ll watch it!

[str8wal]

And what are the chances that it woukd be captured on video?

I know, right?!?!? I'd seen this a long time ago and thought the same thing then.

[RED BEAR]

Could this be the joys of hot �� loads.

[CASTER OF LEAD]

Holy ****!!!!! God was watching over them for sure!! Glad nobody way hurt ,or killed!

[Texas by God]

That dude has "follow through" down pat!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[megasupermagnum]

I'm no more qualified than anyone, but I think it's safe to say an obstruction or over pressure ammo is not the issue here.

As much as I love Ruger, and dislike what Smith and Wesson has become, I seem to remember this exact problem that effected a run of either the Redhawk or Super Redhawk. Either the threads were bad, or the barrels were over torqued.

It looks like so many people in the comments immediately blame the operator, without any clue how a revolver works. They all jump on the "guy didn't line up the cylinder after closing" bandwagon. The Cylinder turned when he cocked the hammer, it wasn't the guys fault. That's even if the gun could fire, which we know it can't. If timing is the problem here, responsibility is with the S&W, not with the shooter.

Now he gets to start the uphill battle that is S&W customer service. At least he has a box of Remington ammo in the video, so they can't just write him off as another crazy handloader.

[stubshaft]

**** J-word boolits...He should have stuck to cast!

[DaveF]

Apparently this happened at a Calgary, Ab. range some time ago, and involved a rental revolver using factory ammunition.
The range owner reported that it resulted from a split forcing cone.
A couple of actual quotes from the range owner:-
Actually the revolver had approx 1200 rounds through it.
plus
The best line ever though, after this happened was, as the shooter puts down the frame, he turns and asks the RO.....
"Was that supposed to happen?"

The only 2 things injured in this incident is the S&W revolver and their pride.

[centurion20000]

Kudos to the young man keeping it together and pointed down range. Especially if that was his first time shooting as captioned.

[Thin Man]

Split forcing cone, you say? Sounds like what was old is new again. Let's hear it from the owners of all the M-19s that split a forcing cone or frame! I'll start with a vote of experience from a split frame at the 6:00 position directly south of the barrel. Sent the revolver to S&W and they returned it to me with a replacement frame installed, even wearing the same serial number as the one they kept. That was in the early 70's.

[Hickory]

Everything has a limit, all things come to an end.

Good thing he wasn't shooting at a charging grizzly bear.

[imashooter2]

I bet that guy has a flinch he will never cure. Glad he still has his hands and face could have been much worse. Regards Stephen

The way he fiddled with his grip says newbie to me, but he didn’t flinch and he kept the gun... what was left of it anyway... pointed downrange.