1911 out of battery detonation

[Red Cent]

From a cowboy forum, this is what happened.

A competent shooter had just finished a stage in Wild Bunch. When finished, we drop the mag, show empty, drop the slide, and pull the trigger.

Because of certain rules, this must have been the last firearm on the stage and he must have used a "beanie" mag because we shoot 'em empty. Then we can load a mag to take care of the stage, if needed.

The shooter, under RO observation, drops the mag, goes to make clear and bang!! The RO describes seeing a loaded round in a stovepipe position in front of the chamber just before the bang. Bullet hits the RO in the high sternum. That musta hurt. No blood. Big bruise. Shrapnel cuts his forearm a little. Shooter has cut thumb.

We know the 1911 will not fire out of battery. But then, the "chambered round was out pointing straight up. what the heck detonated the primer?

Maybe he should learn to catch it in the air.

 

[1SOW]

It sounded as if, instead of "Show Clear" the shooter released the slide on a cartridge that hadn't ejected clear of the gun.

I can't say in a 1911-type 45, but in other semi's the ejector can strike the primer when the slide is released if the round is positioned perfectly.

 

[rbernie]

Most likely had the extractor hit the primer.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

You mean ejector?

 

[rbernie]

No, I mean extractor. I've seen it happen that a live round stovepipes with the extractor hook pressed up against the primer and the round half jammed in the ejection port - I can believe that it could get set off under the proper conditions. I dunno that there is enough space on the left slide wall for the ejector to get to the primer.