Hangfire!
- Thread starter hps1
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Having had first hand experience with HE short rounds from 81mm mortars, I wouldn't advise opening the breech and expecting a hang fire to expel case/round from opposing ends of the gun. I'd prefer to leave the breech closed and wait five minutes, but hey, never shot a 105. Accordingly, should I ever experience another hangfire w/individual weapon, will just keep pointed in a safe direction w/breech closed; I do believe I'll wait a bit longer before opening breech than in the past, however.
As for the short rounds w/mortar, we drew a lot of very old HE light ammo for a training exercise, some of which were actually rusted into the cardboard cans. Most performed normally, but had a number that fired, but fell close enough to the guns that shrapnel could be heard cutting through tree tops near firing line when one did occasionally detonated on impact. We did have to extract one misfire; most of the lot fired but failed to detonate on impact.
Regards,
hm
Sneakshot92
Member
I had a hangfire on one of my mosins nagants several years ago. After 4 or 5 seconds the round went off with a dull pop.
If my phone at the time had a camera I would have taken a picture. The bullet was wedged in the barrel with about a quarter of an inch of the tip sticking out the muzzle.
Biggest pain in the arse getting that bullet out!!
If my phone at the time had a camera I would have taken a picture. The bullet was wedged in the barrel with about a quarter of an inch of the tip sticking out the muzzle.
Biggest pain in the arse getting that bullet out!!
DukeConnor
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I'll expand my 8 inch story a bit.
I don't remember the exact procedures but we cleared the area and left the breach closed for a period of time. then myself and the gunnery sergeant approached the weapon and opened the breech.
the 8 inch had a projectile then the appropriate number of powder bags were inserted into the breach. This was early eighties and we were shooting powder from ww1. dated 1918. the bags were deteriorated. now the rest of the story :
when i opened the breech there was the sound of bacon sizzling. Gunnery seargent screams its gonna blow and we both dive behind the spade blade. (the gun had a bulldozer blade mounted on back to set the gun and keep it from moving under recoil)
apparently loose powder from a torn bag rolling out of the breach sounds a lot like bacon sizzling
We got a lot of grief from the men on that one but when someone yells its gonna blow I'm gonna be running.
I don't remember the exact procedures but we cleared the area and left the breach closed for a period of time. then myself and the gunnery sergeant approached the weapon and opened the breech.
the 8 inch had a projectile then the appropriate number of powder bags were inserted into the breach. This was early eighties and we were shooting powder from ww1. dated 1918. the bags were deteriorated. now the rest of the story :
when i opened the breech there was the sound of bacon sizzling. Gunnery seargent screams its gonna blow and we both dive behind the spade blade. (the gun had a bulldozer blade mounted on back to set the gun and keep it from moving under recoil)
apparently loose powder from a torn bag rolling out of the breach sounds a lot like bacon sizzling
We got a lot of grief from the men on that one but when someone yells its gonna blow I'm gonna be running.
Look again. He kicked it over with his left foot.
wally
Member
I had a similar experience with MkII pistol when shooting steel plates, was about to do tap-rack-bang when it went bang! Good muzzle discipline kept the round in the backstop.
WestKentucky
Member
I have had some weird ones with muzzleloaders, but not so much with cartridge guns. What’s really interesting is to think about such a slow hang fire in another gun...
revolver... jams against the frame and either spits lead like crazy or if it goes at the 6oclock it hits frame, blows the cylinder walls out and you hope to have fingers left.
pump gun... shell pops when it hits the ground. Schrapnel isn’t super dangerous but you would expect to catch some, and expect to have it removed at the clinic.
semiauto... if you can’t restring your to a tap/rack situation. Assuming it shoots as you reach for the slide or the bolt handle it can bite hard and fast. AND your probably looking down into the chamber as it comes out, so hopefully you have your eye protection on.
lever... if it goes while your opening the gun it could break a hand pretty easily. It would probably wreck the gun too as the bolt slammed to the rear and may keep traveling back at you. Slamming open from a round detonating would do damage.
I have heard claims of slow hangfires, and I have had some really weird ones with shotgun shells that got wet. It is, in my opinion, one of the most dangerous situations a shooter will encounter, as things may go bad at the exact time you give up on it and go to remove the round or investigate. Scary stuff for sure.
revolver... jams against the frame and either spits lead like crazy or if it goes at the 6oclock it hits frame, blows the cylinder walls out and you hope to have fingers left.
pump gun... shell pops when it hits the ground. Schrapnel isn’t super dangerous but you would expect to catch some, and expect to have it removed at the clinic.
semiauto... if you can’t restring your to a tap/rack situation. Assuming it shoots as you reach for the slide or the bolt handle it can bite hard and fast. AND your probably looking down into the chamber as it comes out, so hopefully you have your eye protection on.
lever... if it goes while your opening the gun it could break a hand pretty easily. It would probably wreck the gun too as the bolt slammed to the rear and may keep traveling back at you. Slamming open from a round detonating would do damage.
I have heard claims of slow hangfires, and I have had some really weird ones with shotgun shells that got wet. It is, in my opinion, one of the most dangerous situations a shooter will encounter, as things may go bad at the exact time you give up on it and go to remove the round or investigate. Scary stuff for sure.
Hangfires are no joke. They are real and do happen.
However, the original video is very suspect of a true hangfire. Why did the gun not go flying of the table stock end first?
The dangerous thing in this video is the fact that somebody is behind this guy shooting the water jug.
However, the original video is very suspect of a true hangfire. Why did the gun not go flying of the table stock end first?
The dangerous thing in this video is the fact that somebody is behind this guy shooting the water jug.
AMraider
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Just out of curiosity has anyone ever seen a round that has been ejected then fire off whilst on the ground? I have had several surplus round duds that after 30 seconds I cycle the bolt/eject it and have always wondered what would happen should it go off.
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