TexasRifleman said:
Anyone have proof that has ever actually happened? I know it's an often told story, and lots of ammo makers have used it for marketing, but I've never seen any proof of it happening.
I don't know what you would consider proof.....
Back when Benjamin Tyler Henry was working on the Henry Rifle at what would someday be Winchester, he took one rifle out to their range, loaded it up, and the recoil of the rifle ignited the rounds in the tubular magazine. The design of the Henry at this time was that it was a muzzle loader and there was a open slot along the bottom of the magazine. This allowed the force of the explosion out and other than ruining the barrel and magazine no other damage was done, and Mr. Henry was not injured.
He did, however, design what was called the ".44 Henry Flat" round from this experience.
It has also been reported that Marlin lost out on a U.S. Army contract because one of its lever rifles blew up during testing. Marlin attempted to blame it on Winchester because they were using Winchester ammunition and Marlin claimed the primers were too big.
I have read of these two incidents in books. I don't know of others ....but I would not load spire bulklets into a tubular magazine like the Win. Model 94 uses, or other similar types like Marlin makes.
There is a new type of ammo called Leverevolution .... or something like that, which have rupper tips, and which is designed for these rifles. This ammo would be OK.
But I would still avoid loading a tube fed lever rifle with spire point rounds even today.
at least it didn't go into battery.
