For those of you who have never experienced a gun exploding in your hands, God Bless. May you never.
If you are curious how it could happen and what it looks like, I submit the following pictures.
First, look at picture (1). This is an H&K USP 45 that blew apart. You can see how the frame split from top to bottom. The only thing holding the frame together are the metal linkages (trigger to hammer). Note also the space on the frame just behind the trigger and below the slide. There's a chunk of frame missing from the grip where 2 rounds came off the magazine and through the frame. Only 1 round fired. All other rounds were accounted for. 7 in the magazine, 2 on the ground, one in the chamber. No squibs. No bullets stuck in the barrel (in fact the barrel was clear after the failure).
This is a fine example of a catastrophic failure.
Next look at the shell (2). This was a reloaded round from a reputable reloader whose been in the business for over 10 years making and selling reloads. The brass failed, probably because of a weakness in the brass. However, the only way for the shell to blow out this way, is if the cartridge were not fully supported in the barrel.
You will note in (3) the small band around the shell. The cartridge never fully seated in the barrel prior to firing. This band matches the edges around the opening of the barrel. The band does not extend around to the top case because the top of the barrel contacts the top of the case. Placing the shell into the barrel, the blowout matches perfectly with the feed port and the bands match along the sides of the barrel. (4) Shows the case in the barrel (barrel is up side down).
What does this tells us. First, the gun never locked up properly. In retrospect, I should have suspected something was wrong when the gun consistently fired low of the aim point. I had mistakenly believed this to be because I wasn't used to the gun (the gun exploded on the 21st round I had ever fired through it). Secondly, by using reloads, even by a reputable dealer, you can never be sure how many time the brass has been re-used. And by using reloads you are voiding your warranty. H&K unfortunately hid behind their disclaimer, blamed the ammunition, and charged me $200 for the repair. To their credit, however, the only damage I sustained was a scrape on my hand from where the frame blew out releasing the 2 rounds from the magazine (and one heck of a stinging feeling in my hands).
If you are curious how it could happen and what it looks like, I submit the following pictures.
First, look at picture (1). This is an H&K USP 45 that blew apart. You can see how the frame split from top to bottom. The only thing holding the frame together are the metal linkages (trigger to hammer). Note also the space on the frame just behind the trigger and below the slide. There's a chunk of frame missing from the grip where 2 rounds came off the magazine and through the frame. Only 1 round fired. All other rounds were accounted for. 7 in the magazine, 2 on the ground, one in the chamber. No squibs. No bullets stuck in the barrel (in fact the barrel was clear after the failure).
This is a fine example of a catastrophic failure.
Next look at the shell (2). This was a reloaded round from a reputable reloader whose been in the business for over 10 years making and selling reloads. The brass failed, probably because of a weakness in the brass. However, the only way for the shell to blow out this way, is if the cartridge were not fully supported in the barrel.
You will note in (3) the small band around the shell. The cartridge never fully seated in the barrel prior to firing. This band matches the edges around the opening of the barrel. The band does not extend around to the top case because the top of the barrel contacts the top of the case. Placing the shell into the barrel, the blowout matches perfectly with the feed port and the bands match along the sides of the barrel. (4) Shows the case in the barrel (barrel is up side down).
What does this tells us. First, the gun never locked up properly. In retrospect, I should have suspected something was wrong when the gun consistently fired low of the aim point. I had mistakenly believed this to be because I wasn't used to the gun (the gun exploded on the 21st round I had ever fired through it). Secondly, by using reloads, even by a reputable dealer, you can never be sure how many time the brass has been re-used. And by using reloads you are voiding your warranty. H&K unfortunately hid behind their disclaimer, blamed the ammunition, and charged me $200 for the repair. To their credit, however, the only damage I sustained was a scrape on my hand from where the frame blew out releasing the 2 rounds from the magazine (and one heck of a stinging feeling in my hands).
