Exploded Gun

[Grump]

Help me understand this...

The pistol was shooting low, so you suspect it was not going fully into battery? With that tilt-barrel locking system, that leaves the back of the barrel low, shouldn't that make the rounds go high?

Unless I missed something here, these are all .45 ACP USPs. Are they not fully-supported in the case wall all the way back to the forward edge of the extractor groove, like the .40 caliber USPs I've seen?

If not, never mind. If so, holy smoke, you should have a case web of something like 2 mm or more of solid brass between your powder chamber and the extractor groove. 1903 Springfield rifles in .30-06 chamber the round only up to that part of the extractor groove, and their brass holds just fine.

I vote for very bad ammo causing this.

I also vote for the USP's plastic maybe not being quite flexible enough for foreseeable ammo-caused disasters. Of course, the wood grips on 1911 Gov't Models are also under-engineered for that as well. I seem to remember those who used .38 Super loaded to the older IPSC Major PF of 175 recommending steel-lined grips before the fully-supported ramped barrels became standard equipment for that game/caliber.

Note that none of these involves a barrel or chamber actually letting go. It's the brass case, in these instances one from a moderate-pressure cartridge.

 

[wally]

Yeah but one of the kB! admits to having double charged a case which makes a low pressure round into a super magnum brass buster! The other was gunshow reloads -- all bets are off with these.

Firing out of battery means a defective gun, even normal rounds are likeky to blow out or at the very least badly bulge the brass when fired out of battery.

If it happens on factory ammo, I'd suspect a Glock-like out of battery problem with the design (or a run of guns) that will be fixed as quietly as possible by HK or with a recall if they are straight up about it.

--wally.

 

[sturmruger]

I am glad you are OK. I have never bought reloads, nor do I plan to ever purchase reloads. I am thinking about reloading someday, but everytime I hear about someones gun having problems somewhere in the story they mention how they were using reloads. I bet reloads account for 90% of all firearm problems.

 

[P95Carry]

Hmmm .... well, let's see Mike who has reloaded 25 yrs .. never expected his problem ..... but it happened ...... so whatever the reloader of this ammo said .. it just has to be an overcharged case.

That brass does show all the signs .. and I very much doubt this was anything to do with ''out of battery''. The ring is where it is I'd say because for an instant under the extreme pressure, the case started backing out of the chamber ... just that 1/16" or so ... at which point max pressure caused the catastrophic failure.

I am relieved you came out of it all but unscathhed ... sad for the gun tho!

 

[Grump]

A case can't back out of the chamber 1/16-inch unless the breech is unlocked.

So, haow far back can the slide go on these guns before the disconnector is supposed to disconnect? I include Glocks in this question because I often hear stuff like:

I'd suspect a Glock-like out of battery problem with the design (or a run of guns)

, but I haven't been able to locate any "specs" on when the disconnector is supposed to do its thing.

 

[P95Carry]

A case can't back out of the chamber 1/16-inch unless the breech is unlocked.

So - what happens then with a ''normal'' round after ignition?? It ejects! This kb ignited ... so why couldn't that back out at all a tad as the main rupture occurred?

 

[Gunhead]

I am glad you are okay, 10-ring!

Do you still have confidence in the USP or you are getting rid of it after the repairs?

 

[Spark]

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).

I'd disagree. You got a bad round from your "reputable reloader". He should foot the bill for your brand new USP, instead of having it repaired.

The pictures clearly show a case rupture. That doesn't happen unless you have 1. Weak brass, or 2. Over pressured rounds. Again, ammo problem, not a firearm problem.

You are blaming HK for something that is clearly your ammo supplier's fault - actually yours, since you are using reloads. Glad that you weren't hurt, but don't blame HK for your foolishness.

You should be happy the firearm itself didn't disintegrate completely and send shrapnel in every direction. Consider yourself lucky; that polymer frame probably saved your hand.

 

[WonderNine]

Sure been alot of plastic guns blowing up lately....

And they always seem to split right down the grip or right in half.

 

[greyhound]

Every time I think I want to start reloading I see something like this.

Also kinda makes me want to yank out my Model 64 as HD gun instead of the Ruger P97. I never do, though.

 

[GLOCKT]

Dang and it isn't even a Glock what gives?

 

[Kaylee]

oh dear....

I vote you break out a soldering iron and rename the pistol Anduril

 

[10-Ring]

I had something similar happen to a Glock Definitely not a good thing! :banghead: