glock kaboom incident at the range!

[armoredman]

Not at all, it is a true testament to the build quality of the sidearm that very little harm came to the shooter, and I don't like Glocks myself. This isn't really a "KaBoom" story as it had reloads that went bad.
Glad your friend is OK.

 

[dcarch]

"I hate to say this, but it was a Glock success and a user failure."
^+1 This. The very fact that he was otherwise uninjured is a tribute to the Glock.

 

[HKGuns]

Yeah, can't really fault the pistol if it was truly a double load. I loathe gLoCk's, but if it happened as described I don't think you can blame the pistol. The guy was lucky. How did the case look and are you certain it was a double charge? I would hate for gramps to get the blame if it really wasn't his fault.

 

[Fishslayer]

.40 S&W Glocks have a reputation for Kabooming.

I cringe every time I see people recommend Titegroup to a n00b for reloading his .40....

 

[jmorris]

By far and large "kaboom" threads are caused by reloaders or reload shooters. Every now and then you will get one from something in the barrel, be it dirt or a bullet from a squib (again from a bad reload). Keep YOUR eye on the powder level or YOU use a powder check die.

I know hundreds of shooters, I can count the number of them that I will shoot their reloads on my hands. The number of them that I would shoot their reloads in one of my guns is even smaller yet.

 

[Jim K]

If it was a double charge, it would have kaboomed a 1911, too. Claiming that it woudn't and bashing Glock is just plain dumb.

Jim

 

[WardenWolf]

Glock .40's DO have a reputation, and that's because they're underbuilt for the round, being built partially with 9mm parts. The higher pressure of the .40 round and unsupported case also contribute. Because of this, you should NEVER shoot reloads through a Glock. I don't care how many of you say you do it all the time with no problems. If you shoot reloads with an unsupported chamber, you're stupid, and I hope you still have a hand when a case finally lets go.

The problem was most likely NOT directly the reload, or a manufacturing defect (although it's arguably a design defect) with the pistol. It's the combination of shooting reloads IN a Glock. An already-weakened cartridge that would have plenty of life left in it in a normal gun may well give way in a Glock and blow up your gun.

 

[41]

Because of this, you should NEVER shoot reloads through a Glock. I don't care how many of you say you do it all the time with no problems. If you shoot reloads with an unsupported chamber, you're stupid

Any commercial bullet manufacturer (Winchester, Remington, Federal, etc.) has the potential to make a mistake loading the bullet also. You just have to be careful. I visually check all of my bullets to check for double charges.

 

[MtnCreek]

I cringe every time I see people recommend Titegroup to a n00b for reloading his .40....

40sw load: Starting Charge: 0.00001gr nitroglycerin Max: 0.00002 nitroglycerin

 

[jmorris]

Glock .40's DO have a reputation, and that's because they're underbuilt for the round, being built partially with 9mm parts. The higher pressure of the .40 round

The 1911 was built for a round that is a lower pressure round than the 40 or 9mm.

 

[481]

Glock .40's DO have a reputation, and that's because they're underbuilt for the round, being built partially with 9mm parts.

Really? Do you have a source for that claim?

According to Glock, Inc., the Glock 9mm design is spec'd to operate safely at pressures of 43,500 psi (as described in the book, GLOCK: The New Wave in Combat Handguns by Peter Alan Kasler) so it is hard to imagine that the design is "underbuilt" and unable to handle a cartridge (the .40 S&W) that operates at a MAP of 36,000 psi.

 

[LiveLife]

Pistol KaBooms with over max/double charges existed long before Glocks (Remember, Glocks only entered the US market in the 80s). Talk to enough/older match shooters and they'll tell you all about 1911 KBs.

I have seen several pistols blow up at the ranges and only "some" of them have been Glocks. Most of the causes were narrowed to double charges or unknown ammunition they bought at gun shows.

Instead of singling out 40S&W Glocks, I think it would better serve the readers of THR forum to say that all pistols can potentially KaBoom if not properly maintained, improperly modified, and/or used with unsafe ammunition.

Don't buy into "Glocks don't need cleaning" myth and try your luck. Like any other mechanical device, keep your Glocks cleaned and properly lubricated.

Be safe, but do enjoy your Glocks.

 

[wlewisiii]

Oh, I can't hold back.

The .40 is a solution in search of a problem. It's a +P+ 9mm for all practical purposes. 99% can use either 9mm or 10mm or .45ACP instead if normal pressure 9mm won't cut it. The .40 only exists because some incompetent at the FBI couldn't tell them how to properly load the 9mm and the 10mm was too hot.

I'll stick to good LEO 9mm instead.

I'll carry my 9mm 127gr T-Series +P+ over any .40 on the market.

 

[twofifty]

CUP pressure comparison?

Per Lyman's 48th:

9mm 147gr, max load, highest pressure measured in the test rig: 32,200 CUP.

40SW 150gr, max load, highest pressure measured in test rig: 23,400 CUP.


I don't understand why the .40 produces less CUP pressure than the 9mm.

 

[exavid]

What kind of bullet did Grandpa load? The long time discussion of Glock polygonally rifled barrels and lead bullets has often linked ka-booms to lead fouling. Glock does recommend not using lead bullets. If Grandpa used Rainier or Berry's or other copper plated bullets it's possible the rounds were loaded with enough velocity to shred the plating exposing the lead bullet. Of course if Grandpa used jacketed bullets that would eliminate this possibility.

 

[gun addict]

i will have to get a few rounds of the reload and check it out, i do remember the ammo as being cast lead and somehow the fact Glocks have polygon rifling went over my head. I was shooting cast bullets out of my own 1911 and fmj rounds out of my USP 45 ........

 

[wildehond]

See gun_addict you are doing it wrong.
The normal Kaboom report fails to mention the ammo used. So then people can blame the firearm. You have to learn for the Glock haters...

All joking aside. I am glad to hear your friend is OK. I think I might have gone home after that and recovered a bit. 10/10 to him for continuing the shoot.

 

[1911Tuner]

It may have been a double/over charge, and it may not have been.

Any time you shoot somebody else's reloads...private or commercial...you're dealing with unknowns. If the round that let go had been fired in a pistol with inadequate head support and wound up with a bulge...and then the shooter was unlucky enough to index the round over the barrel ramp...the weakened case wall could have burst.

When the case fails in that area, the hot gases and brass shards are directed down into the magazine. If that also happens to cause sympathetic detonation of the stored rounds, it can really get ugly...in a Glock or a 1911...no matter which caliber the pistol is chambered for.

 

[Hk Dan]

Oh, buddy, don't be a fool. I have personally seen more 1911s nlow up than GLOCKs. I've seen 2 Kimbers and a Sig 1911 blow up, and one GLOCK 27. When the G25 guy showed me the brass he was reloading, it was a "Well no **** Sherlock" type reaction--just above the tempered web it looked like there was an O ring inside the brass. If that DIDN'T blow up I'd be stunned.

How have I seen so many guns explode? USPSA range officer for 8 years, IDPA safeety offiver for 6. I hit 4 matches a month. It's bound to happen!

 

[Sulaco]

LOL!!! It's so much fun reading comments on this forum. Half or more of the people posting didn't even bother reading the original post. The guy said it sounded like a bazooka going off. Obviously it was an over-charged case. He also said the Glock did what it was supposed to do and protected the shooter the best it could in such a situation.

Guys, READ!!!!!!!!!

Also, nice shooting w/ your 1911.

LOL, never seen a recoil spring look like a Slinky! Wow!!

 

[mgmorden]

if he was using bullseye,he could have double loaded or underloaded,which caused it to detonate

Bullseye "detonating" in small charges is a myth that's been disproven time and time again. Being a fast burning powder you certainly can double-charge a case, which can cause an overpressure which can cause such antics to ensue, but that's possible with a whole host of powders - particularly in .40S&W which has a bit more case volume to work with vs say, a 9mm.

Realistically, this could be a result of several things.

My guess, is that it was simply a double-charge. It happens, and it'll damage just about ANY gun, regardless of make or model.

 

[Hangingrock]

The cartridge case is not a true pressure containment vessel. The cartridge case is a housing container for the primer, propellant charge, and projectile. The cartridge case also acts as a seal when properly supported and with in the pressure limits of the design.

It’s not surprising to me that a cartridge case could or would rupture after multiple firings dependent on design parameters of the cartridge and the firing platform employed. Functionality has been served with the successful initial firing.

Designs have predictable points of failure in regards to catastrophic incidents.

Handloader/Reloader we have meant the enemy and they are us usually applies in most instances.

 

[mgmorden]

The higher pressure of the .40 round and unsupported case also contribute. Because of this, you should NEVER shoot reloads through a Glock. I don't care how many of you say you do it all the time with no problems. If you shoot reloads with an unsupported chamber, you're stupid, and I hope you still have a hand when a case finally lets go.

You do realize that reloads don't always equate to a higher pressure round right? A lot of people reload for LOWER power rounds, and those are actually going to be safer than a higher pressure factory load.

Saying that because the strength of the action is marginal that you shouldn't reload is a bit odd. You can reload just fine just don't do it to excessive pressures (which you shouldn't be doing in any gun).

 

[jerkface11]

The long time discussion of Glock polygonally rifled barrels and lead bullets has often linked ka-booms to lead fouling.

He said it blew up on the first shot.

 

[exavid]

True, but do we know for sure there wasn't lead build up from previous use? I'll agree that it's certainly possible to have been the result of an overload but the key word here in all our surmises is 'possibly'.