h&R 16 gauge exploded

[099ThoStro]

Hello, have a question about my H&R 16 gauge, 749078 serial number. I bought it today from a farmer about 50 miles from my house. It was a tight gun, everything looked in working order. I loaded it with Winchester 16 gauge 2 3/4 inch 8 shot lead bird shot. It sprayed black powder all over my face, it stung. The stock cracked, the barrel flew off, it gave my hand a good jolt, and, I don't know what that mechanism ( bar ) that locks the barrel down when you close it is called, but it flew off and is MIA. I have a 20 gauge topper and a pardner, they have never gave me trouble. They were not 3" or magnum loads or 20 gauge shells, or anything, simple 2 3/4 16g birdshot. The shell exploded out the side near the rim.

I think faulty ammo, contact Winchester and get a recall for overloaded shells or primer or ask for a check to replace the gun should be in order, anyone agree or do you think it could be something else?

 

[rcmodel]

I bought it today from a farmer about 50 miles from my house.

Did you happen to check the barrel for mud dauber wasp nests before you shot it??

With no gun history to go on, other then the price paid today, and the drive home??

I would think you are SOL.

Far as I know, there have been no reports or recalls on any 16ga Winchester ammo, ever.

rc

 

[Fred Fuller]

Sorry to hear this happened. I hope you were wearing ear and eye protection...

My first guess would be a barrel obstruction also, or perhaps failure to make sure the breech was solidly locked shut.

Is the barrel bulged or cracked anywhere? Look inside as well...

Do you still have the fired shell?

Can you post pictures?

 

[Swing]

Pics would be interesting.

 

[drsfmd]

The shell exploded out the side near the rim.

I think faulty ammo, contact Winchester and get a recall for overloaded shells or primer or ask for a check to replace the gun should be in order, anyone agree or do you think it could be something else?

1) I'll assume you were using factory ammo that had been properly stored, not reloads.
2) Shell's don't just "explode" out the side. It will ALWAYS look for the path of least resistance, and if the side of the shell had less resistance than the muzzle, your barrel was undoubtedly obstructed.
3) As such, chalk it up to experience. Winchester owes you nothing.

 

[099ThoStro]

Of course there was nothing in the barrel lol, I checked before I even bought it, you can see all the way down the barrel each time you load it too. It looked like it was shot a couple times after the last cleaning, but it wasn't that dirty, it was still shiny inside. Unless a wasp made a nest between the time I loaded it, and the time I raised it to my shoulder .

It's the easiest thing to spot. An obstructed pump maybe, but it's impossible to not see an obstruction in a break barrel.

There were no noticeable bulges or cracks inside or out, but the gun metal was painted I planned on stripping it when I had the chance, painting metal guns is ugly. So there could be something under the paint? But none over it as far as I can see.

yes, factory loaded ammunition off the shelf. As far as the breach goes, it was tight enough that it didn't open when I pulled on it as hard as I could with my hands. But that is the part that broke, a section of that little bar broke off and flew away, and now the barrel wont lock shut. Which is why the guy that I bought it from, told me that I had to be using larger or heavier shells, it wouldn't blow apart like that if I wasn't. But I was using the proper ammunition.

Pictures will be up in a minute.

 

[099ThoStro]

By thostro at 2012-07-2

By thostro at 2012-07-26

By thostro at 2012-07-26

By thostro at 2012-07-26

By thostro at 2012-07-26



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[Gunnerboy]

Now thats an interesting exploded shell....

 

[T Bran]

Looks like it blew out into the extractor space in the barrel. Similar to an unsupported pistol cartridge when they blow.
Do you have pics of the extractor ?

Glad it didnt seriously injure you.

 

[099ThoStro]

oh my god.....I am a complete idiot, there is a perfectly good explanation for the shell looking like that, THERE IS NO SHELL EXTRACTOR, the thing blew up in the chamber because the shell extractor is missing and that opens up a blank space for it to explode in!

 

[drsfmd]

Looks like it blew out into the extractor space in the barrel.

I concur.

 

[rcmodel]

So, you mean the extractor didn't blow out, but was never there in the first place??

That would explain it for sure!

rc

 

[YankeeFlyr]

Damn.

So it was unsupported without the extractor in place....wow. I'd give the dude who sold it to me a call and ask if he'd fired in recently, before he sold it to you.

Could be an interesting conversation...

 

[Gordon]

Also I wonder if it has a 2 3/4" chamber which would exasperate the problem!

 

[303tom]

oh my god.....I am a complete idiot, there is a perfectly good explanation for the shell looking like that, THERE IS NO SHELL EXTRACTOR, the thing blew up in the chamber because the shell extractor is missing and that opens up a blank space for it to explode in!

D`OH !

 

[Fred Fuller]

THERE IS NO SHELL EXTRACTOR

Gotta admit, I didn't think of that one as a possibility.

 

[T Bran]

It took me a while to find a tactful way to ask that question.

 

[Trent]

I'd be more than a little displeased with said guy up the road...

 

[rcmodel]

I'd be more displeased with myself for loading & shooting it with that big a chunk of the chamber missing where the extractor should be!

rc

 

[Gordon]

Still I'd check the chamber length. A modern shell head in that low velocity load would not be expected to rupture I am pretty sure. A 2 9/16th" chamber raises the pressure a lot in a 16 ga. My old winchester pump kicked twice as hard and the primer was flattened before I had the chamber properly lengthed to 2 3/4".