Horror day at the range

[Slamfire]

Upon examination, the only damage I detected is a distinct outward bulge in the inner wall of that particular chamber, just opposite the bolt notch cut (of course). Everything else seems A-OK. (Seems)

The cylinder has exceeded its yield strength and now is permanently deformed . It is now not as strong as it was before. You need to replace the cylinder. Sorry.

Can't for the life of me understand this. I've been loading for over 20 years now, without so much as one ammo-related misfire or anything, now this.

Another way to look at it, no one is perfect. Bad things happen and will happen again. Pick up the pieces and move on.

I still don't think I double-charged one shell, as that would have meant 8.00 Gr of powder, whereas 6.8 Gr is listed as MAX-load in 357 Mag !

Maybe not a double charge, but still an over max charge. Sometimes powder sticks in the funnel. Sometimes people toss double charges. 99.9999% of the time, a situation like this is due to something the reloader did.

 

[Jim K]

The NRA, SAAMI, and every ammo and powder maker in the country, plus a lot outside the country, have tried to get that "flashover" to happen in the lab. They have not succeeded.

IMHO, it is simply a "not my fault" explanation for double charging.

The results described are those of a classic double charge; it is fortunate that no one was hurt and that the cylinder didn't blow and take the topstrap with it.

Jim

 

[dagger dog]

chriske,

I load .38 special using Bullseye powder and the possibility of double charging is always there, I'm just lucky it hasn't happened to me yet.
It's the pits you had to ruin that revolver, and have the PPK go sour on you on the same day.

Just a little tip; check each case after the powder drop with a small flash light, you should be able to spot that double charge, after you check the drop then stick a bullet in the case with finger pressure, that acts as a cap and a reminder that that case has been charged and checked, then and only then do you move to the seating die.

All the above only pertains to single stage loading. If you're loading progressive you will have to check after the powder drop, it will be a little harder with the case in a shell holder on the press and it will slow things down a bit , but must be done for saftey reasons. I know hindsight is 20/20.

I feel for ya Bud just glad you're safe!

 

[the foot]

As for the Walther, my PP (.32 Auto) went automatic once, I shot 5 rounds before I got off the trigger. The safety flew off the weapon. My gunsmith replaced the safety, and I have had no problems for the past 16 years with at least 3000 reload rounds through the little guy.

 

[chriske]

Many thanks for all the input, and Happy New Year to all on THR.

Concerning the powder (PCL 531) : I have been using it wihout any problem for a while now, as being interchangeable with W-231.
Depending on exact bullet shape & material I have loaded lots of :
.45 Colt / 250 Gr : 7.2 - 7.5
.44 Spl / 240 gr : 5.0 - 5.3
.38 Spl / 148 gr WC : 3.0 - 3.3
and that fateful .38 Spl /158 Gr : 4.0 - 4.3

A too light charge ? A .38 solid based "button-nosed" wadcutter,when seated properly, takes up about as much space in the cartridge as a 158 gr LSWC & I load those with 3.3 gr ( a full grain less) of the same powder, without any "flash explosion" or "detonation" or whatever.
I too do suspect that this phenomenon is sometimes used as an excuse for a double charge or otherwise sloppy reloading. Some knowledgeable folks however, whose opinion I value, respect and trust (Mike Venturino, for one) claim to have witnessed it.

Report & recoil with my overload were very noticeably heavier than from a regular.38 Spl/158 Gr load but nowhere near even a mild .357M out of a heavier revolver (S&W 586).

Any and all explanation for my scary experience is post-factum speculation, anyway.
No, it was my own "human error" pure and simple. I have nothing or no-one to blame but myself.
Lesson learned : I'll be even more careful when loading & pay even more atention to every detail.

Getting a new cylinder would (here in Belgium) involve turning the defective cylinder officially in for destruction -at my cost-, obtaining a new "permit to purchase a firearm" (costs 85.00 Euros), ordering a cylinder & having it fitted (about 300.00 Euros) & having the entire gun re-proofed - again at my cost-. I think I'll pass & look for another used but fine Mod 14 . They can sometimes be found for 200.00-250.00 Euros.

Someone (AK103K) mistook my PPK for a grip-squeeze-cocking Heckler & Koch P-7 I think .
If my PPK "slam-fired" because of a primer not being correctly seated, I had nothing to do with it: I used factory ammo in that one. Because it is so rarely used, maybe some oil/dust mixture coagulated & prevented some lever or other (lots of those in a PPK) to function properly. I' ll clean it really well & try again.

 

[AK103K]

Yup, that was me. Somehow my brain saw P7 and not PPK. Must of been all that cough syrup I was drinking with Bill Murray!