Model 60 Double Tap?!

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kcofohio

kcofohio

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A little background. Some time back when I got the wife a Model 60 LS, I ordered the small (J-Frame) Crimson Trace grips by mistake. Long story short, I put them on until I get funds for full size grips. With intentions of only 38 spl. for now.

So a couple or so weeks ago, at the range. I was trying out some new loads on 357 with a newer marketed magnum powder. I took two guns with me. The Model 60 and a '64 production Colt Trooper. Not wanting to risk the Trooper on unpublished data, I decided to shoot the starting loads in the model 60.

What happened next was totally unexpected.

Shooting in single action, having the target in the sights. I pulled the trigger, and two consecutive rounds shot off. It would have done more but the 3rd round was a dud.

Though I was the only one there at the range. I was, and am still embarrassed by my missteps.
No damage to the gun. And the Trooper did fine with hotter loads.

All I can think is, that the grip being to small , that it let the grip rock in my palm with enough momentum to pull the trigger again. If the 3rd round had fired (it had a dent from the firing pin on the prime), I would have shot into the overhang which had AR500 plating. About 30 degrees or so. I kept it all down range. Needless to say, the rest were shot through the Trooper.
 
There are quite a few cases reported of this happening with the 500 S&W guns. Likely just what you said happened.

I believe there is at least one case where the gun rocked back so far the second bullet hit the shooter in the face. (This may be Internet BS, but maybe not).

Better not shoot that small gun any more with magnum loads until you get someone to analyze your hold. Probably need to grip the gun harder, but I'm not an expert and you need one to show you what's wrong.

And don't let your wife try it with those loads.

I've never had this happen.

The biggest gun I've fired is a Freedom Arms 454 Casull, and it's designed to rock back to absorb recoil.

But it's a single action and I don't see how it can happen with a SA.
 
Only thing I can't get my head around is the second trigger pull. If you are shooting double action, at the point which the hammer falls and the gun fires, the trigger should be all the way back against the stop, or close to it. For the gun to fire again requires the trigger finger to go forward enough to allow a complete reset, then - what - ten to twelve pounds of deliberate force to fire a second shot.
 
RPZ, I'm stumped as well. It wasn't like the gun was coming out of my hand. Just elevated from the recoil. Three strikes from one intentional trigger pull. If not for the dud....
 
I think what is happening is something like this:

The gun goes off, and the recoil drives it back and your finger releases the trigger. Not like your finger goes forward, more like the gun goes backward from the recoil.

Then, without thinking about it, your instinct is to grab the gun harder so as not to drop it.

When you grab it harder, you grab with your whole hand including the trigger finger thereby shooting the gun again.

It's something you don't do consciously, it's just a reflex to avoid dropping the gun.

All happens in less than a second.
 
I would try again ***** With ONLY ONE round loaded***** to see if I could tell exactly what is happening.

Unless you are ABSOLUTELY SURE, have a good gunsmith look it over.
 
cal44mag said:
I think what is happening is something like this:

The gun goes off, and the recoil drives it back and your finger releases the trigger. Not like your finger goes forward, more like the gun goes backward from the recoil.

Then, without thinking about it, your instinct is to grab the gun harder so as not to drop it.

When you grab it harder, you grab with your whole hand including the trigger finger thereby shooting the gun again.

It's something you don't do consciously, it's just a reflex to avoid dropping the gun.

All happens in less than a second.
Click to expand...

You could be about right. And you're right about it happening before I realized. And I'm glad, though nobody else was there, that I didn't let the muzzle go to one side or the other.

All I know is it won't happen again with that gun and with those grips. I will take them off and save for a 38 spl. J-frame.

Thank you for the input.
 
cal44mag said:
I think what is happening is something like this:

The gun goes off, and the recoil drives it back and your finger releases the trigger. Not like your finger goes forward, more like the gun goes backward from the recoil.

Then, without thinking about it, your instinct is to grab the gun harder so as not to drop it.

When you grab it harder, you grab with your whole hand including the trigger finger thereby shooting the gun again.

It's something you don't do consciously, it's just a reflex to avoid dropping the gun.

All happens in less than a second.
Click to expand...
This crossed my mind too.

Or maybe he has watched too many Jerry Miculek videos. :p
 
Perhaps a good way to narrow it down would be to shoot some .38 wadcutters, then .38 standard, then some .38 +p on up. Load only two at a time so it doesn't go runaway for a whole cylinder.
 
I agree with jnichols2 above.. try it with ONE round in the cylinder. See if, after you fire it, the hammer is now resting over the spent case, or an empty chamber.
 
If it shoots more than one round with a 700 fps wadcutter load I'll buy it from you. :evil:
 
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