My gun blew up what do i do?

[Therealdeerhunter]

I just bought a new rifle FRIDAY JUNE 15, 2012. For now I will not discuss the brand. Its a 243 bolt action. I brought it out to where I shoot to sight it in on Saturday evening, setup my target and got to work. I was shooting factory loaded winchester 80gr soft point ammo. I was setup shooting prone off of a bipod. I loaded the magazine with 3 rounds and then loaded the first round in the chamber (2+1). I took the first shot at 25 yards to get on paper. I barely hit the paper low right corner. I was using leupold rings/base and used the windage adjustment on the base to move the sights left. I took the next shot and I hit about half way to where I needed to be. Adjusted the scope up and hit just low and left of bullseye. I reloaded with 3 rounds(2+1 again) I always sight in this way, with 3 rounds. I take another shot to confirm where i am now hitting, and it printed right on top of the last shot. I HAVE NOW FIRED 4 ROUNDS FROM THE BRAND NEW GUN. No problems so far, everything has been smooth. I adjust my scope towards the bullseye, and settle in for the 5th shot. I'm steadied and ready to shoot. I pull the trigger and the front of the gun falls to the ground, I was hit in the face with dirt blow back, and now im extremely confused. First thing I did was go to my truck and look at my face to make sure I was ok. All I saw were some scratches, so I called my dad to let him know what happened. He told me to take pictures of the gun so I picked up the severed forend and the magazine box and all the pieces I could find as well as the target, with all 5 bullet holes on paper. I took pictures of everything on my tailgate. Later I took more pictures of the gun in good light. I also went to the hospital to get checked out and make sure I was ok. I am fine, just some cuts and scratches from dirt. What do I need to do? Call a lawyer? Call the manufacturer? Call the ammo company? Something went wrong, and I don't know what it was. I am a pretty avid shooter, and reloader, and I have quite a bit of time spent around, with, and behind guns. I am always safe and responsible and maintain my guns properly. I just don't know where to start. I don't have all kinds of money on hand to go to a gunsmith and have them charge me money to tell me what MIGHT have happened. I dont want to call the manufacturer and get pushed around like ITS ALL MY FAULT. Something malfunctioned, not me. And involving a lawyer is something I will do only if I have to. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME! Any input would be appreciated.




I will not post pictures so I can keep the manufacturer of the rifle private.

 

[Josh45]

Sounds like an ammo problem by what I am reading.
I think you may want to call them and explain what happened.
Oh and you might just want to have a lawyer handy just in case of anything.
Keep the box of ammo that you used in your rifle to let them know what ammo it was. Without that, You have pretty much nothing I would think.

 

[newfalguy101]

without pics its immpossible to even make a guess as to the cause of the Kaboom

 

[drsfmd]

without pics its immpossible to even make a guess as to the cause of the Kaboom

This. Useless without pictures.

Glad you're ok.

 

[WardenWolf]

Two main possibilities: one, ammo problem. Two, the gun simply failed due to a critical defect. I'm kind of leaning towards the latter given that it was a brand new gun. It failed "proofing", so to speak.

 

[Therealdeerhunter]

***

 

[drsfmd]

I don't know why you are concerned about us knowing what brand it is, but those pictures show absolutely nothing of use. We need to see the areas of damage on the receiver/barrel, not a picture of a broken stock.

 

[firesky101]

I understand why you do not want to divulge manufacturer name, but at least google the manufacturers customer service stories. Some manufacturers would have no problem giving you a brand new rifle and swag, others may tell you to go sail a boat because they are sure it was an "ammo problem".

 

[Therealdeerhunter]

The receiver and barrel don't appear to have any damage i.e. bulging or cracks. I will post more pictures. The main damage is in the bolt and the front of the gun blowing off

 

[blarby]

BTW, whatever you do, DO NOT SEND THE AMMO IN TO THE MANUFACTURER.

It is the only evidence you have.

If you can find the receipt, find that too, and keep 'em together.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[YankeeFlyr]

Yeah, 4 rounds fine then KB kinda makes ya think it wasn't the ammo; as was said earlier...brand-new GUN.

 

[Therealdeerhunter]

***

 

[WardenWolf]

Try not to guess what it is.

Good grief, that bolt is destroyed. The receiver is intact, though, so it wasn't the ammo. I'm going to guess massive headspace issue. Cartridge backed out, lost seal (neck possibly cracked, too), gas vented around it and through the firing pin hole in the bolt. And BOOM. Were you able to extract the casing?

 

[Therealdeerhunter]

I have not tried to open the bolt and remove the case. I figured that would be a good idea to leave it?

 

[firesky101]

Were there any pressure signs from the first 3 rounds? Got any pics of the spent brass?

 

[WardenWolf]

You're not going to be able to get that bolt open, and trying to do so may destroy valuable evidence. Leave it.

 

[Kyle88]

Were there any pressure signs from the first 3 rounds? Got any pics of the spent brass?

This..

If there is an issue with the gun, the spent brass may show some tell tale signs.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Wow. Worst nightmare. Glad you weren't badly hurt. Good luck

 

[Therealdeerhunter]

First 4 rounds. I have them, taking pics. I dont see any signs. No loose primers or splits or cracks?

 

[Claude Clay]

ua, leave it

im thinking that the process of forming the metal parts; reciever to bbl
had a large flaw that lasted till round 4.

manufacture will replace at no cost....thats my prediction.
if they want the ammo--offer to have it tested by a neutral 3rd party;
a certified gunsmith.
good luck

 

[cheeze]

Still hard to tell what happened there... looks like the bolt blew back? Did it shear the lug? Have you removed the spent case from the gun yet? If so, can we see it? It may tell us more about what happened.

 

[Therealdeerhunter]

First 4 cases. One case has a funny mark. Not sure what it is.

 

[firesky101]

I am no expert, but I don't see any issues with the ammo. The clean mark on the case head is where the ejector pops the case out I think, so no harm there. I think that is the funny mark you refer to.

 

[R.W.Dale]

From what I'm seeing the firearm failed. And it was on its way out with that third case.

Definitely keep the fired cases with the unfired remainder of your ammunition

 

[Therealdeerhunter]

That is the mark I was referring to. I figured it was the ejector but thought it looked "funny" because of the residue around it. What should I do. Call the manufacturer and explain what happened to the first person i talk to?