Savageman25
Member
Nope. I've looked high and low for other pieces of that cylinder.
Ruger sp101 blew up
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Savageman25
Member
No light load. I saw where the bullet before it hit the dirt behind the target.
Savageman25
Member
In all honesty I am not or wasn't even nervous after the fired round. Im not saying that to be some tough guy. Im actually kind of surprised it hasn't effected me as far as nerves or jitters.
Jim Watson
Member
15 grains of Bullseye (What you might load of 2400.) will do something like that.
Elmer Keith would blow one up every once in a while and his gunsmith would straighten the frame and weld a new topstrap back on to hold a new cylinder. A good opportunity to install adjustable sights. American Handgunner once had a cover photo of two of his SAA's that had been rebuilt after one of those experiments. But we are more cautious now.
Elmer Keith would blow one up every once in a while and his gunsmith would straighten the frame and weld a new topstrap back on to hold a new cylinder. A good opportunity to install adjustable sights. American Handgunner once had a cover photo of two of his SAA's that had been rebuilt after one of those experiments. But we are more cautious now.
Gun Master
Member
If the guy who loaded those cases was careless, and it appears that he was, you have no way of knowing if the cases are good or not. He might have heard about annealing cases and put them in a furnace, or they might be at the end of their reloading life.
I know it would be hard to do with the current ammo shortage, but with everything an unknown quantity, I would scrap all that ammo.
Jim
I know it would be hard to do with the current ammo shortage, but with everything an unknown quantity, I would scrap all that ammo.
Jim
RealGun
Member
If Ruger made the offer, given all the information, I would do the same thing. They might be able to ease your pain without accepting any abstract responsibility. For example, it is no money out of their pocket to provide a replacement at wholesale, which helps you dramatically.
As an aside, I would ignore any suggestions to salvage the gun. With all due respect, that's easy to offer, when you don't have to shoot it personally. Ruger may make that a moot point with some arrangement on a replacement.
Stainz
Member
I've had first hand experience with a 'ka-boom' some eight years ago. It wasn't a double load - in fact, it was a relatively mild load for a .44 Magnum, the 300gr LSWC over 6.1gr Titegroup having been chrono-ed at 810 fps. The cause of the destruction was me - I had shot 200 .44 Specials & Russians that day - and grabbed the last box in my bag - those 300gr .44 Magnums. Hard to insert - and knowing better - I rammed them in. The first three were fine - even hitting a steel plate at 110yd handheld. The next round destroyed the gun, making a muffled 'boomff... tinkle tinkle' as small pieces bounced off the tin roof. The next live round was distorted. I never found the primer or the front sight screw. I called S&W concerned about the metallurgy of the cylinder - the first question from them was did I ever shoot reloads. I admitted that, if they had tested my 629MG with commercial ammo, that was it's only such experience. In fact, I had never loaded a 'real' .44 (or .357 or .327) Magnum - and still haven't.
I sent pictures and description to Hodgdon's. They agreed with S&W. It wasn't a stuck round. It wasn't a double charge (Actually, because of the deeply seated bullet, 9.6 gr starts compressing the powder to load - 10 gr won't fit. Hodgdon's said 10.5gr would be safe!). It was my stupidity... I certainly knew better... I had become complacent - careless. The lead and carbon residue from shooting the short-cased Specials and Russians piled up under the Magnum's crimp, at the very least, slowing the crimp release - perhaps not allowing the release. The resulting pressure spike burst the chamber. Hodgdon's said it would certainly 'grenade' at less than 6 gr of Titegroup in a 'stuck' round.
S&W agreed it was my fault - my carelessness - and not the ammo, or the revolver. They then apologized that they had no 629MG's - but would have me a regular production 4" 629 overnighted to my LGS by Friday, if it would pass the QC & live fire test after dropping off the production line. They just wanted me to pay their cost... ~$271 shipped! My LGS didn't even charge me a transfer fee! Ruger may shock you with a similar offer!
To Savageman25.... did you, by chance, shoot a bunch of lead .38 Specials before shooting the .357 Magnums?
I felt blessed that day - I had a scratch on my supporting left arm and a scratch on my left eye safety glass lens - and you bet I'll always wear eye protection. I am thankful that Savageman25 wasn't hurt.
Stainz
PS I still dissected 300 of those 300gr LSWC rounds - all loads were between 6.0 & 6.1 gr! Of course, with a Dillon 550B press, loading a partial load is extremely difficult.
I sent pictures and description to Hodgdon's. They agreed with S&W. It wasn't a stuck round. It wasn't a double charge (Actually, because of the deeply seated bullet, 9.6 gr starts compressing the powder to load - 10 gr won't fit. Hodgdon's said 10.5gr would be safe!). It was my stupidity... I certainly knew better... I had become complacent - careless. The lead and carbon residue from shooting the short-cased Specials and Russians piled up under the Magnum's crimp, at the very least, slowing the crimp release - perhaps not allowing the release. The resulting pressure spike burst the chamber. Hodgdon's said it would certainly 'grenade' at less than 6 gr of Titegroup in a 'stuck' round.
S&W agreed it was my fault - my carelessness - and not the ammo, or the revolver. They then apologized that they had no 629MG's - but would have me a regular production 4" 629 overnighted to my LGS by Friday, if it would pass the QC & live fire test after dropping off the production line. They just wanted me to pay their cost... ~$271 shipped! My LGS didn't even charge me a transfer fee! Ruger may shock you with a similar offer!
To Savageman25.... did you, by chance, shoot a bunch of lead .38 Specials before shooting the .357 Magnums?
I felt blessed that day - I had a scratch on my supporting left arm and a scratch on my left eye safety glass lens - and you bet I'll always wear eye protection. I am thankful that Savageman25 wasn't hurt.
Stainz
PS I still dissected 300 of those 300gr LSWC rounds - all loads were between 6.0 & 6.1 gr! Of course, with a Dillon 550B press, loading a partial load is extremely difficult.
Savageman25
Member
I did not shoot anything other than 357 ammo threw that gun. There were some lead 357 rounds though. I have come to believe it was one of those rounds. After one of the members had posted and told me to look at the lead bullets for a line on them. Sure enough some do. I have little to no experience with lead bullets (until sunday when I got maybe a little to much of an experience from them).
It just comes down to me not knowing enough about the rounds I put in my gun. That sir will never happen again. Ill know exactly where every round comes from that goes into my guns from now on. If another gun blows up in my hand its either my double charged round or the factory made a mistake. Whether it be the gun or ammo.
It just comes down to me not knowing enough about the rounds I put in my gun. That sir will never happen again. Ill know exactly where every round comes from that goes into my guns from now on. If another gun blows up in my hand its either my double charged round or the factory made a mistake. Whether it be the gun or ammo.
Arkansas Paul
Member
You're not doing anything dishonest friend. Let the haters hate.
You stated that you were going to disclose all details, so that renders their arguments invalid in my book.
Yes, nothing wrong with telling them exactly what happened and about the suspect ammo. Worse case (for you), they inspect it, declare no defects and you are no worse off than you are now. At least they may learn more about their design. Best case-they offer something or perhaps determine the cause wasn't the ammo (unlikely).
WestKentucky
Member
Ruger will test what's left in a number of ways. That frame and or cylinder is of a particular heat number of material which they may find out of spec in which they recall from sn#x to sn#y and charge it to the steel supplier. I have seen this done in many other industries. They will be able to tell from microstructure and hardness tests what the physical properties are and they can tell chemical composition as well. They will be looking at protecting their business and their customers. Once they rule out all of their possible faults, they will look at ammo. If it is current run ammo they will contact the ammo manufacturer and explain their findings in which case that company may do the same. Ammo companies don't like to recall rounds though so I wouldn't expect it. In this case since ammo is an unknown we have to stop there.
MIL-DOT
member
Owning an SP101 myself, I'm dying to hear what happens here. I don't see a complete replacement happening, but I wouldn't be surprised of they did like S&W did for Stainz, and gave you one at their production cost.
Fingers crossed !!!!
Fingers crossed !!!!
HankR
Member
Do ask them for the gun back though. I'd put that somewhere where I would see it often as a reminder.
Glad you weren't hurt.
Glad you weren't hurt.
Nathan Detroit
Member
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- Apr 7, 2003
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Actually, a barrel obstruction can cause exactly that type of failure. Had one happen at our club. One of the members had picked up a new 625 on Wednesday and was looking for the lightest possible load for PPC. He had a number of rounds that would not cross the barrel/cylinder gap. Needed a range rod to push them back into the cylinder. The second last shot he took just made it into the barrel and allowed the cylinder to rotate. The next round blew the cylinder and cut the top strap. That was on Thursday. Friday he sent it back to S&W.
Edster12
Member
Don't be surprised of Ruger replaces the gun. I have seen them do it before. They are tops when it comes to customer service!!!!
2ndtimer
Member
I agree that Ruger will not return the damaged revolver. It also is to prevent some backyard gunsmith from attempting to repair it and pass it off as a used factory unit. It will be interesting to see what they offer the owner, though. I suspect they will do something for him.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I also agree they won't return the gun.
So, what does that leave?
They can't just keep his property without giving him something back.
As I said earlier, he could part out what's left and sell the parts on eBay for $200 plus I betcha.
So Ruger will have to give something of value back if they do keep it.
rc
So, what does that leave?
They can't just keep his property without giving him something back.
As I said earlier, he could part out what's left and sell the parts on eBay for $200 plus I betcha.
So Ruger will have to give something of value back if they do keep it.
rc
I ran into a fellow at the range many years ago who admitted to blowing up a Ruger Redhawk with an ill-advised handload. He came clean with Ruger and they offered to sell him another RedHawk at their cost. I can't remember what that amounted to at the time but recall it was something like a third of retail. He took them up on the offer.
Maybe they'll send him back any parts that still have value. My guess is that they will offer him the chance to buy a replacement pistol at a very good price and consider the discount adequate compensation.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I agree.
rc
rc
Savageman25
Member
Whatever they do Ill let you guys know. UPS came and picked up the gun yesterday morning. Ruger should have it by this afternoon. I can only speculate how long it will be before I get word back from them.
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