Zaydok Allen
Member
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- Feb 12, 2011
- Messages
- 13,274
Very cool of of S&W to do that. Kudos to them.
Good man. That is exactly the thing to do.
Ruger sp101 blew up
- Thread starter Savageman25
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Very cool of of S&W to do that. Kudos to them.
Good man. That is exactly the thing to do.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Please do. I'm very interested in hearing their reaction to the situation.
HankR
Member
Yep. Hence the ask. It would make a cool paperweight. There are parts of value. The gun is not worthless, he is merely sending his property to them to evaluate. If they want to buy his property, they can make an offer.
I would highly doubt you'll ever see that gun again. As stated by some, Ruger will want it for RD testing. They don't even send a revolver with a Wolfe Spring Kit back without replacing the springs with factory, so the thought of having parts from that gun on the street is probably a shut case for them I'd think.
That said, there is value to them of having a "Field Test Failure" to research. I would not be suprised if you got some discount on another gun.
Seeing how the strength of that gun probably saved you from injury, even if they gave me nothing, I'd go right out and by another at full retail. I would gladly pay a few hundred dollars to keep me from missing some part of my body from an accident like that.
As others have said, thanks for showing the pictures and sharing the story. Glad you were not hurt.
That said, there is value to them of having a "Field Test Failure" to research. I would not be suprised if you got some discount on another gun.
Seeing how the strength of that gun probably saved you from injury, even if they gave me nothing, I'd go right out and by another at full retail. I would gladly pay a few hundred dollars to keep me from missing some part of my body from an accident like that.
As others have said, thanks for showing the pictures and sharing the story. Glad you were not hurt.
me too
Flatbush Harry
Member
If you take a peek in the Hornady Handloading manual, you'll note that the old model Rugers get a whole section on stiffer loads; Rugers are built very well and are extremely strong. I have two old model Vaqueros in .45 Colt that I trust with Hornady max loads but I keep my new model Vaquero loaded to Colt and Colt Replica levels.
To cause a KB, you've used some sort of overload. I have a simple rule: shoot factory ammo that I've bought or loads I make myself following procedures I've followed for 35 years with no distractions, double-checking powder charges in each case and one-at-a-time loads. I will not even shoot "factory" loads given me by anyone else. For hand loading, I've used progressive presses but feel safer with either my RCBS turret or Rock Chucker press.
Shooting is serious business and I'm ugly enough without a rearrangement of my physiognomy by metal fragments. YMMV.
FH
To cause a KB, you've used some sort of overload. I have a simple rule: shoot factory ammo that I've bought or loads I make myself following procedures I've followed for 35 years with no distractions, double-checking powder charges in each case and one-at-a-time loads. I will not even shoot "factory" loads given me by anyone else. For hand loading, I've used progressive presses but feel safer with either my RCBS turret or Rock Chucker press.
Shooting is serious business and I'm ugly enough without a rearrangement of my physiognomy by metal fragments. YMMV.
FH
heycods
Member
being selfish Im glad it was you not me, I aint that lucky. You got an angle riding on your shoulder.
1911Tuner
Moderator Emeritus
The "Ruger Only" data in the manuals applies to the New Model Blackhawk in .45 Colt caliber, and the massive .45 Redhawk by default.
And Ruger has never endorsed using ammunition that exceeds proof level in any of their revolvers...and if you call'em and ask about it...they'll tell you so in a flat minute.
Field Tester
Member
Wait, you said you fired approximately 30 rounds correct? Did you notice anything unusual about those rounds? Heavy recoil, low recoil, audible differences?
I'm so glad you're ok. As everyone else has said, a prime example to never shoot someone else's reloads or ammo you're unsure about.
Also be glad you didn't have your hand by the cylinder. I'm surprised there was no cuts, scrapes, bruises, etc...
I'm so glad you're ok. As everyone else has said, a prime example to never shoot someone else's reloads or ammo you're unsure about.
Also be glad you didn't have your hand by the cylinder. I'm surprised there was no cuts, scrapes, bruises, etc...
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If Ruger does not replace the gun and you get it back, I would sell the good parts, and save the carcass for one of those lovely gun buy back programs and get a $100 check for said carcass. That's what I am waiting for for the Lienad DD 45/410 derringer that currently resides in my fish tank as a natural habitat.
Savageman25
Member
I will further elaborate on the story. You guys know the shooting details but here is exactly what the shooting session was. My cousin and I were shooting at my house. We had shot for about a couple hours on our dueling tree. For those of you who dont know what a dueling tree is, its basically a metal stand with flaps that you shoot at and try to knock to the opposite side. Do a search to know exactly what it is.
Anyway, most of that morning we were shooting 9mm and 40 s&w. Mostly all my reloads. After shooting various guns in those calibers our day was about over, so I thought I would shoot that sp101 I bought back in the end of Jan. So my cousin started shooting his 357 revolver. Mind you this whole time we were shooting he was standing to my RIGHT.
I was honestly having a rough time hitting the dueling tree from where we were standing. I then let him shoot a few with my new gun. I then took the gun back as he was standing and watching off to my right and back just a touch. All the previous rounds minus one (bad primer) fired without any issues on my previous 5 shot groups. I loaded 5 more rounds, whilst discussing that I should go get a paper target so I would know exactly where I was placing the shots. I figured I would shoot these 5 I had loaded and after that if I wasnt on target, I would go get a paper target.
I shot TWO rounds, then I told my cousin who was standing to my RIGHT at 7 to 10 feet and maybe a step back, im going to step forward about ten steps. He stayed back where he was. Im RIGHT handed fyi. Some of you will understand why I stated that, some wont. The very next round was the ka-boom. I wasnt even scratched. My hands were out of the way and I didnt feel a thing hitting me. There was NO recoil and the sound was horribly loud even through my ear muffs.
What's crazy about all that is that where the round that exploded and the other two rounds yet to be shoot were on the RIGHT side of the revolver. THAT is the side I can find nothing of the cylinder. the piece I found flew to my left and that is the piece that I believe the previously fired rounds were chambered in. If you were behind the gun. I believe that piece in the picture where you could still load a round was in the 7 o clock position. That piece was the piece that flew over and hit my barn that was nearly 30 feet to my left. I hold my thumbs low on a revolver. Think about all that stuff. From my cousin to my hands and me stepping forward and I had shot two rounds already and I hadn't went and got a target in which my cousin would most likely have still been standing next to me.
Anyway, most of that morning we were shooting 9mm and 40 s&w. Mostly all my reloads. After shooting various guns in those calibers our day was about over, so I thought I would shoot that sp101 I bought back in the end of Jan. So my cousin started shooting his 357 revolver. Mind you this whole time we were shooting he was standing to my RIGHT.
I was honestly having a rough time hitting the dueling tree from where we were standing. I then let him shoot a few with my new gun. I then took the gun back as he was standing and watching off to my right and back just a touch. All the previous rounds minus one (bad primer) fired without any issues on my previous 5 shot groups. I loaded 5 more rounds, whilst discussing that I should go get a paper target so I would know exactly where I was placing the shots. I figured I would shoot these 5 I had loaded and after that if I wasnt on target, I would go get a paper target.
I shot TWO rounds, then I told my cousin who was standing to my RIGHT at 7 to 10 feet and maybe a step back, im going to step forward about ten steps. He stayed back where he was. Im RIGHT handed fyi. Some of you will understand why I stated that, some wont. The very next round was the ka-boom. I wasnt even scratched. My hands were out of the way and I didnt feel a thing hitting me. There was NO recoil and the sound was horribly loud even through my ear muffs.
What's crazy about all that is that where the round that exploded and the other two rounds yet to be shoot were on the RIGHT side of the revolver. THAT is the side I can find nothing of the cylinder. the piece I found flew to my left and that is the piece that I believe the previously fired rounds were chambered in. If you were behind the gun. I believe that piece in the picture where you could still load a round was in the 7 o clock position. That piece was the piece that flew over and hit my barn that was nearly 30 feet to my left. I hold my thumbs low on a revolver. Think about all that stuff. From my cousin to my hands and me stepping forward and I had shot two rounds already and I hadn't went and got a target in which my cousin would most likely have still been standing next to me.
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KansasSasquatch
Member
So the one round that "had a bad primer," it was in the cylinder at the same time the gun blew up correct? If that's the case, its unlikely but still possible that you had a hang fire on one round while you were firing another round. That, I imagine, could surely blow the gun up. It may not be the most likely cause, but it could be possible.
Agreed. Had a hangfire on some Remington core lokt 30-06 from the 70's a couple years ago. Drew down on small buck, click. Hmm. waited a couple seconds, aimed the rifle up to charge another round, and as I am reaching before I cycled the action - BOOM. Sent that round into orbit. Have to be careful.
Savageman25
Member
No, I should have been more clear on this. The one that had the bad primer was not in that set of five that was loaded when the kaboom happened. Sorry for the confusion. I edited the post to try to be more clear.
Savageman25
Member
The no recoil is due to the fact that all the energy went out the sides.
Field Tester
Member
Any word back from Ruger?
Savageman25
Member
Not yet. Ill let you guys know whenever I get word.
Panzerschwein
member
Da gum, <deleted>
If whatever load that was did that to an SP101, I can't imagine what it woulda done to something like an aloominiyum S&W J-frame such as a Model 37 or Model 642.
Scary stuff, glad the baby Jesus kept you safe!
If whatever load that was did that to an SP101, I can't imagine what it woulda done to something like an aloominiyum S&W J-frame such as a Model 37 or Model 642.
Scary stuff, glad the baby Jesus kept you safe!
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Guntoter
Member
Some fellow in Ohio is still doing the upset dance over that chunk of metal lodged in the hood of his new Vette.
Glad you weren't hurt.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
- Messages
- 5,717
Well...if you can fit a .357 Mag round in "an aloominiyum S&W J-frame such as a Model 37 or Model 642", you are probably using a big hammer...and deserve what you get.
Interesting thread.
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Deltaboy1984
Member
Thank the Lord your alright. That is the first SO101 I ever seen blew up.
Savageman25
Member
Ruger called me up today and offered me a new sp101 at the discounted cost of 335 dollars. I went ahead and got it. Just fyi, If I wouldn't have bought it they would have sent the old one back to me.
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