Weak case or Double charge

[bert304]

I went shooting today with my Springfield 1911 and some reloads that I made up. It was going well I adjusted my sights and I was hitting the 10 and 9 ring from 20 yards with a 2 handed grip. I shot about 250 rounds and I pulled the trigger and the gun went BOOM!!!! The following pics were the result. I was wearing glasses and ear plugs.




I check the gun and dropped the mag, When I looked at the mag this is what I found. The case on the right was stuck in the mag and the one on the left was in the chamber.



This is what my hands looked like



I took the gun apart and I found nothing wrong with it except that the grips spit in to a couple pieces. I tested it with 1 round then 2 rounds then 3 rounds. When I got home I took it completely apart and cleaned it and reinspected it I found nothing else wrong and put a set of extra grips on it.

[PisnNapalm]

I'd say you're lucky your hands are ok. That had to be pretty scary.

My guess would be a weak case. I double charge might have taken the gun outta your hands.

More experienced minds can offer better opinions.

*plink plink* 2 cents.

[bert304]

It didn't really hurt just scared the crap out of me and stung from the grips breaking. What shocked me was the round that went off in the mag and the bullet stayed in the mag in the case. The round in the mag had the primer blown out and ruptured the the top of the case. I found the primer when I took out the mag and it was completely flat like it had been ran over with roller.

[FordDieselSteve]

My guess is a double charge,what powder was you using?

[bert304]

I am using HP-38 at 5.3 grains. I have never had a double charge in a semi auto pistol before so I do not know what happens. I would have figured it would have damaged the barrel or the slide.

[FordDieselSteve]

I have never had a ka--boom (hope I never do) and your right most of the pictures I;ve seen are glocks and I have seen a picture of a XD and yes there is slide and frame damage.After rereading your post was it the case in the magazine that went off? was the case that was in the chamber damaged? I have newer used the powder you were using. Some powders like unique make it almost impossible to double charge a case, with powders like titegroup you can very easily double charge a case.I'm sure others on here that are more knowledgeable with reloading than I am will be able to help.
I am also glad that your OK and did not get injured.

[Warners Surplus]

My guess would also be an overcharge.

The 1911 can handle some outragious pressure and still hold together. I would have the frame checked just to be safe and replace the recoil spring, gaurenteed it did suffer from coil bind. Also check your barrel link and pin.

I run 45 super in my Kimber with no problems and the only mod is a HEAVY 28lb. Recoil spring. the Super develops 1350fps with a 185gr Gold Dot HP. In the past guys have attempted to break the 45acp +P barrier and the ending result is a caseing that looks just like yours. The round tends to blow right at the feed ramp because that is the place with the least support for the cartridge. All the 45 Super brass has that acp brass doesn't is a thicker web coming up from the rim.


Rich W.

[DieselPower]

I'm curious like FordDieselSteve, might it have been the cartridge in the mag that is at fault and not the one that was in the chamber. Maybe a very sensitive primer and when the round in the chamber fired the shock set off the one in the chamber. Can't really tell from the picture, what condition is the shell that was in the chamber in? Does it show signs of over pressure?

[bert304]

The one in the chamber fired and actually hit the target. The casing from the chamber had the bottom side where the brass is not supportted by barrel blow down just above the rim. If it was an over charge wouldn't the slide go back faster an let the pressure out of the barrel. I think when the gun was fired the one in the chamber blew and then the one in the top of the mag had a sensitive primer and went off by the one above it jamming it backwards. I am really suprised that the case went off in the mag and the gun did not get anyomre damage then a bent mag. The top of the mag sticks alittle when you try to push it in.

[roland]

I don't think it was a double charge, as you said the top cartridge went off while in the magazine as you fired the round in the chamber. I'd say it was a high primer and caught a burr or a spot weld on the mag. And the firing set it off. I'd check the mag for any burrs and file it down. Better yet, crush it and just through it away. ( As it may have been kinked when the cartridge went off.) High primers are a somewhat common problem in reloading. But they ussually prevent the slide from going into battery. I'd also look for tiny cracks along the rails of the frame and the slide just to be sure.