Catastrophic Failure...
 

:eek: I returned from a week in Argentina duck hunting this morning. The shooting was very good with 10 species taken. On Thursday morning, however, almost 50 years of luck shooting side by sides ran out. I had my 32" #1 frame VHE 16 gauge in the blind. It had been working very well for me the previous 3 days. At first light a flock of 8 gargantilla, the white cheeked pintail came in from the right. My buddy, Tom Rowland on my right took one with his 1912 Fox Sterlingworth 12g "pin gun" and I missed my first shot but killed one going away with my second. Everything seemed normal as I broke the gun to reload, I felt something odd and turned the gun over. "Damned, I popped the bottom rib." Closer examination showed a fully opened 3 inch split in the bottom of the right barrel running from 15" from the breech to 18".:cuss: At first I thought I had gotten something in the muzzle but there was no evidence of that. I was using Obera 27 gram loads of #5s. The only thing I can think of is a cocked wad. Who knows?

That is too bad Don.
However, It goes to show to all those that still believe that Fluid steel is better than Damascus that it can happen to any gun.

Wow. Glad to hear you are ok. Too bad about it happening esp to a gun that can be hard to find (32" 16).
Did you notice any difference in the way the shoot sounded?
Again glad to hear you are ok.


PS could you include a picture of the barrel?

What a shame Don. Glad your hand didn't take any damage though.

bad about the gun barrels but they can be replaced...just glad no one hurt and will live to hunt another day... charlie

What was the wall thickness at the problem area ?

.....:crying:
.............:crying:... Thank the Big guy you still have your hand!!

Take it as mixed blessings Don.

Any sign of a bulge at all in the area of the split?

Don: Perhaps Nash Buckingham was watching over you. Guns can be replaced, Hands can't.

Best Regards, George

we can do a lot of guessing and speculating here but my guess would be that thebase wad came loose and lodged about 2/3 ways down the barrel and when next shell was fired busted barrel...still glad don was not hurt.... charlie