60947 Fires it's last shot

[David Noble]

I wonder if these recent blowups have occurred due to detonation. Seems most if not all of these that were not the result of an obstruction were "lite" or reduced load reloads. Detonation occurs when there is too much space in the powder compartment and the powder burns instantaneously instead of progressively causing a huge pressure spike. It seems feasible that the wad in these reduced loads is not compressing the powder adequately?
Just a thought.

[Parker Bachelder (Brad's Profile)]

David

It is a blessing that no one was hurt in this accident. You are fortunate this did not occur with fluid steel barrels. Yes I am defending Damascus.
Without the gun in hand for testing, I can't make any definative statements, however, I can offer a cursory opinion. Only two things can cause this type of failure. An extremely over pressure shell or a rigid obstruction at the forcing cone. This type of ripping of the metal indicates a single event failure, not a mechanical or structural problem.
When fliud steel barrels are exposed this type of pressure they will usually demonstrate longitudinal cracking and more fragmentation with little or no bulging. The photos show considerable bulging prior to the metal shearing off. This attests to certain maleable property I have only seen in compostie steel Barrels. A lot less shrapnell and a more gradual release of pressure.
The stock breakage is due to gases escaping into the receiver via the firing pin hole.
The beautiful patterns are not the only reason that Damascus Barrels were considered Premium.

Brad

[Dennis]

David,

You have my sympathy for the destroyed Parker but thankfully you are not injured.

Dennis

[Dennis]

As I have read many times over since joining the PGCA these stocks are old and heavy loads should not be used in these old double guns. Possibly the load generated a much greater level of recoil than normal and that is what caused the stock to break at the wrist, the weakest part of the gun.

Dennis

[Bruce Day]

You might see some evidence of gas escape into the stock head through the hammer holes if you remove the stock head. I have seen barrel ruptures before without this back pressure that erupted into the head.

[David Noble]

Brad you are certainly more knowledgeable than me on this subject, however wouldn't the stock have split or blown at the head, instead of causing a 90 degree break across the grain at the grip?

[Fishtail]

How could a stock break occur due to a much greater level of recoil when the load was a low-power load?

[paul stafford jr]

my son has used 40 grains of 7625 in his Damascus ten gauge greeners with no problems this don't make sents

[David Yeatts]

Thank you all for your opinions, suggestions, and good wishes. The main reason I was not injured, good safety glasses and gloves. I take a bit of ribbing once in a while but with out them my hand would have been cut.
Now on to a better description, the shell blew up, the only part we found was about half the plastic hull. I will continue to look for the brass head and the piece which blew off the barrel but rain and a lot of snow has kept the range closed. Back blase caused the gun to open, this back force plus the downward pressure snapped the stock. Everyone who saw it happen said the stock was broken before I dropped the gun. It was the top part of the stock and action which hit me.
The hull was a Federal and it have been reloaded a number of times and in eight or nine years the first to fail in any way. I have had other shells blow up on me (Cheddite is very bad I limit them to no more than 3 reloads) but the guns have remained intact. I have checked all 12 of the other hulls and all have there base wads and I broke the bird on 4 high. Could there have been an obstruction in the barrel, I do not know for sure. These are the things I know for sure.
I am going to get all three and the gun that are going to the Southern checked out by experts and two others are going to be sleeved one in 28 and the other in 410, never ever want a repeat. A lot of old hulls will also be hitting the dustbin.
Dave
The photo was correct the the left chamber was deformed

[J.B. Books]

Originally Posted by David Yeatts

Thank you all for your opinions, suggestions, and good wishes. The main reason I was not injured, good safety glasses and gloves.

I have had other shells blow up on me (Cheddite is very bad I limit them to no more than 3 reloads) but the guns have remained intact. I have checked all 12 of the other hulls and all have there base wads and I broke the bird on 4 high.
A lot of old hulls will also be hitting the dustbin.

Dave

Glad you are OK, what an awful thing to have happen, You make a good point about always wearing safety glasses and at least one glove on your barrel hand for sure.

I am thinking out loud here, 10ga Federal hulls have a tendency to split down the side from repeated firings. Could it be possible that when a hull with a split is fired the pressure could vent through the split before the crimp can open venting all the pressure against the chamber wall?

Someone mentioned detonation, I think that is most likely a myth. The NRA commissioned H.P. White Lab to make/prove detonation could occur in a 38 special as so many were blowing up with reported light loads. Thousands of deliberate attempts to create the conditions for detonation and none happened.