G34 case rupture

[9x45]

Well, it happened to me today. Blazing away in a match, and then, KAFOOM!!! Closed my eyes, dropped the gun, opened my eyes, and lots of blood and black smoot on the right hand, lots of black smoot on the left hand. Asked the RO if there where any other holes, or leaks, in my face or body. Ok there. Recovered items are the actual case, a shard of a bullet "ring", and whats left of the magazine catch. Parts not found: primer and the missing piece of mag catch. Initial observations by experienced shooters, probably not a double charge, otherwise the barrel would have blown. Seems like it may have been a set back bullet, and after preliminary examination, it seems the bullet may have been set very well back in the case. No evidence of firing out of battery as the barrel was all the way up in the slide and had to be tapped out. I will post some pics shortly.

I did fix the gun, and went back to the range with a box of NEW ammo. The G34 ran fine. Reloading does have some inherent risks....

[glockster96]

Glad you werent' seriously hurt.

[lazarus]

Most importantly glad you are OK. I respect your fortitude in getting back in action ASAP.

I've heard enough stories like these to convince me to stick with factory ammo....


Molon Labe.

[shootingbuff]

I have seen over charges and bullet setback in both the sig and 40 and was not near the damage you are speaking.

It was great you were not hurt and the gun is back up.

Where did the soot/smoot come from?

How did you get bloody on your right hand and not your left(left was smooty) if it blew the mag catch?

Since you are back shooting it I am gussing you were not to bloody and all you needed was the mag catch?

pics, pics, pics

I take it the ammo was your reloads?

more info, more info

thanks

sb

[9x45]

I'll give it a try with the pics. My bruised finger and the actual case....

[9x45]

Ok, here is the damaged end....

[9x45]

and the mag catch

[shootingbuff]

I am gussing it did fire out of battery.

It is plan the case let go in the 6 o'clock.

Right where the brass starts you can see a bulge going around the case. Hence it appears it did fire out of battery.

Nasty owie.

Now do we rack this up as a good thing for Glock or bad.

I like to think good becasue the shooter had min injuries and the pistol only needed a mag catch.

What was the load?

sb

[9x45]

Update, my wound got a bit worse, opening up to about 3/4" wide, but no infection. Here is what I can't figure. Grab your Glock and look where the right side of mag catch contacts your right hand, it's on the lower side of your right index finger, not the upper. But clearly, the injury is on the upper side of the right index finger.

After more careful examination, and talking with other shooters(who have blown up Glocks), it would strongly suggest the out of battery condition. There is clearly a 'zone' which is not in absolute lock-up, where the striker will go forward, at least on this gun.

[shootingbuff]

Check your frame from the mag catch on the right side up to your take down lever.

Many Glocks crack in this location.

May be hard to see. Check it carfully.

By the sound of your wound there is a good chance it is cracked.

sb

[9x45]

Another update... buff, I did check the frame and the mag that was in the gun at the time, and no cracks. Talked to a major aftermarket barrel manufacturer today who has tested barrels to failure. His observations are that this is an overpressure condition, and not an out of battery firing. I also spoke with a well known local gunsmith and an IPSC Grand Master who both agree that this was not an out of battery and believe it was overpressure. It is possible to get 8 grains of TiteGroup in a 9mm case, and still seat the bullet.
Although it seems that a double charge is impossible on a progressive, obviously it happened in my case...
One other theory offered by a shooting buddy is that I had a squib, then pulled the trigger on a normal charged round, then had the overpressure condition. This is based on the copper ring found in the bore.
Thanks everyone for checking in, and stay safe!

[MarkP]

Did you have a stock or aftermarket recoil spring;d
I had the same thing happen to a 17.
Just checking.

MP

[shootingbuff]

Hi,

I am sure all those folks have much more experince than I.

I am only going off of what appears to be a ring/bulge located where the case stoped letting go at.

I may be wrong, but just how in the heck can a case bulge in one location in the chamber, all the way around the case?

It does appear again that the case was not fully in the chamber and the ring is where the round stopped from going into the chamber. This caused the 6 to let go up to the supported area due maybe to the fact of the bbl hood giving some support to the top of the case and bulged slitghtly while expamding around the chamber mouth.

Could be wrong ;-))
At this time don't think so.
Really does it matter?
My ego doesn't care one way or the other.
Glad the frame is ok and your hand.

sb


Mayb

[9x45]

Another interesting theory has emerged. The "Charge of the Light Brigrade" No pun intended. In this example, the "Light Charge" weight. The theory says that a high density and fast burning powder; for example, Bullseye or TiteGroup or Clays, occupying a large case volume to powder volume ratio, not mass, ( a 9mm case could hold 10 grains of TiteGroup versus a light charge of 2.5 grains, and still seat the bullet) could result in detonation rather than ignition. In my case, perhaps, there was 2.5 grains of TiteGroup, instead of 4, and all of this was resting away from the primer. So primer ignition occurs, but no immediate ignition of the powder as it is resting against the bullet. Then a fractional moment later, ignition of the powder. There have been some documented studies of initial pressure curves which support the theory. Black smoot(excessive carbon) is also allmost allways associated with an underweight charge because of an incomplete ignition.

While it is impossible to determine the exact cause, at least without emperical testing, which means blowing up another gun(s), I prefer the light charge theory..... In theory, at least. I, at last see some light at the end of the theoritical funnel tunnel.

[jamgusmc]

Ummm PLEASE someone tell me that doesnt happen often.. cause I still havent bought my first pistol yet.. (2 more weeks) and I am having a hard time deciding what to buy.. and I have been leaning towards Glocks..but.. KABOOM??? *quakin in his boots*

[shootingbuff]

I have used titegroup in the 9, 40 and 38spc.

If mem serves it is designed for lite charges in large cases.

Not that it matters but I would think a 38spc would have more unused volume than a 9x19.

On that note I have heard large cpacity cartridges are the ones that have detonation problems once in a very great while.

And we all know that the 9x19 is not a large case ;-).

sb

[9x45]

Update: After sectioning the case, cold flow marks are clearly visislbe along with a circumferential fracture at the inside radius. This was a defective case. I will post the pics shortly.

[GlocknSchpiel]

Hey 9by, Your first pic shows it perfectly. The rim area break is crystaline while the case itself is a flowing or rounded structure within the break area. Nice pics (a little large) but very good composition and focus! Nice job of detective work!
??? How many cycles on that case ???
I load lead fairly light and have some cases with 10 cycles on them, but I am considering some jacketed rds and just want some input!
Glad to hear that you weren't seriously injured.
Take care,
Glockn...