[Anglin_AZ]

Today while out shooting some reloads something went terribly wrong. My G21 exploded in my hand. I've been reloading for about 18 months and starting to feel more comfortable with the whole process but I think its safe to say I did something wrong.

I'm thinking that I might have accidentally double charged the culprit but I'm not exactly sure. Earlier in the day I was measuring my rounds through a chronometer and everything was normal. I did shoot round nose lead that was hot (990-1000fps) so I stopped and switched to 200 grain roundnose with 5g's of Bullseye @ an average of 890fps.

Whatever it was it scared the bejeebus out of me. Below are some pictures. My trigger finger is bruised and swollen, my pride is a little hurt, my G21 is done for but other than that, fortunately all is ok. It felt like a bomb went off in my hand and I had to take about few minutes to gather my sense.

Becareful out there boys (and girls).

Below are pictures. Your opinion and experience is appreciated.













http://i.imgur.com/0TAXz9p.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/7EFx8IX.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/BFHVfVO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/6LyI0tk.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/HRya7zB.jpg

[luisbet1032]

Wow! I'm so Glad you are ok.

[Jim Watson]

I think double charge.
The only gun ever demolished on our range was a .357 magnum with a top load of Bullseye, almost certainly doubled.

You will get Internet Diagnoses of "out of battery" and "lead in a Glock" even though with aftermarket barrel.
But I think it just way too much fast powder.

Hatcher shows a fragmented 1911 that took 12 grains of Bullseye to ruin.

[Colorado4Wheel]

What press are you using?

[Anglin_AZ]

Originally Posted by Colorado4Wheel

What press are you using?

Horndady LNL

[norton]

Now I see you weren't using the stock barrel. Glock will not likely help you with this one. Sorry.

[Tarant]

Ouch, i cant help with why, but am glad your okay.


OUCH!

[norton]

Wow. Glad you're ok.
double charge maybe?
I damaged the back plastic rails on my G21. LGS asked me if I was shooting reloads. He sent it to Glock, and they gave me a new frame and magazines. Free. I'm not sure what happened with my pistol. He did tell me to if Glock called and asked if I was shooting lead to deny it. I wasn't.

[Steel Head]

WOW!
I can't believe how it split the barrel lug like that
Glad your ok!

[PEC-Memphis]

Originally Posted by Steel Head

WOW!
I can't believe how it split the barrel lug like that
Glad your ok!

Most of the stainless barrels I've seen that experienced a double charge / or obstructed barrel split - although this one is most impressive....

.....the OEM barrels seem to bulge rather than split.

[dkf]

Originally Posted by PEC-Memphis

Most of the stainless barrels I've seen that experienced a double charge / or obstructed barrel split - although this one is most impressive....

.....the OEM barrels seem to bulge rather than split.

The hammer forging process usually yields a stronger barrel. Not to mention most tool steels with the proper heat treat are stronger than the stainless used in most barrels.

I am not sure if companies like KKM, Storm lake and etc machine their barrels from bar stock, a casting or a forging though.

I am not surprised the barrel split the way it did. I would think the barrel failed due to a squib there would be a bulge closer to muzzle from the squib load bullet being stuck in the barrel. I still think this was a double charge.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by dkf

The hammer forging process usually yields a stronger barrel. Not to mention most tool steels with the proper heat treat are stronger than the stainless used in most barrels.

I am not sure if companies like KKM, Storm lake and etc machine their barrels from bar stock, a casting or a forging though.

I am not surprised the barrel split the way it did. I would think the barrel failed due to a squib there would be a bulge closer to muzzle from the squib load bullet being stuck in the barrel. I still think this was a double charge.

I would think it depends on where the obstruction is. If it's at the end, you get the banna peel or bulge, depending on pressures. IF the bullet were stuck just inside the bbl, dbl of fast pwoder like BE, I could see the chamber letting go, but since no one really knows what exactly happened, it's all a guess.

[Anglin_AZ]

Here are few more...

[janice6]

Glad you weren't seriously hurt.

[Anglin_AZ]

The silver lining, as my son put it, I guess we're getting a new Glock!

[dkf]

Due to the carnage I would say double charge as well. At least you were not seriously hurt.

You could always contact Glock tell them you blew up your gun and it was your fault. See what they say. They may give you a break on a replacement gun. Who knows.

[NMG26]

Originally Posted by Anglin_AZ

Whatever it was it scared the bejeebus out of me.

Wow, glad you are are ok.


.

[Taterhead]

Holy crap!

I am glad that you are ok other than that finger contusion.

As others have said, the most simple explanation is probably the correct explanation: probably a double charge of a very quick-burning powder.

I don't think a "bulge buster" or "pass through" die will fix that brass.

Thank you very much for posting these photos. A reality check now and then is good to see. Sorry about your gun!

[ColdSteelNail]

Glad you're ok.

[SBray]

Good to hear that you weren't seriously injured!

I would agree with the others about the double charge. I am paranoid about that happening so I try to make a habit of always looking down inside the case before placing a bullet into position. Also, I use Alan's Press Monitor to help make sure I haven't got distracted using my 550B. I go a little slower reloading than I could but I feel more confident that I am less likely to have a similar accident.

Also, thanks for sharing with us. You have reminded all of us that it could happen to anyone!

Steve

[alank2]

Hi,

Glad you are ok other than that finger! Bullseye is very unforgiving of overcharge. I hate to see a pistol twisted up like that... One reloading rule I always follow is to look inside each round to make sure about the right amount of powder is present - you won't be able to see a 0.2 gr difference, but you should be able to tell a difference between no powder, normal charge, or double charge.

Do you have more rounds that haven't been fired? One thing you can do (other than pulling them) is post weigh rounds to catch any that fall outside a certain range. For example, you might find that all your rounds fall between 240.4 and 241.9 grains except for one that might be 236.4 (possible squib) or 245.2 (possible double), etc.

Good luck,

Alan

[judgecrater]

Originally Posted by alank2

Hi,


Do you have more rounds that haven't been fired? One thing you can do (other than pulling them) is post weigh rounds to catch any that fall outside a certain range. For example, you might find that all your rounds fall between 240.4 and 241.9 grains except for one that might be 236.4 (possible squib) or 245.2 (possible double), etc.

Good luck,

Alan

I have tried that. The variation in brass and bullet weight will conceal a double charge.

[fredj338]

Originally Posted by judgecrater

I have tried that. The variation in brass and bullet weight will conceal a double charge.

^THIS^ Unless you are talking charge wts over about 8gr, you can't find a small charge cariation, even 5gr isn't reliable using mixed brass.

[njl]

Originally Posted by judgecrater

I have tried that. The variation in brass and bullet weight will conceal a double charge.

Agreed. When I had multiple squibs from a batch of 230gr JHP 3.8gr Clays, I weighed all the remaining loaded rounds, found a couple that were well under the avg weight and was sure they were undercharged. I pulled them first and found 3.8gr of Clays in each of them. I then pulled the 100+ other remaining from the batch and found 3.8gr Clays in every one of them.

[n2extrm]

Glad you weren't hurt too badly. Keep an eye on that finger! You sure there's nothing stuck in it, plastic or metal?

I would guess a double charge, but I don't know how easy that is on a LNL.