A telling picture and story --> Choose your ammo carefully!

I wouldn't call that "funny" in any way, shape, or form.

I used to shoot with a fellow quite a few years ago who was missing most of his trigger finger. He'd loaded his own ammunition without sweating the details, and blew up a Ruger cowboy-style .44 magnum revolver. I was just getting started loading my own ammunition in those days, and took his word for it.
 
On the bright side...

It could have been worse! The guy wasn't seriously hurt, and the gun wasn't pinned & recessed!:D

Chinese made ammo? ok, sure, I guess. Good luck getting customer satisfaction if that's the case. A little lie (chinese ammo)? to cover his embarassement at a defective handload? Maybe.

Just goes to show the risk you take when you buy ammo on the cheap, from ANYONE other than one of the big name makers. Same risk with anyone else's handloads. The only thing I will ever do with unknown handloads is break them down for bullets and brass.

I recommend you do the same.
 
44 AMP, I suspect you're right: probably a hot hand load. Pretty impressive that it set off the two adjacent cylinders, though.
 
Pretty sure I have seen this same pistol (and same pics) with an entirely different story posted either here or on THR.

So I'm gonna have to call BS here. :rolleyes:
 
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I've seen pictures of that gun, but I want to say they were pictures taken at the range. Those pics are in these forums somewhere and I also want to say there was a different story that went along with it.
 
This pistol, and the story that goes with it, have been making the rounds since May at least. The pictures are older. This Russian site had them up last year. Maybe someone here can tell us if the same story accompanies it. The only thing I can make out is "kaboom."

Here's another one with the current story attached from last year also. There are others.

It looks as if the only way this was "Chinese made" is if the handloader who double-charged the guilty round was a Chinese immigrant. I'm not even sure if Chinese ammo can be imported. I thought Norinco screwed that up.
 
Wow, what did he use, 24 grains of Bullseye instead of W296? Removed the top strap and set off the adjoining cartridges?!
 
this is along the same lines. my buddy and I were talking on the phone the other day. he said his cousin's rifle blew up so to speak like sortof how it happens in the old cartoons. he said the barrel midway did this and it was because his young cousin didn't clean it enough. does this happen a lot?
 
therealdeal said:
this is along the same lines. my buddy and I were talking on the phone the other day. he said his cousin's rifle blew up so to speak like sortof how it happens in the old cartoons. he said the barrel midway did this and it was because his young cousin didn't clean it enough. does this happen a lot?
Click to expand...

That particular type of kaboom has all the earmarks of a barrel obstruction. Maybe a lodged bullet from a previous squib load or just some mud or junk. It's the impact of the bullet and the obstruction that burst the barrel, not the pressure of the powder gasses, although the pressure will finish the job once the barrel is ruptured.

Put a water balloon inside a short length of pipe and shoot the water balloon with a high power rifle through the end of the pipe and you will see the pipe bulge or burst in a similar way.
 
We'll likely never know the truth on this one, but I'd guess handload as well. A squib, an over charge, who knows but scary as hell.
 
Well, the bullet in the picture looks suspiciously like a Hornady XTP to me, so I'm gonna call BS on the "Chinese ammo" story. Were I a betting man, my money would be on sloppy handloads.
 
Agree with Scorpion tyr
I was sent these same pics quite a while ago from a friend with a PD. The gun blew up due to exceeding safe pressure limits with reloaded ammo. Can't remember what power the reloader was using.
 
Why turn it in to the police?

At least use it for a wall hanger, training/instruction weapon, reminder, or parts gun (the grip is a $30 grip, and I"m sure things like the trigger, etc. have value).
 
Already been declared BS but is a puzzler.

I cannot agree with the obstructed barrel theory. The barrel and barrel throat look fine to me.

Could this be the result of someone experimenting with a powder that could go off on impact instead of primer ignition?

Just a thought!
James
 
. . . none of which detracts in the least from Jonathan1977's point, so ably reinforced by 44 Amp - choose your ammo carefully.
 
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