Bad day at the Range for Custom Gun.

Palmetto-Pride
I know this is a little off topic, but it always amazes me when I hear or see people at the range that have all this money tied up in there firearms and they put the cheapest ammo they can find in them.
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Joe Waldron, pro gun lobbyist semi retired, has a great shpeal, "~ A guy will spend $2k on a rifle, $10k on a safari, and stop at K-Mart on the way to the airport and look for the cheapest ammo. It is human nature."
 
Guys, you are missing the point about cheap ammo. Look, my gun is so good that it shoots this nice group even with lousy ammo.

-TL
 
Don't know about you guys, but I wouldn't be too talkative if I had a Kaboom, and someone came to me with questions! "Dunno" could be my answer with a hint of "Leave me alone, I just ruined my gun and I'm embarrassed". I have never been a "Range Chatterer". Mebbe a casual conversation, but I have never gotten much good/new info. from a Range Rat...;)
 
Joe Waldron, pro gun lobbyist semi retired, has a great shpeal, "~ A guy will spend $2k on a rifle, $10k on a safari, and stop at K-Mart on the way to the airport and look for the cheapest ammo. It is human nature."
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I'm going to take a little bit of exception to that notion. It's a simple fact that not all of the bargain-basement ammo is bad. In fact, some is quite exceptional. For many years, one of my favorite ammo choices (when I can get it) is plain old blue-box Federal. I don't see where you can find shootable ammo that is cheaper than that (typically about $17/box for 30-06 at Wallyworld). Yet, it shoots accurately and cleanly.

My only complaint with it is that they only produce it in certain calibers (most of which I don't shoot at all anymore or very seldom). I wish they would expand the line to include more calibers.
 
I'm going to take a little bit of exception to that notion. It's a simple fact that not all of the bargain-basement ammo is bad. In fact, some is quite exceptional. For many years, one of my favorite ammo choices (when I can get it) is plain old blue-box Federal. I don't see where you can find shootable ammo that is cheaper than that (typically about $17/box for 30-06 at Wallyworld). Yet, it shoots accurately and cleanly.

My only complaint with it is that they only produce it in certain calibers (most of which I don't shoot at all anymore or very seldom). I wish they would expand the line to include more calibers.
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Nearly all of us can find some exception to the rule.

I, for example, consider Remington Express Core-Lokt factory ammo to be the benchmark for rifles chambered for .270 Win (130 gr) and .243 Win (100 gr - the only 100 gr bullet I shoot in .243).


However, I think we can also (nearly) all agree that the cheap ammunition is, as an overal category, low quality.



...Which is why I hate any ammunition loaded with Winchester bullets, and why I refuse to buy any rifle ammunition from Federal.

Winchester Power Points, in particular, are the lowest quality, least consistent, most incredibly unpredictable bullet that I've ever seen. And then they stick it on top of an equally low quality powder charge. :rolleyes:

Federal, I avoid because their factory loads tend to stretch primer pockets (thus, the brass is trashed) and I have had far too many DANGEROUS head space conditions presented with their lack of quality control. --And that's not limited to the cheap ammo - I had a $65 box of ammo with ONE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSANDTHS of an inch (0.130") excessive head space; and in another box, cases that were eighty thousandths too long (0.080" - and unusable). Considering that most rifles have min-to-max headspace measurements of about 0.008" ... Federal only missed the mark SIXTEEN times, and ten times the tolerance. And that wasn't the only box of Federal ammo that I have come across with 0.130" excessive headspace. :eek::eek:
 
Dunno about $$$$$ guns and $ ammo because I don't buy ammo. In 2009 I bought a box of 45 ACP, and in 2012 I bought a box of 380 ACP and 303 British. Just wanted a quick way to get some brass...:D
 
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Do not forget the safety glasses

Having been both a bullseye and skeet shooter for years wearing safety glasses is second nature. So when I go to the rifle range I always have them on. Some older model military rifles do not have gas ports and a punctured primer could cause serious injury.
 
3000 dollars is cheap compared to a hospital stay.

Without any further evidence I have no idea what caused the malfunction, but if it was truly a "custom" 308 then this is my best guess, it may have come with a "tight" (minimum spec) chamber for accuracy. A thick necked piece of brass with a just slightly oversized bullet could have gotten lodged in the neck of the chamber and caused the "kaboom" every bit as much as a charge of the wrong powder could.

My second best guess is using a low charge of a slow burning powder, producing the Secondary Explosion Effect.

My third best guess is powder mismatch, although most pistol powders I use are flake it would be possible to use a ball pistol powder in place of a ball rifle powder and not spot the difference.

My last best guess is bore obstruction, maybe the guy was "breaking in" the barrel and a section of cleaning rod unscrewed that he didn't notice.

Tolerance stacking can produce very bad results. Powder mismatch can produce very bad results. Plugged bores can produce very bad results. I wish I knew more, but hopefully this list has been food for thought.

Jimro
 
Wendy, Glad everyone is safe!! Reminds me of the time a guy at the range was actively trying to get the bolt closed for his 308 on a 30-06 round...:eek:
Bench was used on bolt knob then too....

Franknmauser,
Ever heard of sandbags, and a long string, when testing the unknown??? lol

Not saying, just saying...
 
I know that's right. I had about 10 rounds left last weekend and they showed back up and sat at bench to left of me. They were putting out targets. I packed up and left. I've only been reloading since April but I at least know how many grains and which brand of powder is in my loads.
 
Federal only missed the mark SIXTEEN times, and ten times the tolerance. And that wasn't the only box of Federal ammo that I have come across with 0.130" excessive headspace.
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I do not have head space on the case, I do not have case head space gages. I am capable of verifying my micrometers and gages.

I have fired 8mm57 ammo in an 8mm06 chamber, difference in length? .127", that is .003" difference than the .130" you claim. And then? What happened? Nothing, I ejected a case with a very short neck.

And no one can tell me what that means.

F. Guffey
 
I do not have head space on the case, I do not have case head space gages. I am capable of verifying my micrometers and gages.

I have fired 8mm57 ammo in an 8mm06 chamber, difference in length? .127", that is .003" difference than the .130" you claim. And then? What happened? Nothing, I ejected a case with a very short neck.
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Congratulations.
 
I packed up and left.
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Suspect I would have done the same thing, but I would have been sorely tempted, as I passed by, to ask what powder they were using this week, in the most amiable manner I could muster of course.
 
I just don't understand the "I didn't say anything to them and packed up and left" attitude.

To me that is absolutely counter-productive, and the absolute wrong attitude to have. Maybe it's because the "see something, say something" safety attitude of my industry is absolutely hammered into my brain - but if somebody is having to pound open a bolt and continues shooting, I'm going to say something to them - they have the option of listening to my statement or telling me to eff off, but to me the absolute worst thing that can be done is nothing.

Maybe....just maybe....my statement or interjecting into what is obviously a dangerous situation will save somebody's eyes or fingers or teeth, not to mention the gun itself.
 
I just don't understand the "I didn't say anything to them and packed up and left" attitude.
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I hear what you are saying and I too am tempted to try and correct people when I see them do dangerous things at the range, but I do size them up first to see if they are the type to be receptive or not. I have a public range that is only 30 mins away, but I will drive to my private range that is 1.5 hrs away most days before I hit the closer public range. I hate to hijack the thread (as I do):) lol One of the most annoying things I witness most at public ranges is these people that come out and blast away at targets 10-15ft away with anything from AR-15s to shotguns I am trying to see my target at 100yds and all I can see is a dust cloud from the ground being shot up right in front of me. That's usually when I pack up and leave.:eek:
 
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