Stupidity and the .38

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nathanrw

New member
A member of my family who is getting on in years recently took his Charter Arms .38spl out for some plinking. For ammo he ended up grabbing some 10mm handloads that I never used due to a poor crimp. When he pulled the trigger the case split most of the length of the case and then about half an inch from the rim it blew out the around about a third of the circumference of the case. The bullet did get through the barrel and it doesn't seem like any major damage was done. I'm pretty surprised that this didn't turn out worse for him and was curious if this was a "normal" case or if he should have lost some chunks of his hand. Thanks for the info I'll be using this as a teaching tool and want to illustrate how bad this could have been.
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I fail to see how that would be remotely possible.

The 38spl is a rimmed revolver cartridge while the 10mm is a rimless semiauto.

The 10mm case is .426 inches at the base, .421 at the neck.

The 38spl is .379" it's entire length.

A 10mm Auto cartridge will not fit in a 38spl revolver.

Unless there's some new math that I don't know about, it's physically impossible.
 
I'm not sure how he did it but the 10mm is the split case he brought back to me. The primer is dented well off of center as well.
 
It's impossible.

The case would split if the chamber was too LARGE.

A 38spl chamber is MUCH too SMALL for a 10mm.

The round would have to be chambered with a hammer.

The chamber is at least .040 smaller than the smallest dimension of the 10mm, which would be the case mouth and it only gets bigger from there.

If the cartridge could somehow be chambered, the standard pressure for a 10mm is 37,500 psi while the 38spl is 17,000psi. The 10mm cartridge under NORMAL conditions would blow that gun to pieces. With the cartridge crushed in the chamber, it would be a hand grenade.

The bullet, at .400 inches, would not make it down the barrel, at .357 inches.

I say again, it's not possible. If he's telling you that's what happened, he is mistaken or lying.
 
I've seen a 40sw fired in a .45acp with similar results. But the 40 will physically fit in the .45 albeit somewhat loose. 10mm in a .38, I don't think so.
 
Do not have one handy nor any engineering drawings for one but I am thinking the rimless case is the answer to the problem. If the crimp was bad on the 10MM cartridge the bullet could have been forced back far enough into the case to allow the rotation of the cylinder. It slipped into the chamber and the nose of the bullet settled on the forcing cone of the barrel allowing the round to be fired. I would not want to ever do that and I hope it isn't done again.

Time to dispose of some 10mm ammo.
 
He "said" it was the .38, but I see what your saying about the case size not making that possible. He has a 1911 that he likes to carry as well. looking at what the case expanded to would it be more likely he shot it out of that?
 
nathanrw said:
He "said" it was the .38, but I see what your saying about the case size not making that possible. He has a 1911 that he likes to carry as well. looking at what the case expanded to would it be more likely he shot it out of that?
Click to expand...

Yes. A 10mm fired in a 45acp would look like as you describe.
 
I found a 9mm case at the range the other day that was spread out. I compared it end to end to a 40 cal that I found there. Very close. I suspect that somebody fired a 9mm in a 40 cal gun. Any of you ever done this? What was it like? I have never done this myself and was just wondering what it would be like if it happened. I am not interested enough to try it on purpose of course.
 
I suspect he loaded the 10mm into the .38spcl chamber with a hammer. How does he drive? You may need to start thinking about taking his keys away from him. :(
 
Yes. A 10mm fired in a 45acp would look like as you describe.
Click to expand...

That I can understand. Took a course last year and another guy in the class was shooting a new-to-him Glock 20. I was shooting a Colt 1911 in .45. He was short a few rounds of the required amount for the course (forgot a loaded magazine at home) and asked to borrow some ammo:eek:
 
Quote:
"Yes. A 10mm fired in a 45acp would look like as you describe.

That I can understand. Took a course last year and another guy in the class was shooting a new-to-him Glock 20. I was shooting a Colt 1911 in .45. He was short a few rounds of the required amount for the course (forgot a loaded magazine at home) and asked to borrow some ammo "


There's one local range that seems to attract a lot of newbies (with money). Such behavior is common there. I avoid shooting there now. . . out of caution.
 
I have a .41 magnum, a .44 Special, and a .45 Long Colt.

I look at EVERY headstamp before I load them into my gun.

A .44 special in a .45 Long Colt wouldn't be too bad, but a .41 Magnum in a .44 Special?

Very bad news.
 
Have seen the same thing with a 9mm loaded and fired from the magazine in a .40 Glock 23. Split the case, bullet left the barrel but the slide didn't have enought ummfh to reload the chamber and eject the fired round, too much gas leakage around the case in the chamber. No harm to the gun but scary to be standing next door...

I remember seeing an article about a Charter Arms .44 Spl that the owner took into a shop complaining about the recoil, until it was found out the owner was shooting .44 Magnum! Gun took it without breaking but MAN!
Shocked he held onto it at all not to mention 5 rounds! :eek:
 
Pictures or didn't happen! because I believe everything on the web. :D


IMO, I think it was a larger caliber than "38" because not possible to fit in.
 
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