You cannot be too careful.

[HiBC]

I don't own a Savage,so I can't look at one .I was not there,all I have is this thread...I do not know anything.I'm asking questions to those who know the Savage.

The blow up pics I have seen,things can grenade at the front reciever ring,barrels can blossom open,etc,but I do not recall seeing bolts blowing out the rifle right now.At least not past the typical third safety lug.

I have no reason to believe the Savage is any less strong than any other modern bolt action,and I would assume there was plenty of blow up testing of that action at Savage to assure the sequence of failure would avoid the least desirable out come;a bolt in someone's head.

So,my question,is there any way the pinned on bolt head could enter into this?I am talking about maybe a dissassembly and improper re-assembly?Lost the pin,jury rigged something,or?

Is there any way a bolt could be rotated to battery and fired if the bolt head had come loose,and did not rotate to lock up?

Or,maybe it was high primer or some freak event made what amounts to a slamfire?

I do not doubt improper powder can blow up a rifle,but something about the bolt blowing out does not seem right.

 

[geetarman]

Can't find any other mention of this on the internet.

I have not seen anything either. I will be going back out there Friday and will see what is going on.

The investigation was being conducted by MCSO and I do not know if they will be publishing anything.

There were lots of pictures taken though. I am sure a lot of this was to try to cover themselves from any legal consequences.

I don't fault the range at all. There is no policy that prohibits handloads. This time of year, everyone is testing their new loads. I would really hate to see that go away because of this incident.

It does not take much. We can no longer post targets at 300 yards because a couple of nitwits decided to act dumb and hide behind the berm out of sight of the range officers and then had to stay there when the line was called hot.

Now, no one may go out past 200 yards and must wear an orange vest when they do go out to the 200 yard berm.

The actions of a few. . .

 

[Goldy]

I'm an idiot. I've been loading for better than 50 years. Got some new bullets for my -06 and rushed to the reloading room to load them over 54 grains of WW-760. Some how I grabbed WW-540. Stupid is as stupid does.

Savage makes a strong rifle. My only damage was a stove thumb and a few brass flecks in my face and nasty chip out of my glasses. G*d watches over fools..................but not rifles.

 

[HiBC]

Thanks,Goldeye,your pic illustrates perfectly what I have been trying to say!
The rifle is blown apart.The forward reciever ring split the top off,the barrel was blown out forward,the stock splattered,but the bolt is still secure,locked in place.

Isn't 540 a pistol powder?you loaded 54 gr and the bolt stayed put.

Something about the original story does not add up for me.IMO,if this is a handloading issue,its likely a high primer,and,a good lesson in the importance of care in priming.

 

[shortwave]

Man Goldy, glad you didn't sustain more injuries.

I've been loading for better than 50 years.

That's why it's nice to get a reminder such as this thread to not only remind the less seasoned loaders of what can happen but us old loaders that can get complacent about what we're doing.

 

[Goldy]

HiBC: WW-540 is a high energy pistol powder and a high brass type shotgun powder. I use it in 9mm mostly and a few years ago in 9x21 major loads for USPSA. It looks the same as WW-760.

This event happened last spring and this is the first time I've felt like talking about it. I've loaded tens of thousands of rounds, had a couple of minor misshaps, but this is the first gun I've destroyed. I don't load anything to max levels and keep records and mark everything.

It was very hard to back to the reloading bench feeling totally stupid as I did and do. Now I tripple check everything.

I'm thankful for the super strong actions Savage builds and who ever was watching out for fools that day.

This is a pic of teh rifle before. I was so proud...

 

[shortwave]

Beautiful rifle Goldie.

It was very hard to back to the reloading bench feeling totally stupid as I did and do. Now I tripple check everything.

Glad you're back to doing what you enjoy.

...who ever was watching out for fools that day.

Very glad he's able to watch over more then one fool at a time.

 

[Willie D]

Last year I was at my range and they had to close early to clean up a long trail of blood that was the result of someone's rifle (supposedly a vintage Savage) blowing up and doing a number on the shooter's hand.

Really makes you realize that stuff does happen when you see the results with your own eyes.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

And it is important to be wearing eye protection so that you will be able to see the results with your own eyes.

 

[HiBC]

Goldy,glad you are OK.I just do not generally shoot other people's reloads,and I do not know you,but I bet you make some safe and careful ammo !!

I appreciate you posting the pic,its worth more than a thousand words.

I'd be happy to accept some handloader used the wrong powder,etc,if the blow up was like yours.That bolt blowing out just seems wrong.The guy having the bolt in his head says it blew out,got that..I just wonder if the locking lugs were rotated into battery.