Mate a mine just blew up his 270. After a week of speculation and theorizing we pretty certain this is what happened.
The rifle had a issue in that it shot beyond believe grouping, but only when the bullet was touching the lands. Occasionally, rarely a bullet was left in the lands when making the rifle safe after cocking but not firing the rifle.
A mate of his was using the rifle on the back of a bakkie and tried a shot at something but it ran off. They stopped the bakkie to walk further and see if they would see it again, but as he jumped of the back he saw a jackal. He quickly whispered "rifle rifle" and it was passed to him as the jackal started to walk off. He grabbed rifle cocked it fast and hard, lifted, aimed, fired, and it exploded.
What happened ?
After aiming and not shooting his friend ejected the case in the rifle as he jumped off bakkie. While was doing so the urgent call for the rifle was made and he passed it over in a rush.
What appeared to have happed is that when his friend ejected the unfired round, the bullet was left stuck in the lands. When he reloaded in a big exited rush the bullet in the lands was pushed forward and the bullet it the case was pushed deeper.
GEFKnBOOM
I presume nobody was physically hurt?
no, not much at least, bit of blood and he said his hand stung like hardest slap against a wall would likely feel like.
The .270 was on one of those aluminium hi tech frames and the frame held together, but the action, bolt and barrel all bent ruined broken and studs snapped.
He had rifle "rebuilt?", action barrel etc and could not get it to shoot, so he approached me to find the reason. After much "not that","not that","not that","not that", I suggested he try another stock. So while in casual conversation he tells me about his rifle blowing up and the brilliant job his gunsmith did for him. Said it blew up so bad that all he could reuse was the hi tech kinda aluminium space frame he had when it blew up. My face musta said it all :o "You used the blow up chassis as the base for you rebuild?" ----------------- "ja ! Why? It was perfectly good, no damage" ---- Me, "err tell your GS he is a twat"
So ja, swopped stocks out and there ja go, load will need some tweeking and should be a easy half inch at worst case rifle.
Man must have been quite strong. To fully engrave one bullet with another cartridge and or push a bullet back into the case against the load with the lack of leverage from a bolt handle takes some doing.
I mean, it is possible, but I would need a mallet and a the rifle will never be the same again.
Quote from: janfred on Jul 14, 2025, 11:49 PMMan must have been quite strong. To fully engrave one bullet with another cartridge and or push a bullet back into the case against the load with the lack of leverage from a bolt handle takes some doing.
I mean, it is possible, but I would need a mallet and a the rifle will never be the same again.
They build them different in the EC.
Quote from: janfred on Jul 14, 2025, 11:49 PMMan must have been quite strong. To fully engrave one bullet with another cartridge and or push a bullet back into the case against the load with the lack of leverage from a bolt handle takes some doing.
I mean, it is possible, but I would need a mallet and a the rifle will never be the same again.
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What ya saying ?
A damn fool thing to do to load a round with nearly zero jump to the lands - especially with a hunting load.
Quote from: Tripodmvr on Jul 15, 2025, 05:29 PMA damn fool thing to do to load a round with nearly zero jump to the lands - especially with a hunting load.
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Yes, I learnt that with my GS Customs getting stuck at kudu of a lifetime moments.
I am wondering now, is the answer he/we came up with incorrect. I have knocked bullets way down into the case before, but the second bullet ?
Which bullet was he using? Jacketed or copper? Quick Load advises that a bullet in the lands raises shot start pressure by 7200psi. Add that to what is now a "projectile" with double the weight going into the barrel and you have the kaboom.
Have a look at the QL calcs attached. No. 1 is close to max pressure. I then added the 7200psi for the shot start pressure (SSP) and doubled the projectile weight. Quite a hefty pressure produced.
I have no idea what bullet, I was just asked by a outside edge know of him guy to see if I could figure why it was shooting A 4 page groups.
Quote from: Tripodmvr on Jul 16, 2025, 09:18 AMWhich bullet was he using? Jacketed or copper? Quick Load advises that a bullet in the lands raises shot start pressure by 7200psi. Add that to what is now a "projectile" with double the weight going into the barrel and you have the kaboom.
Have a look at the QL calcs attached. No. 1 is close to max pressure. I then added the 7200psi for the shot start pressure (SSP) and doubled the projectile weight. Quite a hefty pressure produced.
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I put pistol powder in a rifle once and also buckled the action.
Quote from: Treeman on Jul 15, 2025, 05:17 PMQuote from: janfred on Jul 14, 2025, 11:49 PMMan must have been quite strong. To fully engrave one bullet with another cartridge and or push a bullet back into the case against the load with the lack of leverage from a bolt handle takes some doing.
I mean, it is possible, but I would need a mallet and a the rifle will never be the same again.
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What ya saying ?
What I am saying is that I personally am not strong enough to engrave a bullet fully using my strength pushing onto a rilfle bolt. I have to use a mallet and a brass rod.
This guy used a rifle bolt slamming another full length cartridge into the back of a partially engraved bullet with propellant flowing out of the action. To successfully do that he must possess strength that I do not have.
Man must have been quite strong. To fully engrave one bullet with another cartridge and or push a bullet back into the case against the load with the lack of leverage from a bolt handle takes some doing.
I mean, it is possible, but I would need a mallet and a the rifle will never be the same again.
[/quote]
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What ya saying ?
[/quote]
What I am saying is that I personally am not strong enough to engrave a bullet fully using my strength pushing onto a rilfle bolt. I have to use a mallet and a brass rod.
This guy used a rifle bolt slamming another full length cartridge into the back of a partially engraved bullet with propellant flowing out of the action. To successfully do that he must possess strength that I do not have.
[/quote]
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Aaaahhhh !!, makes sense what ya saying, but not impossible. I know I have hit the GS Customs back in same way, but not fired - dont think I closed bolt because of tightness. I recall that the GS Customs were loaded against the lands for absolute incredible accuracy.
I found on a few occasions that the bullet got left in the lands when ejecting a unfired round. I missed a chance on a kudu on the Dawson farm and ejected a round, saw another kudu and reloaded. I can not recall the exact results, but remember the bullet stuck way deep into the case.
Any case who knows, just an event happened and a attempt at explaining it.
Any suggestions ?
Quote from: Treeman on Jul 29, 2025, 04:44 PMAny suggestions ?
Don't load hunting ammo to jam the lands would be worth considering.
Quote from: oafpatroll on Jul 29, 2025, 07:35 PMQuote from: Treeman on Jul 29, 2025, 04:44 PMAny suggestions ?
Don't load hunting ammo to jam the lands would be worth considering.
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OHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA, that lesson learnt in one season.
I loaded a batch and went hunting with it a few times, had a issue, thought it a once off, happened again and only then figured the cause. I am convinced the batch of reloads grew a few though in storage or when out in heat of day. They were touching the lands, perhaps, perhaps not, the words jammed are a over statement, (sorry, descriptive)but they had no jump, they were right there on the lands.
Never loaded like that since that hunt and loosing a kudu.
Quote from: Treeman on Jul 29, 2025, 09:01 PMQuote from: oafpatroll on Jul 29, 2025, 07:35 PMQuote from: Treeman on Jul 29, 2025, 04:44 PMAny suggestions ?
Don't load hunting ammo to jam the lands would be worth considering.
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OHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA, that lesson learnt in one season.
I loaded a batch and went hunting with it a few times, had a issue, thought it a once off, happened again and only then figured the cause. I am convinced the batch of reloads grew a few though in storage or when out in heat of day. They were touching the lands, perhaps, perhaps not, the words jammed are a over statement, (sorry, descriptive)but they had no jump, they were right there on the lands.
Never loaded like that since that hunt and loosing a kudu.
For your mate to have achieved what he did for the reasons you've speculated I can see no other description of what he would have needed to do than 'jamming the lands'. Pulling a bullet requires significant clamping force which I don't believe you could achieve with a bullet just kissing them.
Quote from: oafpatroll on Jul 30, 2025, 12:45 PMQuote from: Treeman on Jul 29, 2025, 09:01 PMQuote from: oafpatroll on Jul 29, 2025, 07:35 PMQuote from: Treeman on Jul 29, 2025, 04:44 PMAny suggestions ?
Don't load hunting ammo to jam the lands would be worth considering.
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OHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEA, that lesson learnt in one season.
I loaded a batch and went hunting with it a few times, had a issue, thought it a once off, happened again and only then figured the cause. I am convinced the batch of reloads grew a few though in storage or when out in heat of day. They were touching the lands, perhaps, perhaps not, the words jammed are a over statement, (sorry, descriptive)but they had no jump, they were right there on the lands.
Never loaded like that since that hunt and loosing a kudu.
For your mate to have achieved what he did for the reasons you've speculated I can see no other description of what he would have needed to do than 'jamming the lands'. Pulling a bullet requires significant clamping force which I don't believe you could achieve with a bullet just kissing them.
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Interesting !, Ya I would have to agree, whether I like to admit it or not.