doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Anyone know of blown up barrels?

I've seen one, and I've seen the results (to the shooter) of another one.

The one I saw was a Fox 20ga. Much like the first Parker Sherman Bell blew up with his high pressure destruction tests, reported in Double Gun Journal, but in reverse. That Parker blew from the hole where the extractor fits under the rib towards the outside. The Fox in question blew from the hole where the guide pin for the extractor rides, on the outside of the right chamber, peeling back in towards the rib. The only possible obstruction might have been a base wad, but the shooter believes--on checking other shells in the box of reloads he was shooting--that he managed to double charge a shell.

The other one I know of was a modern Spanish double by a well-respected maker. I saw the damage to the shooter's hand. Inspection of the barrels at the point where the failure occurred showed a wall thickness of something like .005. Must've been a barrel boring error that somehow still managed to pass proof.

Stan, wondering about your objection to Unique. I don't use it in target reloads, but I have worked up a 12ga low pressure hunting load (7300 psi, 1 1/8 oz) that I occasionally use for pheasants in a vintage double.

Larry,

I've loaded many lbs. of Unique, myself. But, knowing this fella's tendency to "push the envelope", I suggested something I deemed to be less dangerous for him. I got him to give me the rest of the shells he had loaded. I'll try to remember to cut one open and weigh the charge. I'd be willing to bet it was above the max load recommended for modern guns, and I also knew he was going to be using compression formed hulls, which I also advised him against. Fact is, he just didn't believe high breech pressure would blow a chamber. He still doesn't, most likely.

Unique is a good, but dirty, powder. But, it certainly isn't my first choice for low pressure loads. YMMV.

SRH

Thanks, Stan. Cutting one open would be an interesting test. I've had good results with the Unique loads I've shot at pheasants, but I tend to go in the other direction re the "envelope". And there are certainly better choices than Unique, from both pressure and fouling standpoints, for target loads.

Not blown barrel but bulged cokes. I was using my Savage 311 on a duck hunt and ran out of shells. (this was back in the late 1990's when is was still legal to shot lead at migratory birds) My friend passed me few shells which I loaded and shot only to find they were 3" steel and of course the cokes within 2 inches of the muzzle bulged on both barrels.

I had a 682 Beretta top barrel turn loose while shooting five stand. I wasn't hurt. It was one of my reloads produced on my Spolar reloader. The barrel turned loose about six inches ahead of the chamber and peeled the rib up at about 90 degrees. I only reload one combination and use Remington STS hulls. Still don't have a clue why the barrel burst. I loaded thousands before that occurance and thousands since then without problems.

Interesting stuff. As I said we on this site attempt to use caution and adhere to certain limitations on loads for old guns.
I have done not too intelligent things. I shot a couple boxes through badly pitted bores. Had it miked to find out there were spots thinner than recommended minimums. I will no longer shoot it, but I did and it did not fail. I see stupid things dove shooters do. Shoot low, shoot towards buildings, shoot closer than 1/4 mi to houses,seen a guy yesterday shooting 22 rifle and a hi power rifle in the dove field with no backstop. Point being
besides odd occurrences there are a lot of STUPID people out there. I am guessing that these gun barrels will take a hell of a lot of abuse.

Double Gun Journal, volume four, issue 3, Autumn of 1993. "The Life, Times, and Rebirth of Greener Empire Gun # 63419".
Very complete article, with description of how, why, and resulting maiming of both gun and hunter.

Best,
Ted

Scary how thin even a normal barrel is that is considered "safe". I am amazed how casual many shooters I am familiar with treat the ammunition they put into them. And some of the reloads are plumb scary! But somehow the guns usually stay in one piece. One feller here did experience catastrophic failure of his Verona O/U using reloads and I think his data was good. The gun blew right at the junction of the monoblock and resulted in horrible nerve and muscle damage to his left arm. He will never fully recover use of it. I examined the barrel and was amazed how thin the metal was at the junction of the monoblock and the sharp edges that it had. Seems to me this type of construction just invites failure though millions have been made with no problem. Oh, Verona never said anything or offered new barrels. Stony silence.

Joe I thought Dennis was shooting a semi-auto!

What is the problem with compression formed hulls?
Thanks