Pics sez it all.....I cannot believe the topstrap held!



giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

Details ?

Caliber, factory load, or handload ?

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NRA Instructor

Did it hurt?

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Dum vivo cano

Not my gun, one pictured on another forum. Reloads...the thought was that it might be a underload of H110 as I recall...This was posted about six months ago, and I'd have to go dig up the old info. I'm just amazed that the cylinder seperated and didn't take the topstrap with it...Must be something to this investment casting thing, after all...


giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

You mean.... mine isn't supposed to look like that????

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- The Federalist #46 -

Giz-I'd back off a half a grain or so on that load

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Forum consigliere

Couple of good whacks with a hammer, new cylinder, she's good as new. I love my Rugers.

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Rough waters ahead.

That's Rugers new collet cylinder SP.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Here's a 60 target that suffered the same fate, also from another forum. Looks like forging works ok too !

Ray

A shooboy should suffice.

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Sure you did

That's another impressive pic...I've seen lots of kabooms' where the topstrap didn't make it...

Here's another version of some abuse....

What's amazing is it was the fifth bullet before the barrel bulged....



giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

so now the guy needs a new gun AND a pair of shorts, because I bet that scared the something out of him

Hope shoo's allright,anyone hear?

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Dum vivo cano

That's an amazing photo.. do you know anything about it, or is it just a pic you came across. I'd be interested to know just what went wrong.

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- The Federalist #46 -

That goes without saying! That's a job for a ShooMagnum!!!

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Rough waters ahead.

Rugers are very strong guns but any gun that shoots overloads will break. Someone was not paying attention at the loading press when the ammo that destroyed the cylinders of the two pictured guns was made.

Makes you think twice about buying a used gun off the internet.

Many years ago, Elmer Keith reported on some tests run by a friend of his. The fellow wanted to see whether the Ruger Super Blackhawk was as strong as the S&W M-29. He loaded progressively hotter ammo until one blew. The Ruger cylinder blew before the Smith did.

However, the Ruger digested loads much more powerful than would be used by any sane person. Certainly well in excess of factory proof rounds.

The real choice between those guns is in how fast one might have to reload, and how they handle recoil. And which best endures NORMAL ammunition over the long haul. On that basis, the Ruger is the better choice.

I own both S&W and Ruger guns, and am very fond of each.

I guess the moral here is that you can blow up either if you aren't a very careful handloader. Use factory ammo or equivalent, and either will give long, useful service.

I wanna see the pics of the hands holding those two when the cylinders blew plus a good look at the faces of the shooters. Cuz you know, they saw their lives flash before their eyes.

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Dyin ain't much of a livin

A possible underload of H110, eh? Seems that very topic has been the subject of some heated debate in the Reloading section very recently!

I once blew the cylinder on a Blackhawk. I was using handloads and apparently had a double charge of Clays (.45 Colt).
The topstrap bulged, but held and miraculously no one was injured--my buddy was in the booth next to mine and a chunk of the cylinder lodged in the partition between us...

Back in '85 I taught my brother-in-law how to reload. He then taught his wife. Either he didn't pay attention to me, or she didn't pay attention to him. She came and asked me for some help, one day. Said she had a bullet stuck in the barrel. I used a steel M16 cleaning rod and a 12-ounce ball peen hammer. She held the gun upright on the work bench and I tapped it out. Actually, I tapped them out. Six jacketed slugs. Ruger Blackhawk 357. They kept the gun for several more years. Shot it a lot. Far as I could tell there was no damage. I suggested she might want to think about putting powder in the cases, next time.

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I always take precautions