Blew up my 629 today..embarrassed

[Bushido]

Glad you are OK

Don't let Skip see this, He will told ya so! He hates that powder!

Sorry about your loss and Thank God you were not seriously injured. Now I know why Skip recommended I stay with Longshot on another thread. I am relatively new to reloading, so I think I'll take Skip's advice and stay put for awhile until I have some real experience. I use a powder cop, but accidents do happen. Stay safe.

 

[buck460XVR]

Case fill. Case fill. The perfect powder for the caliber will overflow the case on a double charge.

Years ago, when I first started handloading, an old mentor told me the same thing. If you can, he told me, always use a powder that is impossible to double charge. It is something that I try to impress on new reloaders with questions myself. While low volume powders may be more cost efficient, the price of one gun or an emergency room visit will wipe out all of one's savings.

I too am glad the OP was not hurt other than his pride.

 

[125JHP]

The two powders I see recommended most often as Titegroup and Clays and every time I see those recommended I think 'handgrenade'. They have their place but like others have already said, I think they are used in applications where they shouldn't be.

 

[venomballistics]

im not so sure about the double or triple charge theory.
his load was 4.8 grains ... max listed is 10
a double would have been a hot fistful a triple charge ... I couldn't do that if I just came back from Denver.
it's either sticking one in the barrel, or the stuff is switching to nuclear fission mode.
the TG KB pic shows a shattered cylinder like a detonation might do.
the ladysmith pic is a swollen frame, looking like pressure.
Im really thinking its detonation

 

[Rule3]

I met a "new guy" at the range we got to talking. He was a retired LEO. He asked what I was shooting as it sounded load (Power Pistol in 9mm) Which does have a load report but they were mild loads.

He stated he was just getting back into reloading. Asked about his loads. A 40 SW Glock using Titegroup. I started to open my big mouth, but just let it be, as some folks you just can not change their mind.

 

[Larry from Bend]

Glad you're okay. I ALWAYS check each powder-loaded case with a strong flashlight. Last year, for the first time ever (after 38 years), I had a double charged 44 Special case (Power Pistol). I know what had to have happened but have no memory of doing it --- I throw each charge individually from a RCBS powder measure. Check and double check, I guess.

 

[Cpo1944]

Dutch686,
Thank you for posting this warning , now that Winter is here it`s my reloading season, and I needed this reminder.
I am grateful to you Sir.
Jack

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Rest assured it wasn't the powders fault, blaming the powder is like blaming guns for crime. Like anything powerful it must be handled with care. At least you didn't get hurt.

I will agree the powder itself isn't the problem but the situation set up by the powder makes the possibility of a double charge more likely. Sure it's not the gun's fault crimes are committed but there's also no good reason to point a loaded gun at something you do not wish to destroy.

 

[dutch686]

If anyone has a theory I would really like to hear it. I do check my loads. This was done on a dillon 550 several months ago. I don't remember any problems with the press. I loaded 30, and set them aside for testing. I was going slow because of the new powder so I'm doubting a triple charge, but that is what my shocked mind grasped at yesterday.

My fault, and God gave me a pass. I want to make the most of it, and learn from my mistake. Pics will come tonight.

It happened on my 1st rd out of 5 (club rules state no more than 5 loaded at any time). I have 1 loaded rd in the bottom of the cylinder still intact. So the 2nd and 3rd rd were taken out as well . Lots of brass shards

The pic Nevada Ed posted is exactly what it looks like except I didn't lose the piece over the cylinder. It separated from the rear of the cylinder though.

 

[J-FRAME]

Not the powders fault- operator error. Old best reloading advice is use a powder that fills the case the best still apply s. Unique and 2400 in .44 for me. And I use a good headlight when reloading so these old eyes can see and limit my distractions.

 

[glowe]

If anyone has a theory I would really like to hear it. I do check my loads.

I would not be so certain that you double or triple charged a case. I am, however, a believer in detonation when using low volume powder in large cases, which may have been your real problem. I know there is controversy on this subject, but a few years ago, I read a great thread on Reloadammo.com and have since always looked for the highest volume powder available. I have become a big proponent of Trail Boss in my many calibers I reload.

Light Loads can Explode Page Here is an excerpt.

Danger! Light loads in big cases can blow up.

There has been much said about a chance of a gun blowing up with very light loads (usually of fast burning powders) in big cases.

On the other hand, a much more common reason for an explosion is a double charge that can happen VERY easily with small charges in large cases. An excellent article discusses this as the most probable cause of many blow-ups. See "When Bad Things Happen To Good Guns" in the November 1996 edition of "GUNS" Magazine by Charles E. Petty. (p. 43)

The Light Load Controversy

People seem to be familiar with light load ruptures, but they are very difficult to reproduce. It lends some to believe it was from a double-charge accidently put into the case, but it does have references going back to the 1881 period of time.

There is some agreement on the following: Very low density loads (meaning the ratio of powder volume to cartridge case volume) of very fast powders under varying environmental conditions can create up to 4X normal chamber pressures and may cause the light load rupture to occur. Ruptured barrels can be symptomatic of too much powder (double charge loads, etc.). Ruptured cylinders and dissappearing backstraps can be sypmptomatic of a light-load rupture.

The use of low density charges with one of the top 10 fastest powders in the world at half the recommended factory charge weight may work in your gun, but it's risky.

It may not work in someone else's gun. Therefore, no one should recommend very light loads, especially of fast burning powders to anyone. Stuck bullets is another matter. With very light loads and powder against the bullet, a very mild shot can stick a bullet in the barrel. The NEXT shot can have disasterous consequences, also leading to the cautions against very light loads of any type, but especially of fast burning powders at the other end of the case from the primer.

 

[BigBill]

Glad your ok.

I check every round when there charged, and again when there getting charged. At the range i shake each assembled round again to feel the powder shake before i shoot it. I make sure many times my reloads are safe to shoot. When i'm reloading being interupted during the process i make sure it does not happen too. I'm in my own zone while reloading. As i get older now i'm more careful.

 

[dutch686]

I'm going with detonation at this point. A reloading friend pointed me to this website. This could be my 629.

44 MAGNUM EXPLOSION

 

[venomballistics]

I will agree the powder itself isn't the problem but the situation set up by the powder makes the possibility of a double charge more likely. Sure it's not the gun's fault crimes are committed but there's also no good reason to point a loaded gun at something you do not wish to destroy.

nope .. quadruple charge if anything charge related.
his load was 4.8 listed max is to the tune of 10.8
a double makes 9.6 which is still within range
a triple at 14.4 might make a proof charge the 19.2 of a quadruple charge would certainly take it apart.
I don't know about the OP's methods exactly but I don't think he or I could get drunk or stoned enough to quad charge.
the odds are so against it its to be called impossible.
I seriously think its a case of detonation.
for whatever reason, the normal charge is able to propagate a shock wave like a high explosive akin to TNT or RDX might rather than the expected rapid, but controlled burn

 

[Skip Sackett]

I think he stuck one and chased it with one that was double charged. THAT would be way more likely than detonation.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Detonation is a fallacy. Call any one of the powder manufacturers and ask the technicians if they believe in it. Not one.....They know much more about powder than any of us internet gurus.....

 

[dutch686]

How? It was my first shot, and there was nothing in the barrel. I know my last shot before the detonation was on the target.

 

[venomballistics]

I think he stuck one and chased it with one that was double charged. THAT would be way more likely than detonation.

well its hard to know for sure either way but he seems to be describing a shattered cylinder and made no mention of a bulged barrel ... we'll know with pics if and when he posts them.
thing is, the stuff has the highest energy density of any powder on the market. A line or two might have been crossed with its development lending to detonation.

 

[Skip Sackett]

did you produce a quad charge?

 

[Skip Sackett]

well its hard to know for sure either way but he seems to be describing a shattered cylinder and made no mention of a bulged barrel ... we'll know with pics if and when he posts them.
thing is, the stuff has the highest energy density of any powder on the market. A line or two might have been crossed with its development lending to detonation.

Now, that might be a possibility. But, if Hodgdon is the company I know it is, they would have that stuff off of the market lickity split. But, maybe with this one.......