amazingflapjack
US Veteran
Thanks for sharing and taking the time to post a pic. Go safely.
Blew up my Shield...(3rd Update: Resolved!)
- Thread starter Rottentofu
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I'm sorry to hear about your incident sir - but, I'm glad I saw this post. Up front, I am not a ballistics expert - but 147-g 9mm is kinda similar to 180-g .40SW. In order to meet cartridge overall length requirements - both bullets have to be seated deeply into their cases since they are longer than lighter bullets. This leaves a smaller case volume and greatly increases the potential for higher pressures. Pure SWAG, but the rounds were probably loaded to the correct length, but since they were reman so they probably used diff brands of cases. Different brass, different case thicknesses - and all it took was one of those rounds to hit the feed ramp too hard and it deep-seated the bullet. Pressure sky-rocketed as a result and you had your incident. Again, this is speculation. Back to why I'm glad I saw this post - I have some Federal factory 147-g that I'm going to gather up (almost two boxes) and use only in my CZ-75. I gave away my last box of 180-g .40SW and I'm never going to buy any 147-g 9mm again...
Edited to add: This could also have been the result of firing out-of-battery - with the slide not completely closed. Never having owned a Shield, I'm unsure of why that might have happened. I do know that firing OOB was a big enough of a concern that SIG made some design changes to the newest P320's to help prevent it. All of this said, previous comments about 'Glocked' cases sounds scarier and scarier.
Edited to add: This could also have been the result of firing out-of-battery - with the slide not completely closed. Never having owned a Shield, I'm unsure of why that might have happened. I do know that firing OOB was a big enough of a concern that SIG made some design changes to the newest P320's to help prevent it. All of this said, previous comments about 'Glocked' cases sounds scarier and scarier.
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Glad to hear you will be OK. I would flinch every time I pulled the trigger for the next year if something like that happened to me.
Any idea what part of the gun hit you between your eyes? I thought most of the time when a polymer gun gun gets blown up the debris goes down the magazine well and grip, not back towards your face.
This was not S&W's fault and it would be hard for them to tell what parts may have been stressed but not completely broken. You can call and ask but given the price of Shields these days I would suspect they will tell you to trash the gun and buy a new one. The company that sold you that ammo owes you a new gun. Contact them and offer to send the remains of the gun and defective round. Hopefully they will do the right thing and pay for a new gun. And some bandaids.
Any idea what part of the gun hit you between your eyes? I thought most of the time when a polymer gun gun gets blown up the debris goes down the magazine well and grip, not back towards your face.
This was not S&W's fault and it would be hard for them to tell what parts may have been stressed but not completely broken. You can call and ask but given the price of Shields these days I would suspect they will tell you to trash the gun and buy a new one. The company that sold you that ammo owes you a new gun. Contact them and offer to send the remains of the gun and defective round. Hopefully they will do the right thing and pay for a new gun. And some bandaids.
Triggernosis
Member
With so many people shooting Glocks nowadays, it would be almost impossible to find used brass that hasn't been "Glocked" at some point.
Thus, maybe 9mm is one of those rounds I don't need to load my own ammo for. And, unless you're shooting Service Pistol matches at 25 and 50 yards, I doubt one would notice any statistically significant difference in accuracy with handloads vs. off-the-shelf ammo. Would you?
Thus, maybe 9mm is one of those rounds I don't need to load my own ammo for. And, unless you're shooting Service Pistol matches at 25 and 50 yards, I doubt one would notice any statistically significant difference in accuracy with handloads vs. off-the-shelf ammo. Would you?
In referring to brass that had been "glocked", there is also the possibility that the brass was previously used in a stepped chamber barrel. My H&Ks have that, and as a result reman, reloads, aluminum, and steel are not advised in those (by the manuals). The first time I saw the slight swell at the base of the casing freaked me out a bit.
Close call. Through this whole diatribe I've seen no picture of nor mention of the barrel.......is it damaged? Could this have been a squib load?
Rather than a hot load, it could have been a squib, and a properly loaded round behind it. Either way, overpressure would result.
And either way, S&W will not "repair" a gun damaged like this, for liability reasons. And don't be surprised if the ammo Mfg wants to pass the buck back to S&W. I've heard that story before....
Rather than a hot load, it could have been a squib, and a properly loaded round behind it. Either way, overpressure would result.
And either way, S&W will not "repair" a gun damaged like this, for liability reasons. And don't be surprised if the ammo Mfg wants to pass the buck back to S&W. I've heard that story before....
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Rottentofu
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No damage to the slide nor the barrel.
matt berry
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What was the headstamp on the brass?
While brass that gets a bulge down at the bottom is commonly referred to as glocked brass, a term glock earned from the early gen 2 40 caliber pistols, that featured a barrel with less support around the feed ramp. They have since fixed this issue, and most glocked brass I find was not shot out of a glock. You can easily tell this by looking at the primer, glocks leave a rectangular mark with a sort off teardrop mark from the firing pin.
While brass that gets a bulge down at the bottom is commonly referred to as glocked brass, a term glock earned from the early gen 2 40 caliber pistols, that featured a barrel with less support around the feed ramp. They have since fixed this issue, and most glocked brass I find was not shot out of a glock. You can easily tell this by looking at the primer, glocks leave a rectangular mark with a sort off teardrop mark from the firing pin.
Have you tried to contact the ammo manufacturer? If so, what did they say?
This is almost certainly caused by ammunition rather than the gun itself. I'm not one who refuses to use factory reloads. I've shot a bunch of them from a couple of different makers (mostly Buffalo Cartridge and Pro-Reload). I've fired a couple thousand rounds from each without incident. I have bought once from a couple of others, but won't buy again due to quality issues. I look them over before I load them. Anything that looks suspect doesn't get shot. That hasn't happened with the two companies I mentioned, but it did with some others that I will no longer buy. I also only shoot 115 grain reloads. Those offer a bit more margin for error in terms of seating depth unless loaded to max. Most factory reloads are not loaded anywhere near max.
The errors I've found with other brands include uncrimped rounds where the bullet is loose in the case, missing primers, and one squib round from Legendary Ammo. No harm was done by the squib since the next round wouldn't fully chamber, and I couldn't fire again. I consider that lucky because I would have fired again and probably destroyed the gun if the next round had chambered. I do have one round from Pro Reload with the primer backwards. I received one round of .223 from Legendary with the bullet seated backwards. Obviously I did not load those.
With the price of factory rounds right now I haven't bought reloads in awhile. If you watch Wikiarms you can find factory 9mm for between 18-20 cents per round in case lots. I watch for the deals and buy before I need it.
This is almost certainly caused by ammunition rather than the gun itself. I'm not one who refuses to use factory reloads. I've shot a bunch of them from a couple of different makers (mostly Buffalo Cartridge and Pro-Reload). I've fired a couple thousand rounds from each without incident. I have bought once from a couple of others, but won't buy again due to quality issues. I look them over before I load them. Anything that looks suspect doesn't get shot. That hasn't happened with the two companies I mentioned, but it did with some others that I will no longer buy. I also only shoot 115 grain reloads. Those offer a bit more margin for error in terms of seating depth unless loaded to max. Most factory reloads are not loaded anywhere near max.
The errors I've found with other brands include uncrimped rounds where the bullet is loose in the case, missing primers, and one squib round from Legendary Ammo. No harm was done by the squib since the next round wouldn't fully chamber, and I couldn't fire again. I consider that lucky because I would have fired again and probably destroyed the gun if the next round had chambered. I do have one round from Pro Reload with the primer backwards. I received one round of .223 from Legendary with the bullet seated backwards. Obviously I did not load those.
With the price of factory rounds right now I haven't bought reloads in awhile. If you watch Wikiarms you can find factory 9mm for between 18-20 cents per round in case lots. I watch for the deals and buy before I need it.
oddshooter
Member
I have had my own kaboom with a 357 Maximum. It took months to regain any confidence. I now reload almost exclusively.
9mm is the only round I don't handload for.
The price of $.20 for factory is just too sweet to pass. I also don't shoot that much 9mm. It is one of my least favorite calibers.
I have shot thousands of rounds in the past from LAX. They make good looking rounds with mild loads.
We have a dangerous hobby. Lower your risks when you can.
Prescut
9mm is the only round I don't handload for.
The price of $.20 for factory is just too sweet to pass. I also don't shoot that much 9mm. It is one of my least favorite calibers.
I have shot thousands of rounds in the past from LAX. They make good looking rounds with mild loads.
We have a dangerous hobby. Lower your risks when you can.
Prescut
Glad to see you are OK, that's the main thing, the firearm can be replaced. This is the reason I never shoot any ammo reloaded by anybody but me.
I was just at a show in PA and a 1000rd case of factory 9mm ammo was selling in a range of $180- $200. The reloaded ammo was selling for more than the factory stuff.
I was just at a show in PA and a 1000rd case of factory 9mm ammo was selling in a range of $180- $200. The reloaded ammo was selling for more than the factory stuff.
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Rottentofu
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The vendor replied today asking for more details. He wishes to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. I sent him a reply. Lets see what he does.
Good luck, and glad you weren't more badly injured. I might involve S&W in this as well. I am sure it isn't their fault, but they may be able to help by certifying it it was the fault of the ammo, if the ammo manufacturer tries to say it wasn't their fault.
had this happen with my glock 20 back in the late 90's. Bought ammo from the range and one round blew up. That one only sheared the mag catch. More recently i was testing a new recoil rod with brass washer in my 10mm compact. Unfortunately i had a partial feed that resulted in a ruptured case. Blew apart the mag plate (the whole pistol is steel). None of these were fun but the second one didn't freak me out as much as the first.
Both cases were nickel if that matters.
Both cases were nickel if that matters.
Good luck with resolving this and what a blessing that you were not more seriously injured! Sometimes life gives us a heads-up and in this case yours was not too costly. I hope the ammo supplier will help you out, if he think his product was responsible. Guns are cheap; eyes and hands - not so much! 
ontargetagain
Member
Do you have more of their ammo remaining?
Might be interesting to measure the OAL of a few, might be interesting to also use a bullet puller and take them apart.
Some 9mm brass has a 'shelf' inside the case, never use them! There have been other threads on that brass that has the internal 'shelf' 'step' in them, not safe.
My gosh your are very fortunate to avoid serious eye or face injuries. Sorry to hear of this experience no matter who is at fault. Don't risk using the frame, chassis of this gun, no doubt it has been over stressed in all aspects and possibly the barrel has been too even though it isn't showing obvious damage.
Karl
Just saw this on our Buy and Sell forum...........
WTS NIB Shield 9 +extras $275 del
Might be interesting to measure the OAL of a few, might be interesting to also use a bullet puller and take them apart.
Some 9mm brass has a 'shelf' inside the case, never use them! There have been other threads on that brass that has the internal 'shelf' 'step' in them, not safe.
My gosh your are very fortunate to avoid serious eye or face injuries. Sorry to hear of this experience no matter who is at fault. Don't risk using the frame, chassis of this gun, no doubt it has been over stressed in all aspects and possibly the barrel has been too even though it isn't showing obvious damage.
Karl
Just saw this on our Buy and Sell forum...........
WTS NIB Shield 9 +extras $275 del
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Rottentofu
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How long should I give the ammo vendor to respond? He asked for detailed description of what happened and I gave that to him yesterday. It's been almost two days and no response.
I did get a response from SW. They asked me to ship the pistol back to them for inspection. Should I wait for the ammo vendor to respond before sending the pistol back to SW?
I did get a response from SW. They asked me to ship the pistol back to them for inspection. Should I wait for the ammo vendor to respond before sending the pistol back to SW?
Wait for the ammo vendor to respond. They may need way more than two days to run it past legal. I wouldn't send the revolver to SW until after that response.
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