Another Revolver Disaster

[THE PILGRIM]

This just popped up on Facebook.
As usual, not much actual factual, lots of comments, advice - don't do that,
And speculation. It's appears to be a Clone SA, you can read Italy on the Barrel.
Whatever caused this was certainly powerful!
Round on the Right was Live and exploded? See a Bullet.
Round on left empty case? Don't see a Bullet.

 

[Muley Gil]

That is what I suspect an over charged cartridge to do, as opposed to the blown-out forcing cone on the .38 Combat Masterpiece in the other thread.

 

[Erich]

Triple charge of Titegroup?

It happens. Con cuidado, amigos . . .

 

[abigails&w]

Looks to be an Uberti

Likely that even a Colt would have blown up with that charge

 

[2152hq]

Probably was a nice Bisley Model Uberti at one point.

Looks like a 44-40 cal. Very thin chamber walls at mid point. But that's just the way they are in the Colt SAA model and big calibers.
Can't push them much even with modern steel componets.

An overload probably. I've seen quite a few Colt and Colt replica SAA's with blown top straps.
Not the strongest guns around even if modern mfg with the finest steels.

Beefed up editions like the bigger Rugers and other brands are a different story. But they still have limits and the cylinder is the usual weak point.

If it was a valuable Colt 1st gen SAA, Dave Lanara could be used to restore the missing top strap and put the revolver back into orig working condition and finish.
That work starts at a price of $1000.
Colt single action restoration and repair

There are 8 pics of the before and after of such work on the web site.
I doubt doing a Uberti/Italian replica is in his interest, but FYI if the issue comes up on an orig Colt.

 

[Brooks]

Does look like 44-40 from the size of the rims. Probably shooting a .430 44mag JHP bullet.. a no-no IMO.
Ubertis are strong, but they have tight chambers and accurate groove diameter.... at least the one I have does.
A little bit of overcharge... oversize jacketed bullet.... ?

 

[murphydog]

Likely the round behind the hammer detonated and blew up both next door neighbors. Given the SAA's cylinder rotation, the blowup may have occurred on the first round, as the bullet seen in the right of the photo would have been the last one in the cylinder. The left bullet went who knows where.

Hopefully no one was injured.

 

[BillyMagg]

OH Boy!!

Does look like 44-40 from the size of the rims. Probably shooting a .430 44mag JHP bullet.. a no-no IMO.
Ubertis are strong, but they have tight chambers and accurate groove diameter.... at least the one I have does.
A little bit of overcharge... oversize jacketed bullet.... ?

My two cents is that this appears to be a cast frame, look at the porosity there above the barrel shank,, can I just say, I hate castings,, yeah I know, I know, "Castings can be stronger than forgings",, and "Rugers are the toughest guns on the planet!" (I did adore my 6.5" 44 Mag Ruger Flattop Black Hawk!) (yeah, and half again as heavy as a Smith and Wesson for a given caliber, IMHO...

I thought Uberti's were typically forged?? I believe the third Gen Colt Single Action Army has a cast frame?? as well as later Browning Hi Powers?? oh well, that does look like a ker sploded casting? does it not??

 

[magnum0710]

Triple charge of Titegroup?

It happens. Con cuidado, amigos . . .

Yeah that'll certainly do the trick!
https://youtu.be/q7YUbDpdJNQ?si=qgEAMm8lATjEmtYr

 

[6string]

What's interesting is that the OP writes:
" As usual, not much actual factual, lots of comments, advice - don't do that,
And speculation."
So, what do we get?
More of the same!

What about the incident?
Is the shooter OK?
Anybody hurt?

 

[LVSteve]

Yeah that'll certainly do the trick!
https://youtu.be/q7YUbDpdJNQ?si=qgEAMm8lATjEmtYr

Trip to Lowe's to pick up some JB Weld and all will be fine.

 

[Tex1001]

Trip to Lowe's to pick up some JB Weld and all will be fine.

It should buff out.

 

[2152hq]

Trip to Lowe's to pick up some JB Weld and all will be fine.

I actually saw a Colt SAA 45colt cal with a blown top strap that was repaired with epoxy and a home made replacement.
The owner said it worked just fine and since the orig C&B guns were made w/o any top straps,,they really weren't needed anyway.

 

[Onomea]

Technically, that's called an "OWWWwwwwwwwwweeee......#&$%**!!!."

Or, "Owie," for short.

 

[sceva]

I'm guessing but some people just can't help trying to load their .45 Colts or 44-40's up to .44 mag level.

 

[jimmyj]

The Good Lord was watching and protecting the shooter.

 

[elgatodeacero]

Most likely a double or triple charge of fast burning powder.

This is why I do not use such powders, less chance of a mistake not being noticed.

W231 and Unique are as fast as I like for pistol powder, and even they can allow a double charge - though it is much easier to see than something like Red Dot.

This is one of the greatest strengths of Trail Boss powder (c'mon Hodgdon, we know you can make more).

 

[Warren Sear]

I actually saw a Colt SAA 45colt cal with a blown top strap that was repaired with epoxy and a home made replacement.
The owner said it worked just fine and since the orig C&B guns were made w/o any top straps,,they really weren't needed anyway.

The open top cap-and-ball revolvers were a different design. They used a large arbor and a steel wedge to hold the gun together. Nothing like the SAA model, which does certainly need the top strap to function properly.