Death in the Family ....

[dsf]

The "death" is my about 40 year old S & W Model 25-2 and it was due to a double charge of Tite Group. All my fault, I've been reloading since about 1974 and screwed up. This isn't quite like having a dog die, kind of close I guess.

No one else on the range was hurt, I was standing & my height & longish arms (6'5" and 38" sleeves) sent the top half of the cylinder and rear sight up and out - if I'd been sitting one of the 3 large chunks of cylinder or rear sight would have hurt someone, pieces were found about 25 yds left & right.

All parts of the gun, except of course the frame and cylinder are in fine working order and I'll use them on other guns - grips, target hammer & trigger mainly. Is a 6.5" barrel worth anything or is it of the typical $70.00 or so used? That's probably the only part I won't be using.

As an aside, if I were to sell the thing "as is" with GA target stocks, TH & TT and barrel - basically everything like new except the cylinder and frame - is that done & if so, how much?

 

[Kevin G]

dsf,
I'm sorry for your loss, glad neither you nor anyone else was hurt. I respect your courage in letting us know about this happening. Was wondering if you could post a photo or two. Not looking to be a wise guy, I and others too would benefit from visual evidence of the amount of energy that can be released w/a reloading mishap.
Tks, Kevin

 

[Bullet Bob]

Glad you're okay, nobody's perfect!

If it were me, I'd mount everything on a plaque over my reloading bench.

 

[fyimo]

Sorry to hear about your incident and anyone can make a mistake and thankfully no one was hurt. You can part out the revolver parts as people do buy them to repair or change the revolvers. With the frame and cylinder destroyed you can certainly sell the grips, hammer, trigger, and other parts that are also not damaged.

I would also like to see pictures for the same reason mentioned above. In reloading pistol ammo that's the one mistake that is easy to do because so little powder goes into such a large case and one that brings dire results.

 

[Art Doc]

About 15 years ago I ran a double charged load through my 1917 Colt New Service in 45 Colt. Got away with a bulged chamber and a replacement cylinder put it right again. Foolishly shot a friend's hand loads.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[J-FRAME]

Not trying to be a smart guy BUT why do reloaders insist on using Tight Group or Bullseye or any powder that does not fill the case UP. I use Unique and 2400 in .44 reloads and its one of the reasons I guess. I have had double powder loads at the bench put could see it or powder spilled out or feel it when I would seat the bullet and would pull it down.Knock on wood I guess it could happen to me. Sad deal and glad no one was hurt-thats the good part.Good luck to you.

 

[deanodog]

That is a dear family member to lose. I love my 25-2 and would hate to lose it but as long as no one was hurt it can be replaced with another. Sorry about that.

 

[Culina]

Sorry to hear about your loss, adn glad to hear you or no one else got hurt. go buy a lotto ticket or something.

I would be interested in the frame and side plate. I need them for fitting grips to. It might have to be de-milled a little further to make it fully legal to sell to someone without an FFL though.

 

[dsf]

Regarding pictures, I'll give it a try but have only a cell phone. Until then the best I can describe is topstrap peeled up, rear sight gone. The outer wall of each of the top three chambers of the cylinder are gone. The primer is not much flattened and there's no other damage to the gun - even the extractor still works.

I don't often use TiteGroup and had to hunt quite a bit for the remaining 1lb container to match it up with powder from the pulled cases.

I wish I could say for certain what I did wrong, but the ammo was loaded a few years back. I use reloading trays and drop powder. My best guess is that I charged 50 cases and was interrupted, then went back and recharged. Not being familiar with TiteGroup and being used to seeing relatively full cases with the other powders it looked normal. That's just an "I suppose".

One of the challenges I'm stuck with in CA is that 25s are much harder to get here than the rest of the country, it will probably be a while before I can replace it with another.

 

[oldRoger]

Very sorry to hear of your loss……..
Tons of Bullseye and similar amounts of 231 have been loaded and shot in .45 ACP pistols.
Titegroup , probably not as much.
Many double charges have been fired in N-frames and even J-frames without too much drama though it is certainly not recommended. Titegroup, I think is dense enough for a triple charge, dependent upon the intended charge.
I did the experiment of how much Titegrp, Bullseye, AA-2, and 231 would fit in the .45 ACP case to convince a new reloader that Red Dot was the best beginning power for him. Unfortunately I can't find the figures.

Personally I feel secure with Bullseye since the regular charge takes up a bit more space.

 

[IS-F]

First I would would also like to thank you for putting this out there as a cautionary description. I was given a 1000 rounds of 9 mm reloads from a friend who inherited them from a uncle who was a gunsmith. As I have come to understand from stories like this, I think it can happen to anybody whatever their level of experience. So this reminds me that the ammo is probably best left in the basement where it has been for the last 3 years till I can break it down for components.

 

[goldenbb]

I'm not sure of the deviations, but you could weigh each round and see if any seem heavier. It might be hard to tell. Best to just pull them.

 

[carelesslove]

dsf, carelesslove, here !

I am sorry to hear of your M25-2 and its' demise. They are fine revolvers.

How you handle the remains are your business, but I sure hope you give Forum member Kurac a chance at the grip frame, as he sure makes some fine grips / stocks.

I wondered how he made them fit as well as he does, but it is obvious he uses real grip frames, when he can.

Try to work out a deal with him, if you can. I'll buy more grips from him, too.

Thanks, carelesslove

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I'm sorry for your loss but quite glad neither you or anyone else were injured or worse.
You can always get another 25-2.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

A definite bummer Sir. Tis a good thing no one was hurt and just prooves that the cost of an education is not free. I had a powder charge incident here a few months ago with Unique. Ive been a big time user of Unique for over thirty five years and never had it bridge in a powder measure and had it happen a few months ago while loading for 44 special, the next case through got a goodly over charge. I always check the charged case's with a flashlight and caught it and the previous under charged case as well. I have been distracted in the past and started to seat bullets before visually checking the charges and that sort of thing may well have been your mishap in the makeing.

 

[OC]

Many years ago, when the land was covered by an inland sea, I undercharged a case while reloading for a Dan Wesson .357. At the range I didn't notice anything different when the "squib" round went off. Apparently, the bullet lodged half way down the 8" barrel. The next round went off and pushed the bullet(s) out, and I continued shooting as if nothing was wrong. When cleaning the gun that night, I noticed a odd looking place in the barrel. Trying to remove the barrel shroud, it wouldn't come off. I had to hacksaw the shroud and barrel off behind the bulge to remove the barrel. Lucky for me I found a new barrel/shroud (not cheap!),but best was not losing body parts. From then on I LOOK into EVERY case before seating bullets.

 

[TACC1]

dsf,
I, too, applaud your telling of this incident. Rather than boxing-up
the remains as an art exhibit, get a couple of close-up pics, and mount in commercially available frames. Not only will it stand as an object lesson in reloading, but it's one heck of a war story. Talk about your
conversation starter.
And the best part of the story is that everybody went home intact.
Good luck in your search for a replacement. TACC1

 

[dsf]

dsf, carelesslove, here !

I am sorry to hear of your M25-2 and its' demise. They are fine revolvers.

How you handle the remains are your business, but I sure hope you give Forum member Kurac a chance at the grip frame, as he sure makes some fine grips / stocks.

I wondered how he made them fit as well as he does, but it is obvious he uses real grip frames, when he can.

Try to work out a deal with him, if you can. I'll buy more grips from him, too.

Thanks, carelesslove

Actually that's what's going to be done. I'm heading down to Mountain View on my "101 South Gun Run" weekend after next (this weekend is "80 North Gun Run") and we'll get together at Bay Area Gun Vault. I suppose the 25 will live on in custom made grip form and that seems an OK fate.

As an aside, we often hear the phrase "rookie mistake" and really, I don't know if this was one or if it was a mistake borne of having reloaded for many years - being too casual. Maybe the bottom line is anyone can make a rookie mistake, can't let one's guard down when dealing with such stuff.

 

[missiondude]

Regarding pictures, I'll give it a try but have only a cell phone. Until then the best I can describe is topstrap peeled up, rear sight gone. The outer wall of each of the top three chambers of the cylinder are gone. The primer is not much flattened and there's no other damage to the gun - even the extractor still works.

I don't often use TiteGroup and had to hunt quite a bit for the remaining 1lb container to match it up with powder from the pulled cases.

I wish I could say for certain what I did wrong, but the ammo was loaded a few years back. I use reloading trays and drop powder. My best guess is that I charged 50 cases and was interrupted, then went back and recharged. Not being familiar with TiteGroup and being used to seeing relatively full cases with the other powders it looked normal. That's just an "I suppose".

One of the challenges I'm stuck with in CA is that 25s are much harder to get here than the rest of the country, it will probably be a while before I can replace it with another.

Feel your pain on trying to replace your revolver in CA. That damn "Not Unsafe Handgun Roster" has kept me from getting many guns I would really like to own. 25's are indeed hard to find in CA so that you can do a PPT, and they are usually way overpriced. I have heard that some people have temporarily converted DA revolvers to SA and imported them from other states, but I dont personally know anyone that has done this. Hope you find another one...