Don’t use a bullet to remove your laser bore sighter

[gfors]

My gunsmith showed me this, while I was waiting for him to make a couple of extractor locating pins for my recently acquired 27-2. It’s really nice having a range and gunsmith at my favorite LGS!
Customer forgot he had a bore-sighter placed in his muzzle. This .30-06 Enfield, survived a World War, but could not stand up to Bubba’s cousin’s carelessness, or, possibly bravado. I think Mythbusters “proved” this could not happen, possibly establishing a challenge, for some slack-jawed dummy.
Gunsmith told me the guy didn’t realize anything happened until he looked up from his scope and saw the barrel split. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

 

[Telecaster]

I wonder what kind of bore sighter it was. I have one that never seems to stay tight enough very long. It has the plastic inserts to hold it to the bore with friction. But I guess even that could hold the pressure long enough to split the barrel.

 

[murphydog]

Glad to hear no one was hurt. But why did he bring it to the gunsmith? All it needs is a new barrel. And stock. And maybe a new action. But apparently not a scope.

I would have hid this in a closet and told no one, unless it happened at your LGS/range, in which case it would have been difficult to avoid public notice.

 

[gfors]

No rifles at this range, unless they are PC (.22, 9mm,.357, etc). It’s a 25 yard, indoor affair.
I think the guy genuinely didn’t know what had happened, and was seeking answers. I cycled the bolt just fine; so, I’m thinking the rifle is salvageable.

 

[Old_Cop]

Hold my beer and watch this.

 

[glowe]

I wonder what kind of bore sighter it was. I have one that never seems to stay tight enough very long. It has the plastic inserts to hold it to the bore with friction. But I guess even that could hold the pressure long enough to split the barrel.

A little resistance is all it takes to blow up a rifle barrel. Snow has caused the same results as well and there is little measurable resistance. I think about the fact that the pressure of the explosion restrained for a milli-second(thousandth of a second) can build extraordinary pressures. The bullet probably never even touched the bore sight before the barrel was split wide open.

If the gun had a 20" barrel, it would take the bullet only .5 milli-seconds to leave the barrel. That is .0005 seconds to travel the length of the barrel.

 

[jack the toad]

I wonder what kind of bore sighter it was.

OP states in subject that it was laser??? I've seen laser types that chambers similar to live round. Have also seen, years ago, the results of forgetting the barrel spud after removing the collimator type and then firing live round. The results to barrel was very similar.
ETA:
The spuds for my old bushnell collimator type are metal and can fit pretty snug if tightened enough.

 

[muddocktor]

I guess we can safely say that the action on that gun has been proof tested. Just pop a new barrel on it and it's good to go.

 

[murphydog]

OP states in subject that it was laser??? I've seen laser types that chambers similar to live round.

I thought about that too, but even the most adept at firearms handling probably couldn't chamber a live round with the laser chamber insert in place.

 

[glowe]

OP states in subject that it was laser??? I've seen laser types that chambers similar to live round.

I believe the type of laser bore sight used here was inserted into the muzzle like the one shown in the link below.

red dot laser bore sighter .177 to .50 caliber sighting positioning ultimate laser boresighter kit Sale - Banggood.com|Shopping USA

 

[andy52]

I've heard tales of people doing the same thing with a cleaning rod, clean rifle between sets and forget to take it out.

 

[H Richard]

At our indoor range where a gentleman taught Kids introductory rifle shooting for over 50 years he had an accumulation of barrels, all were shotgun, split, bulged, ruptured, etc as examples during his teaching. I still remember his showing me those in 1953 when I took his course and earned my NRA shooting qualifications.

Some things stick in your mind.

 

[Eric300]

Unfortunately, that's not the first time I've seen that happen.

 

[gwpercle]

When will they invent that cure for the Screaming Stoopids....
Can't come soon enough for some folks !

 

[steveno]

there was an article in Guns magazine a couple of years ago about keeping track of cleaning rods. I thought I had saved it but can't seem to find it right now but it was by M. L. Mcpherson I think. when you forget to pay attention bad things will happen.

Guns Magazine >> Contents Under Pressure!

 

[gfors]

Muzzle-inserted laser gizmo, smith told me. I should've taken a pic of the actual bulge, from a better angle. If you look closely, you can see it in one of the pics. It was all black and bulged on both sides about 3" back from muzzle, or, roughly, the butt end of the inserted bore-sighter.

 

[67tempest]

Bulged shotgun barrels on hunting gun are not that rare. You loose your footing and fall down and stick the end of your barrel in the mud, plugging it up. If you don't inspect it before firing your next shot your may be in for a surprise!

 

[stansdds]

Holy schnikes! It takes remarkable little bore obstruction to create a massive pressure problem.

 

[brucev]

Glad the man was not injured. Damage to barrel is of course from a muzzle obstruction. No reason that a new barrel could not be installed, a stock fitted and then returned to service. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[Mrnurse]

Never under estimate the power of Stupid.