Exploding Colt Revolvers

Jerry K. states right in his manual that alloy frame Colts were not made for continuous use, or for more than the occasional +P round. Even one round of +P+ could rupture cylinders or crack frames.

So technically, the alloy frames such as Cobras, were not made for everyday use, even with standard ammo. Most likely designed as just a back up gun to be used on rare occasions.

Just another reason to be leery of buying any of these old alloy frames if you intend to shoot it frequently, and why I passed on one for a great deal.
 
iPac said:
Jerry K. states right in his manual that alloy frame Colts were not made for continuous use, or for more than the occasional +P round. Even one round of +P+ could rupture cylinders or crack frames.

So technically, the alloy frames such as Cobras, were not made for everyday use, even with standard ammo. Most likely designed as just a back up gun to be used on rare occasions.

Just another reason to be leery of buying any of these old alloy frames if you intend to shoot it frequently, and why I passed on one for a great deal.
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Precisely the reason I own no alloy-frame revolvers (regardless of manufacturer) and never will. I might take one if someone gave it to me. But buy? NO WAY!
 
I suspect your would have had more luck with the person who sold you both he Colt and the box of ammunition. I'm not a lawyer but I suspect that's where the liability rested.

Rich
 
I'm sorry the OPs gun blew up......but 40 years is a long time ago. Both Colt and S&W make fine guns, and both manufacturers have produced guns that blew up. Quite honestly I don't see where there is a story here.

I'm a little shocked the thread is not locked yet......
 
m1gunner said:
Are there any pics after the KB and before Colt dissected the gun?
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OP won't be back. He just stopped in to ventilate and polish his grudge.

The pictures are garbage but it looks like the top strap may have broken near the barrel. The rest looks like saw work. We'll never know the whole story.
 
Old alloy/aluminum frame revolvers make good paperweights. I would never own one or rely on one. It would be a fool's paradise to do so. I know there are some that are very collectible and valuable, but that would be the only reason to own any of them. I'm saying this without regard to the legitimacy or validity of the OP or his story.
 
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m1gunner said:
Are there any pics...?
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Best I can do, anyway....
1974-chevy-vega-junkyard-abandoned_zpsl3o7knkw.jpg
 
scooter123 said:
I'm very curious about the manufacturer of the "+P ammunition" used in this incident and their response.

Based on a Wikipedia article the +P was originally implemented in 1972, just 4 years prior to the date given for this Kaboom. In addition in the 38 Special what is today called +P is actually the prior pressure standard for commercial 38 special ammunition. Because in 1972 when the +P labeling was introduced it was because the manufacturers had reduced the pressure of the 38 special ammunitions they were producing to keep the Peak Pressures below the listed maximum for the caliber using new electronically based continuous pressure testing methods. Basically the pressure was reduced because the old Copper Crusher methods couldn't pick up these short peaks in pressure. Because of this reduction in pressure for the 38 special the resulting velocities were also reduced so +P was brought out to "restore" the performance that was available prior to the change in pressure testing methods.

My thinking is that this Kaboom wasn't a failure on Colt's part but a failure on the part of hte ammunition manufacturer. I also suspect that this wasn't a Double Charge, I think this was probably a Triple Charge or perhaps something even higher. In plain truth it was a case that was completely filled with a very fast burning powder which resulted in a massively over pressure charge. BTW, I am a reloader and generally avoid the "fast" powders specifically due to the risk of a massive over charge because slow powders require a much larger volume of powder to produce the same pressure as a much smaller charge of "fast" powder.
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Would somebody please correct me if I am wrong. My understanding of + P is that it is still within SAAMI specs and any gun built to shoot is generally built to those specs. The whole problem here makes no sense to me unless he tried to clear a squib by shooting it out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Rivoak said:
Would somebody please correct me if I am wrong. My understanding of + P is that it is still within SAAMI specs and any gun built to shoot is generally built to those specs. The whole problem here makes no sense to me unless he tried to clear a squib by shooting it out.
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I'm pretty sure the consensus here is that this revolver was not damaged by ammo that was within SAAMI +P specs. If it isn't, it should be.
 
How did the top strap blow of but the cylinder remain intact? I'd suspect the ammo was at fault. Putting +P rounds through a 38 special is going to accelerate wear, not blow up a gun.
 
The only alloy frame gun that I have is a S&W Model 12 that I bought because it was priced very low. The bottom of the barrel is stamped Valley Gun La Ca..could be a range gun. I purchased this back in the late 70's and never fired it and never will...just don't trust em. Rich.
 

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Maybe it's my 72yo eyes, but it looks to me as if the barrel's split lengthwise with a portion of the frame hanging onto the threads. 30+ years in the retail firearms business tells me there was a squib that just barely made it into the barrel, followed by either a standard or maybe even a +P.
 
Exactly.....

reddog81 said:
How did the top strap blow of but the cylinder remain intact? I'd suspect the ammo was at fault. Putting +P rounds through a 38 special is going to accelerate wear, not blow up a gun.
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Even alloy frames need to be able to handle proof loads that are like 1/3 over the max standard pressure for that caliber. I really don't think any of the better companies have made any guns that will blow up after 'x' number of rounds have been shot. And plus P won't blow them up, but it will beat them up faster over time. A cartridge that blows up a strong, modern gun by a reliable make is seriously over pressured.
 
...I was skeptical of aluminum alloy...I own a 1971 Kenworth truck...the frame...rear suspension...and hubs are all aluminum alloy...as well as most of the cab...I earned my living with it for 26 years...always wondering when one of the aluminum components would fail...it's sitting out in the yard with a broken crankshaft...all the aluminum components are fine...

...people park their butts in big aluminum tubes and fly 500 plus mph through turbulence...apparently that aluminum holds up just fine 99.99% of the time...Kenworth developed their knowledge and practice with aluminum alloys during WWII...building aircraft components for the war effort...
 
nmckenzie said:
Maybe it's my 72yo eyes, but it looks to me as if the barrel's split lengthwise with a portion of the frame hanging onto the threads. 30+ years in the retail firearms business tells me there was a squib that just barely made it into the barrel, followed by either a standard or maybe even a +P.
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It looks like the barrel was sawed lengthwise. Probably someone trying to figure out why it failed. Or making certain nobody ever tried to fix it.
 
I guess he already wore out....

Warren Sear said:
None of this matters. The OP is long gone and does not care about the gun or how it was destroyed. He started this thread with an agenda.
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I guess he already wore out the Colt forums and decided to come here. I'm not worried about anything said, as long as I don't get ammo that is lethal to guns.
 
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Some new information...

Again that infallible oracle "Wikipedia" provides this info.

1951-1957 Colt Cobra called the 'Aircrewman' for air crew had problems with cracking cylinders.

'Next Generation' started in 1972.

Also:

In the owners' manual accompanying some post-1972 Cobra revolvers, Colt recommended the use of +P ammunition for 2nd Model Cobra frames only, with the stipulation that the gun be returned to the factory for inspection every 1,000 rounds (compared with a 2,000-3,000 round interval for the 2nd Model steel-framed Detective Special).

They also say that Colt brought out the Cobra again in 1977 but was discontinued due to poor sales.
 
The Colt Cobra has a steel cylinder. I have an older one, serial number hinting 1966. I just checked, and the cylinder has not turned into aluminum. I have fired a few cylinders of +P through it. I'm still typing with both hands, and the cylinder and frame are still there. Of course, I use factory ammo (why is a whole nother story). +P DOES stress the frame more, but no kaboom yet. Probably never will be, because I pretty much don't use +P in the aluminum frames.
 
my Every Day Carry gun (EDC)is a Colt Agent... the same gun as the Cobra, but less finely finished. Mine is parkerized... an extremely durable finish... Over 90% of the rounds I put thru her & perhaps as many as 95% are 148grain lead wad cutters over a charge of Unique that produces about 750fps. The balance of the rounds are .38 Spec Plus P duty rounds...

I've carried this pistol since 1985, first as an off duty pistol, then as primary every day gun, if serious social work is not expected... if I foresee that, I move up to a 4" model 29 S&W .44 mag, with loads about warm .44 special. I've never worried about the Colt... as stated above, it has both a steel cylinder & steel barrel.... I would not worry about any of the fine alloy framed J models that S&W produces.

There is more to the story of what happened to the pistol in the OP than what has been told. Someone has further dis-assembled it for whatever reason only they know. It was not stated who did this, or why. No mention of what brand ammo was allegedly used...a curious thing in & of itself. My guess is that the incident was caused by the ammunition..

I'm glad the person was not injured by this incident, no matter the cause. I'm sure he thanked the Almighty for that.
 
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