Polymer guns Ka-Boom
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RGVshooter
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The only guns that I know of that go "KaBoom" are the ones that the reloader overcharged or had a squib and fired off another shot... 
bigggbbruce
Member
I guess I missed the report of Polymer guns going Kaboom.
CalmerThanYou
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Kaboom....A tale as old as time.
okiegtrider
Member
The only guns that I know of that go "KaBoom" are the ones that the reloader overcharged or had a squib and fired off another shot...
Except for stainless steel guns. Cause that just doesn't happen.
Arik
Member
.
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Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Let me clarify. I have read of quite a number of polymer framed semi autos having a catastrophic failure of the polymer frame. Without notable damage to the chamber the barrel or the slide.
In the post prior to this one by Arik, the slide on the 1911 is split but the chamber is not visible. Was the chamber split as well? The revolver damage was clearly caused by over pressure.
I do not understand how the polymer frames can be split with no visible damage to the chamber, the barrel or the slide unless they fired out of battery. How do the expanding gasses get into the magazine well when the gun is in battery and the locking mechanism is not damaged. I did read on a Glock forum that some of their guns did fire out of battery due to a faulty disconnect.
It seems to me that if a semi auto is in battery when fired the expanding gasses could not be expelled through the breech unless the chamber split, the locking mechanism was broken or the action was not closed.
Can someone explain to me how expanding gasses can get out the breech without damaging the barrel, the chamber or the locking mechanism?
Thank you for your indulgence.
In the post prior to this one by Arik, the slide on the 1911 is split but the chamber is not visible. Was the chamber split as well? The revolver damage was clearly caused by over pressure.
I do not understand how the polymer frames can be split with no visible damage to the chamber, the barrel or the slide unless they fired out of battery. How do the expanding gasses get into the magazine well when the gun is in battery and the locking mechanism is not damaged. I did read on a Glock forum that some of their guns did fire out of battery due to a faulty disconnect.
It seems to me that if a semi auto is in battery when fired the expanding gasses could not be expelled through the breech unless the chamber split, the locking mechanism was broken or the action was not closed.
Can someone explain to me how expanding gasses can get out the breech without damaging the barrel, the chamber or the locking mechanism?
Thank you for your indulgence.
Arik
Member
Because like bullet going out of the barrel pressure exist to the path of least resistance. In this case it blows out the mag and, depending on the ammo and pressures, it can damage the frame
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RGVshooter
Member
Some poly framed pistols, Kahr for example are designed to have the grip panels blow off to reduce pressure or direct it other than in the users face in the event of a major malfunction.
From Kahr arms website
"Q. Why does the panel on the side of the grip of my Kahr polymer pistol sometimes "pop open"?
A. When a firearm is discharged, there is equal pressure on both sides of the ammunition, and the cartridge will seek the path of least resistance, which is forward. However, if the rim of the cartridge is cracked, the primer pinched, or any similar damage, pressure builds up and the path of least resistance is backwards causing the grip mount to pop. It is provided as a safety mechanism to prevent bodily injury".
Reference; Kahr Q&A
From Kahr arms website
"Q. Why does the panel on the side of the grip of my Kahr polymer pistol sometimes "pop open"?
A. When a firearm is discharged, there is equal pressure on both sides of the ammunition, and the cartridge will seek the path of least resistance, which is forward. However, if the rim of the cartridge is cracked, the primer pinched, or any similar damage, pressure builds up and the path of least resistance is backwards causing the grip mount to pop. It is provided as a safety mechanism to prevent bodily injury".
Reference; Kahr Q&A
Last edited:
Deadeye Dick
Member
Quite a number? Really? I haven't read or heard of many catastrophic failures recently. Those I did hear of were due to an overcharged round (reloads and factory) or firing a shot on top of a squib. Though it may seem that polymer framed guns suffer from more failures of this type than there steel framed counterparts it is likely because polymer framed guns are far more popular.
Now back when the .40s&w first came out there were a significant number of self destructing polymer guns due to insufficiently supported chamber mouths but those problems have long been addressed.
Alot of the kabooms came about when LEO went from steel revolvers to poly autos.. Or in military case M-9's.
And it wasnt the guns fault it was procedures fault. Saw it myself.
Go on duty get ur gun chamber a round. do your shift, get back turn in gun unload put that round on top of mag. Next day repeat... So same round gets chambered a dozen times, till one day you go to the range and KABOOM !,,,
Mega bullet setback in a 40 glock and bad things happen
And it wasnt the guns fault it was procedures fault. Saw it myself.
Go on duty get ur gun chamber a round. do your shift, get back turn in gun unload put that round on top of mag. Next day repeat... So same round gets chambered a dozen times, till one day you go to the range and KABOOM !,,,
Mega bullet setback in a 40 glock and bad things happen
Bill Lear
Member
I think many will find the following in formation quite illuminating:
Battered Bullets: Does bullet setback matter? | The Daily Caller
I'd like to point out the author did actual testing, using a "notoriously" ka-boom prone Glock 22 and the cartridges shown above not only did not cause the gun to explode, they did not cause any damage whatsoever.
Battered Bullets: Does bullet setback matter? | The Daily Caller
I'd like to point out the author did actual testing, using a "notoriously" ka-boom prone Glock 22 and the cartridges shown above not only did not cause the gun to explode, they did not cause any damage whatsoever.
Arik
Member
I think many will find the following in formation quite illuminating:
Battered Bullets: Does bullet setback matter? | The Daily Caller
I'd like to point out the author did actual testing, using a "notoriously" ka-boom prone Glock 22 and the cartridges shown above not only did not cause the gun to explode, they did not cause any damage whatsoever.
He doesn't mention which gen G22 he used! Only the early ones were kaboom prone
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In your readings of catastrophic failures, there was no
discussion of the cause(s) of failure?
Not unlike 5:00, it's always a case of "over pressure", somewhere.
Or, as you said, firing out of battery. Or, ruptured case, or firing wrong ammunition (e.g. shooting 9mm Luger in a .40
S&W).
See above.
I am sorry but my question has not been answered.
It is my understanding that If the gun is in battery when fired the pressure must go out the barrel or split the chamber before the action will unlock. Or can the action open before the bullet clears the muzzle?
It is my understanding that If the gun is in battery when fired the pressure must go out the barrel or split the chamber before the action will unlock. Or can the action open before the bullet clears the muzzle?
Arik
Member
Under normal circumstances no it cannot open before the bullet clears. If there is too much pressure.... more than the lock can handle then the pressure will go back and down through the magwell
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The answer is "yes", and the frame material (to answer your
question in your original post)--polymer, carbon steel, stainless
steel, aluminum--isn't relevant, generally, to such events.
Walkingwolf
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My wife's Glock 22 had a frame failure after only 10 rounds of factory 40 S&W FMJ. It broke a frame rail, and locked up, Glock replaced the frame but she would no longer carry the gun. It has been replaced with a Witness, which also has a poly frame. My two Glocks have not left the safe since the incident, I don't trust them either.
