UPDATED-Bad day at the range...

[J D Shelby]

Same issue much better result

I was shooting my Rutgers super Blackhawk about 20 years ago and I had a similar action with either overloaded 44 mag or under loaded the first round probably cracked the cylinder and the second ripped those two away except for about a 1/4" and arched the top strap. My youngest son had just stepped into the lane next to me and he got some powder burns but it scared the stuffing out of us. My wrist was sore from this but we were both blessed.

I sold my 41 magnum shortly after that.

 

[muddocktor]

I'm glad to hear you got through this disaster without any more damage to you than what happened, Shark Bait. And glad you posted up about this as a reminder to us reloaders to keep our whole attention while reloading. And like others here, I do not use powders such as Titegroup, especially in a deep case such as a 44 Mag for just such a reason as this because it's so hard to see a double charge of powder with powders such as Titegroup in a deep case. For reduced velocity loads in 44 and 357 I much prefer to use a more bulky powder such as Unique or HP38 instead. At least with those, if you do throw a double charge of powder in the case it is immediately noticeable. And while I've never used it, the Trail Boss powder sounds like a good choice too.

BTW, any of you guys out there have the Quickload software? If so, input 16 grains of Titegroup into it and get an estimate on what kind of pressures that double charged round produced.

 

[Shark Bait]

I just updated my original post with more pictures and info. Thanks again to you all for being supportive and helping me learn as much as possible from this nearly tragic event!

 

[wood714]

I just updated my original post with more pictures and info. Thanks again to you all for being supportive and helping me learn as much as possible from this nearly tragic event!

WOW! Looks like you could have loaded a round with C4.

You were for sure being looked over at the time that happened.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Glad you're okay, I'll bet you have a whole new appreciation for working hand and fingers. Sometimes it is the simple things in life that are most enjoyable.

I would get a second opinion on the fragment still implanted, If it's the same that would be good enough for me, if it's different, then you can decide what you think is best.

Personally I wouldn't send the gun to S&W, I'd keep it just to remind myself to be thankful.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

As George Orwell would say, doubleplus ungood. Yes, you were not hurt badly and the rest of us can review our reloading procedures.

 

[UncleEd]

Despite having a Dillon 500
which I got for Cowboy Action
Shooting, I've now reverted to
my RCBS single stage press.

During those years with the Dillon
I had a few too hot loads I didn't
expect and started measuring more
than I liked for a progressive press.

I actually enjoy the leisurely pace
of the single stage and feel very
confident about my reloads using
fast powders such as Win. 231.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Glad you survived even if lots of blood leaked. You'll make new blood. I agree the piece left in your cheek should be removed. The doc who worked on you was probably needing to move on.

I had a friend blow up his new 8-shot 627 about 20 yrs. ago with TiteGroup. He was convinced he didn't double charge. He blamed the gun and sent it back. S&W would NOT sell him another 627 but did sell him a 625 at a good price.

Early in my handloading career I produced about 500 rounds of 45ACP with 200gr LSWCs and Win 231. I went to the range and had a squib about every third round. I loaded on a Dillon 550 and the powder measure malfunctioned . I tried weighing the rounds and quickly learned the powder charge was so small variations in bullets and brass prevented me from solving the problem. Eventually, I just pounded every round apart with a bullet puller.

I am a devout believer in the idea of using smaller brass if you want to shoot poofy loads in your magnum guns.

 

[LPD256]

Looks like you have a usable strain screw and bloody Hogues that could be sold. Glad you are ok. Jh

 

[Shark Bait]

Looks like you have a usable strain screw and bloody Hogues that could be sold. Glad you are ok. Jh

I'll keep the Hogues with medallions, and i collected the internals. The frame is bent bad enough that I can't get the trigger out. I'll keep working on it.

 

[jringo8769]

I'll keep the Hogues with medallions, and i collected the internals. The frame is bent bad enough that I can't get the trigger out. I'll keep working on it.

Keep it in a display box with all the pieces and put it on a shelf as conversation piece
I would keep it all together
First off any parts off of it could be subject and I would use anything
Second a conversation piece is always great ...
Just my 2 cents
God Bless,John

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

 

[03hemi]

Awh, that'll buff right out.

 

[JayFramer]

All you can do is get back to the bench and start cranking them out again. Take pride in what you do, you are making better rounds than any commercial garbage at half the cost and safer to boot! Mistakes happen and you just have to move forward and get back to the press ASAP!

 

[Xfuzz]

Not being the sharpest knife in the drawer...
I don't get the adjoining rounds going off.

Glad your ok.

 

[Sevens]

Look at the primers of the adjacent rounds — they did not, in fact, go off. They were shredded and the primers are still live.

 

[Xfuzz]

Look at the primers of the adjacent rounds — they did not, in fact, go off. They were shredded and the primers are still live.

Thanks...I noticed the primers were intact.
I get what your saying.

 

[ladder13]

Both eyes, all digits, full mouth of teeth? You are fortunate.

 

[Shark Bait]

Sevens is correct. They did not actually go off. They got ripped apart. I found one of the bullets at the range today.

 

[oger]

The reason I use Longshot in 45acp is because of a problem like yours. It only takes one time to learn a lesson about double charges.

 

[saemetric]

I think I heard that explosion down here in Deming.!