Reloading 223 very lucky escape

[oxonhunter]

Hi Not been Reloading 223 that long its been about 9 months

Yesterday i got some 50g vmax to try i reloaded 10 rounds i did my normal load

federal primers 24.0gr of N133 as it’s the most consistent and accurate for my gun.

First shot at the Target and it blow back into my face im ok i had a very lucky escape
i have a very sore eye and some minor cuts on my face.

and it blow mag out of the gun + the mag is in bits + the bolt is stuck in the gun.
the Bullet had left the chamber but can anyone explain what happen.

 

[redlab]

barrel blocked? double power load?

 

[Biathlonjimmy]

Only your investigations are likely to find what caused the problem. Everything else here is speculation. To continue to speculate, do you reload for any other cartridge and if so could there have been a faster burning powder left over in your trickler/powder thrower? Did you seat the bullet properly or could you have jammed it into the lands? Have you calibrated your scales properly and verified with a check weight?

 

[User00043]

I think you need to some how remove the stuck bolt to find out the condition of the case this may give you more idea of the problem e.g. head separation

Paul

 

[paul o']

We used to call them a B52's as it dumped most of the pay load out vie the magwell without removing the stock and bolt its very hard to tell why ? is it closed in battery or did the bolt fly back ? if it came back it may not have been quite closed but enough to still let you pull the trigger ? what rifle was it . don't try to remove the bolt your self as you may just undo the why when and how ,get it to someone who can see why and how as it may have been a fault with the lock up so not your fault at all ? Has the barrel bulged pointing the way to a blockage ? a bore scope will tell you if the case let go at the neck or the head parted . let us know and glad you got away lightly .

 

[Muir]

Hi Not been Reloading 223 that long its been about 9 months

Yesterday i got some 50g vmax to try i reloaded 10 rounds i did my normal load

federal primers 24.0gr of N133 as it’s the most consistent and accurate for my gun.

First shot at the Target and it blow back into my face im ok i had a very lucky escape
i have a very sore eye and some minor cuts on my face.

and it blow mag out of the gun + the mag is in bits + the bolt is stuck in the gun.
the Bullet had left the chamber but can anyone explain what happen.

Pull the bullets and weigh the charges in the remaining loads. Don't ask us what happened without checking what you did first.~Muir

 

[waterford103]

A double load is not possible with 223 and 24gr of powder , wrong powder or blocked bore is the most likely . Do you load pistol cartridges ?

 

[Highlandsjohn]

Sounds like over pressure with the wrong powder. Take it to a Gunsmith to have the bolt removed as it may very well be mushroomed and therefore scrapped. john

 

[JTO]

without removing the stock and bolt its very hard to tell why ? is it closed in battery or did the bolt fly back ? if it came back it may not have been quite closed but enough to still let you pull the trigger ?

Seems a most feasible response.

 

[bowji john]

Please keep us informed of the cause as I suspect every one of us feel that this 'could be me' in slightly different circumstances

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

Hi Not been Reloading 223 that long its been about 9 months

Yesterday i got some 50g vmax to try i reloaded 10 rounds i did my normal load

federal primers 24.0gr of N133 as it’s the most consistent and accurate for my gun.

First shot at the Target and it blow back into my face im ok i had a very lucky escape
i have a very sore eye and some minor cuts on my face.

and it blow mag out of the gun + the mag is in bits + the bolt is stuck in the gun.
the Bullet had left the chamber but can anyone explain what happen.

Normal load for what?
if it was a normal load for a different bullet you may just have found the problem......

 

[oxonhunter]

i would’ve thought i had a blocked barrel as i cleaned it the day before
and i just got the bolt and bullet out and as you can see the primer separated from the bullet

and i would’ve thought its wrong powder as all i have done is changed bullets to 50g vmax instead of 55g win xsuper
and using the same primers and powder and my gun is 223 Sabbatti Lightweight sporter


here’s pic’s of the bullet and the primer

 

[finnbear270]

The pics show a cartridge case .. not a bullet, is the bullet or any other item still in the barrel?

 

[oxonhunter]

The pics show a cartridge case .. not a bullet, is the bullet or any other item still in the barrel?

sorry pic of the shell and like i said in my first post the bullet had left the chamber/ barrel is clean

 

[caorach]

Clearly there's no way I can make any statement on what happened other than it appears you suffered a huge excess of pressure.

However, just in case, if you can put the gun back together don't try to use or shoot it as it may be significantly weakened due to the high pressure to which it has been subjected. I'd want to be sure all the pressure bearing bits go in the bin as they've clearly done a great job and saved your head so you've had your money's worth out of them.

 

[Highlandsjohn]

Clearly there's no way I can make any statement on what happened other than it appears you suffered a huge excess of pressure.

However, just in case, if you can put the gun back together don't try to use or shoot it as it may be significantly weakened due to the high pressure to which it has been subjected. I'd want to be sure all the pressure bearing bits go in the bin as they've clearly done a great job and saved your head so you've had your money's worth out of them.

Very true..

 

[paul o']

+1
as said now take it to a gun smith not a plumber and get it looked at with the correct gages and tools .
you were one lucky lad by the looks of things .

Clearly there's no way I can make any statement on what happened other than it appears you suffered a huge excess of pressure.

However, just in case, if you can put the gun back together don't try to use or shoot it as it may be significantly weakened due to the high pressure to which it has been subjected. I'd want to be sure all the pressure bearing bits go in the bin as they've clearly done a great job and saved your head so you've had your money's worth out of them.

 

[shakey jake]

I was told first rule of reloading is if you change a component, start from scratch, load a batch from min load up to max checking for signs of pressure never assume its safe. No idea went wrong here but you got very lucky.
Was the tub of powder new and unopened when you got it?
Shakey

 

[N.F.W.M]

Did you not work the load up for a new/different bullet ?

 

[Edinburgh Rifles]

i would’ve thought i had a blocked barrel as i cleaned it the day before
and i just got the bolt and bullet out and as you can see the primer separated from the bullet

and i would’ve thought its wrong powder as all i have done is changed bullets to 50g vmax instead of 55g win xsuper
and using the same primers and powder and my gun is 223 Sabbatti Lightweight sporter


here’s pic’s of the bullet and the primer

what other powders do you own?

I have never seen a primer almost liquify and flatten like that from just a normal powder overcharge
considering the proof house levels are significantly above the normal range and you will hit case volume limits long before you get to that level with N133
there has to have been a major component shift or a squib bullet to cause that much overpressure