Just wanted to pass along an experience I had over the weekend. This is long so I appologize in advance, but wanna include all the facts and pics. Also, I believe that this was due to a double charge (but not 100% sure) as I am not arrogant enough to believe that I cant make a mistake while reloading. This is being passed along in the hopes that it can prevent a new or experienced reloader from making the same mistake.
I took the USPA course that Coach offered at MCFG and was in the afternoon session on saturday....great experience by the way. I was shooting my Les Baer Premier 1911 that prolly had about 800 rounds through it previously. Fired 7 or so shots from first shooting position, transitioned, changed mags. Then fired about 3 (maybe 4) from position 2 and on the next shot got a surprise. I knew something wasn't right, but a little stunned and not sure what had happened. Stopped immediately and kept muzzle pointed downrange. Debris had smacked me in the face and my hand felt like it had been hit by a hammer. Only half of each side of the grip was left on the pistol (they were cracked down the middle and lying on the ground). The magazine had blown out the bottom of the pistol as well. The unfired rounds that were found had the bullet pushed back deeply into the brass from the force of the charge. One unfired round was lodged in bottom of the mag and the spring and floorplate were never found. The fired case was stuck in the chamber and was removed with a brass rod. I had powder residue (not really burnt but pretty severe marks) on both hands that corresponded to every crevice that gas could escape from the pistol. Including a nice rectangular mark from powder that escaped from between the thumb safety and frame. It took me a few minutes to gather myself and thoughts to make sure I wasnt bleeding anywhere. Very greatful to report that there was no serious injury.
The pistol seems to be OK. No glaring cracks in the frame or slide. Function check of the trigger group is good. Dimensions on the barrel and chamber are in spec. I tried to capture a pic of the frame (didnt do a very good job) but it appears as though there is a brass layer almost fused to the frame rail in one spot where the case rupture occurred. Surface isn't raised at all and a gentle scrape with a dental pic doesn't remove any material. Hard to describe, but almost like the surface was plated in a way. I am going to have a smith take a look at the pistol to ensure it is ok prior to shooting again, but I'm not too worried.
Specifics on my reloading and load: I have been reloading pistol rounds for the past 5 or six years without incident. I am very careful with my reloads, but it seems as though one rogue round got past me. I reload on a dillon 550 (resize, powder drop, seat, crimp are the stations and it is a manually indexing press). I was shooting 200gr lead round nose bullets over 5.3gr Titegroup. If you have ever loaded rounds with titegroup, you are very well aware that it is plausible to have a double charge fit in a 45 case. My theory on how this happened was that I made a mistake and double threw a charge when I had a piece of small primer brass sneak in but this is just a theory.
Anyway, maybe my mistake can help someone else prevent an injury and learn a little in the process. Pics are below and ask any and all questions.
That pistol needed a new set of grips anyway....
Also proud to say that even after the accident, I was able to complete the course with my M&P that I had brought thanks to a kind soul that let me buy a box of 9mm. (not sure who that was, but I owe him some rep at least)
I took the USPA course that Coach offered at MCFG and was in the afternoon session on saturday....great experience by the way. I was shooting my Les Baer Premier 1911 that prolly had about 800 rounds through it previously. Fired 7 or so shots from first shooting position, transitioned, changed mags. Then fired about 3 (maybe 4) from position 2 and on the next shot got a surprise. I knew something wasn't right, but a little stunned and not sure what had happened. Stopped immediately and kept muzzle pointed downrange. Debris had smacked me in the face and my hand felt like it had been hit by a hammer. Only half of each side of the grip was left on the pistol (they were cracked down the middle and lying on the ground). The magazine had blown out the bottom of the pistol as well. The unfired rounds that were found had the bullet pushed back deeply into the brass from the force of the charge. One unfired round was lodged in bottom of the mag and the spring and floorplate were never found. The fired case was stuck in the chamber and was removed with a brass rod. I had powder residue (not really burnt but pretty severe marks) on both hands that corresponded to every crevice that gas could escape from the pistol. Including a nice rectangular mark from powder that escaped from between the thumb safety and frame. It took me a few minutes to gather myself and thoughts to make sure I wasnt bleeding anywhere. Very greatful to report that there was no serious injury.
The pistol seems to be OK. No glaring cracks in the frame or slide. Function check of the trigger group is good. Dimensions on the barrel and chamber are in spec. I tried to capture a pic of the frame (didnt do a very good job) but it appears as though there is a brass layer almost fused to the frame rail in one spot where the case rupture occurred. Surface isn't raised at all and a gentle scrape with a dental pic doesn't remove any material. Hard to describe, but almost like the surface was plated in a way. I am going to have a smith take a look at the pistol to ensure it is ok prior to shooting again, but I'm not too worried.
Specifics on my reloading and load: I have been reloading pistol rounds for the past 5 or six years without incident. I am very careful with my reloads, but it seems as though one rogue round got past me. I reload on a dillon 550 (resize, powder drop, seat, crimp are the stations and it is a manually indexing press). I was shooting 200gr lead round nose bullets over 5.3gr Titegroup. If you have ever loaded rounds with titegroup, you are very well aware that it is plausible to have a double charge fit in a 45 case. My theory on how this happened was that I made a mistake and double threw a charge when I had a piece of small primer brass sneak in but this is just a theory.
Anyway, maybe my mistake can help someone else prevent an injury and learn a little in the process. Pics are below and ask any and all questions.
That pistol needed a new set of grips anyway....
Also proud to say that even after the accident, I was able to complete the course with my M&P that I had brought thanks to a kind soul that let me buy a box of 9mm. (not sure who that was, but I owe him some rep at least)
Specifically, the Dillon 550 is a double charge magnet. Every time I read a story of a blown up pistol 100% of the time the reloader was using a Dillon 550. I've never heard of this happing with a Dillon 650/1050 or a Hornady LNL. I attribute it to the lack of an auto-index feature on the 550. The 550 put the onus on the user to make sure he index's the shell-plate vs a mechanical process. That is just my two cents of course.
). 
