Warning!

[OJR]

I received a call from our local range today and there was a guy shooting a Model 95 Winchester, 45-70 caliber!

He had hand loaded some "low" velocity shells and had packed the case with paper to fill the void! He was shooting smokeless powder.

Anyway, the pressure exceeded what the gun could handle. In other words, the gun blew up!

It split the barrel, the receiver, the magazine fell out and the stock was broken!

All you hand loaders, take heed!

If you go below the MINIMUM CHARGE OF POWDER, it is just as dangerous as going over the MAXIMUM! There is a very significant increase in the pressure!

A few years ago, I read where there was a "filler" to use with "reduced powder charges"! I bought some and loaded according to the sheet they sent me! It was for a 30-06! The first shell I fired, it blew the primer out! Like an idiot, I shot one more round and it blew the whole end off the brass! This load kicked worse than anything I had ever shot. I didn't hurt the gun, but I pulled all the bullets and threw that "filler" in the garbage!

If I remember right, a filler or paper should be used ONLY in reloading shotgun shells, but I am not sure!

By the way, the guy today was very lucky and he was not injured, but there is not one thing that could be salvaged on the gun!

[wtnhunt]

Dont reload, but will have to remember that just in case I ever take it up.

[Strut10]

Sounds like the guy may have had some other issues. Using filler (especially in straight-wall csaes) is a very common practice. A lot of people use the poly filling from pillows. Others use cormeal, etc. I wonder (considering the split barrel) if he didn't fire a round from which the bullet did not exit the barrel then fired another?? Don't know how "low powered" the rounds were.

[OJR]

I don't know about having a bullet stuck in the barrel!

I do know he was shooting 500 grain bullets!

The guy on the bench next to him said that when it went off, it was REALLY loud and pieces flew all over the place!

I can't believe he didn't get something in his face or head!

From what I was told, he packed up his gear immediately and left. Never said one thing to anyone!

[Leo]

If you try to load shells with a powder charge below the printed minimum in your reloading manual, you risk a secondary detonation occurring in the shell. Check your reloading manuals the warning will be in there.

This is especially true with slow burning smokeless powders.

It's an extremely dangerous thing to try, especially if you really don't know what you are doing.

That guy and everyone around him was very lucky. He needs to count his blessings the only casualty was his rifle.