Figured I would post this since so many seem to gravitate toward the Garand on here and it was kind of hidden on SRF. You have to be a member to see pics I think so I'll lift them and copy and paste the post. Heres the link: http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=53&p=1002378#p1002378
Had a bad experience a week ago. Went to the range to test fire some handloads through a Springfield M1 and ultimately it blew up.
Details: Rifle - M1 Garand, Springfield manufacture receiver (1942) rebarreled in1947.
Ammo: 3-rounds. Reloaded - full-length sized once fired Federal brass, 163 grain mechanically pulled surplus bullet, Winchester Large Rifle primers, 46.5 grains of IMR4895 powder. Powder was dispensed/weighed using RCBS Chargemaster system calibrated immediately before use. Brass was checked for OA length and was within specs. prior to loading. Bullets were seated to crimping groove but not crimped.
Three rounds loaded into enbloc and loaded into rifle. Rifle hand charged with first round. Rifle fired and bullet strike noted in berm, ejected brass landed approx. 10' to front and approx. 20 degrees from line of sight. Second round cycled into chamber. Second round fired with similar observations to first round. Third round fired and rifle disintegrated through magazine well area. After checking hands and face determined injuries and patched them up then retrieved rifle pieces and drove to emergency room for treatment of bruises, lacerations and burns to left wrist.
Later analysis of rifle indicates bolt face fracture and case head failure. Lower front of bolt face sheared off around ejector hole causing passageway for hot gases and fragments to enter magazine well area and blow out stock and triggerguard floorplate. Receiver held and bolt frozen in place. Bolt has been removed and shows fracturing of both locking lugs as well as longitudinal fracture back from ejector hole. Extractor has backed out. Last round/fractured brass still stuck in chamber.
No bore obstruction noted - bore is clear and barrel shows no sign of bulging. Gas system appears fully intact. Failure appears to have occurred before bullet left muzzle as gas system appears to not have been activated.
Any constructive observations or opinions would be appreciated. I have been reloading for over 50 years and never had this type of failure. One fired brass recovered and shows signs of slight pressure but not excessive. Primer is slightly cupped into firing pin hole but not flattened. No indications on brass of stretching or splitting.
Had a bad experience a week ago. Went to the range to test fire some handloads through a Springfield M1 and ultimately it blew up.
Details: Rifle - M1 Garand, Springfield manufacture receiver (1942) rebarreled in1947.
Ammo: 3-rounds. Reloaded - full-length sized once fired Federal brass, 163 grain mechanically pulled surplus bullet, Winchester Large Rifle primers, 46.5 grains of IMR4895 powder. Powder was dispensed/weighed using RCBS Chargemaster system calibrated immediately before use. Brass was checked for OA length and was within specs. prior to loading. Bullets were seated to crimping groove but not crimped.
Three rounds loaded into enbloc and loaded into rifle. Rifle hand charged with first round. Rifle fired and bullet strike noted in berm, ejected brass landed approx. 10' to front and approx. 20 degrees from line of sight. Second round cycled into chamber. Second round fired with similar observations to first round. Third round fired and rifle disintegrated through magazine well area. After checking hands and face determined injuries and patched them up then retrieved rifle pieces and drove to emergency room for treatment of bruises, lacerations and burns to left wrist.
Later analysis of rifle indicates bolt face fracture and case head failure. Lower front of bolt face sheared off around ejector hole causing passageway for hot gases and fragments to enter magazine well area and blow out stock and triggerguard floorplate. Receiver held and bolt frozen in place. Bolt has been removed and shows fracturing of both locking lugs as well as longitudinal fracture back from ejector hole. Extractor has backed out. Last round/fractured brass still stuck in chamber.
No bore obstruction noted - bore is clear and barrel shows no sign of bulging. Gas system appears fully intact. Failure appears to have occurred before bullet left muzzle as gas system appears to not have been activated.
Any constructive observations or opinions would be appreciated. I have been reloading for over 50 years and never had this type of failure. One fired brass recovered and shows signs of slight pressure but not excessive. Primer is slightly cupped into firing pin hole but not flattened. No indications on brass of stretching or splitting.
