rifle detonation again

[Kurt]

Well we had another rifle blow up at the Quigley yesterday. A guy was shooting a .45-70 Pedersoli with smokeless powder. I don't know the load particulars other then he was using AA-5744.
Doc. Lay was on the seen again taking care of him till the ambulance came.
I have pictures of the rifle but cant post them right now. The action held but the barrel split top and bottom and they found the forearm 50 some feet away.
He had mayor damage to his hand.

Kurt

[Ironramrod]

Kurt, Thanks for the report on that, and keep the info coming when you can[/b]. I certainly hope and pray that this shooter's hand can be restored. Did anybody else get hit w/ shrapnel?

Regards
IR

[Lumpy Grits]

Kinda sounds like a plug'd bore.
Wish the best for the shooter.
Please keep us updated.
Gary

[Gunlaker]

Wow! I've never used 5744 ( I don't use smokeless too often except in my bolt and lever rifles ). Can you fit a double charge of that powder into a .45-70 case?

Chris.

[Lumpy Grits]

Can you fit a double charge of that powder into a .45-70 case? Chris.

Yup-----
Gary

[Gunlaker]

Thanks Gary.

I was just re-reading a thread on the Ballard that blew up last year. It was also using 5744. Several people wrote it off to using smokeless in an old gun with a weak action.

I used to own a Pedersoli Sharps years ago and I shot smokeless in it before being bitten by the black powder bug. I remember doing a lot of digging regarding safe pressures. I think they recommended no more than 29k psi in it, but it's way stronger than any Ballard. To make that rifle come apart I think you'd need a lot of pressure.

I hope the fellow recovers fully.

Chris.

[rdnck]

I just got off he phone with a friend of mine who lives in Forsyth and shoots the Quigley match. He is also an EMT who works the match as well. The story going around is that the rifle already had a ringed chamber, and the guy had been advised to not shoot it. Not only that, there is also talk of a double charge. Shoot straight, rdnck.

[Don McDowell]

Sure makes you feel good about sitting down amongst 600 people scrunched elbow to elbow with some one you haven't ever seen before , shooting smokeless..

[Don McDowell]

Wow! I've never used 5744 ( I don't use smokeless too often except in my bolt and lever rifles ). Can you fit a double charge of that powder into a .45-70 case?

Chris.

Nope, a double charge would fill the case to about 1/8 inch from the top, even the dumbest of reloaders would catch that one.

[Nuclearcricket]

I am sorry to hear of another blow up, and this time with a modern made rifle. Don, thanks for checking on the volume a case will hold, I was thinking of doing that as I was reading this, you saved me the time and effort.
I have some 5744 here and have a box of 44-40's loaded with it. Now I am thinking of having a session with the bullet puller and dump that load. I just don't need hurt and don't want any of my arms damaged. My old marlin is well over 100 years old and has held up pretty well so far, no need to risk anything in it. Back to Black for me.
Sam