450Bushmaster.net

Picture is worth a thousand words. Stay civil. All opinions welcome.
Again. Stay civil. I mean it.
This is NOT my rifle. It's just a picture pulled off a discussion thread from an undisclosed source where they are trashing Colt for this upper failure.
https://www.facebook.com/AR15GunOwnersO ... 8590404653

I am by no means an expert but when I have heard or seen a picture like that it was ammo related. Either too hot a reload, a round followed a squib up the spout or a mixture of operator errors. We all have done things we hope don't get around but it can happen to anyone. The lesson here is to keep your head in the game. Just my oppinion.

I can't stand by and let Colt get any blame or hate for this. Too many people with an agenda or tunnel vision.

Does this look similar?

That is from Carbon Arms facebook page, October 29, 2013. Part of an article I wrote for RECOIL that will be in the SHOT show issue. Deep seated, 77 grainer in front of a compressed load of fast pistol powder. NEW upper, receiver, BCG that were all subjected to extensive NDT protocols and tests. I also put a slug in the bore of an M4 about halfway between the gas port and the chamber, then put a 77 grain 5.56 load in and fired, no failure, fired again, no failure, fired again, no failure. The 4th round cleared the bore and we put 4K rounds through the M4 on FA with nothing. The X-ray images of the barrel bulge will be with the article.

First, highly unlikely anything was wrong with the rifle. In order to blow the bottom of the carrier off, the bolt had to fracture as well. Adding up the bolt, carrier and receiver strength, the loads to cause that damage are over 200Kpsi, or about 4 time operating pressure, or 3 times proof pressure. BAD AMMO!

I've blown up 15 firearms, 8 cars and 7 houses...on purpose and not illegally with overlapping safety protocols, in the course of my professional work. Still never turn down the opportunity to make something go boom.

When I was testing propane tanks for a major national supplier due to a HMS inquiry, I had three firemen huddled and wide-eyed behind their pumper truck. It was kind of funny.

Marky & Jerry, have it right in my humble opinion.

As I read the pictures, that was a Huge Overload, of say Bullseye or some such. It could have been a cook-off too, just occurring at some point before lug lock-up. Either way, this was an extremely high pressure load, that did all this damage. Which all points out that yes, you too can screw up the Reloading Safety Protocols. I'd bet this shooter, when he returned to his bench, figured out, that his Protocols were lacking.

You must be careful and methodic in your reloading practices. Keep primers/powders off your reloading table, except the ones you intend to use. Check, Recheck, and Triple Check every step in your reloading process. I'm not kidding here! Triple checking is a minimum! Demand that there is to be "NO-TALKING", at all during the Priming and Powder Charging Process. This is NOT the time to become distracted. And if the Buddies won't quit talking or asking questions, stop, and run the out of the room!!

You are the Pilot-In-Command and thus responsible. Reloading is very rewarding on many levels, but it is also Dangerous. DO-NOT blame anybody but yourself for mishaps. Buck up and except your responsibility! Heck, shooting factory isn't completely safe either!

My final point about excepting our responsibilities is this. Their is a type of Cat that thinks everything should be Completely Safe for HIM.. So then consider this, there is a reason why 50% or more of our ammunition costs are because of this particular Cat, suing everything in sight!!

..t

PS.. I've only addressed the priming/charging process, to be sure, there are many more safety rules..t

Resembles pictures I saw recently of someone punching a 300 blackout round into their 5.56 upper. Bullet set back into case and the hammer fell on it.