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Catastrophic failure

T

TLong

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 10, 2009
272
2
Alabama
www.1042blue.wixsite.com
Guys, I just had a catastrophic failure while doing annual quals. Without putting too much info out there right now, I would just like to remind everyone to where some type of eye protection. I'm a country boy from Alabama, where usually the only glasses people wear while shooting are prescribed to them. If I had not been wearing eye pro, I am sure that the outcome would have been a lot different. 6 rounds fired, changed mags, and first round from a fresh mag created significant overpressure.
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Re: Catastrophic failure

DAMN! Glad to hear you walked away relatively unscathed and are able to give us all that friendly eye pro reminder!

I'll be watching this thread for more details on the suspected culprit/cause of the CF!





That said...it is all your fault because you are a southpaw and had to get a Stag lefty rifle!!
wink.gif
Joking...just joking...trying to bring some levity to an otherwise rotten situation. Hang in there, brother! Again...glad you are safe.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

That looks like an out of battery detonation. Had the same thing happen to me about 6 yrs ago. Looked almost exactly the same.

Glad you are ok.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

<span style="font-weight: bold">WOW, JUST WOW!!!!!</span>

Glad you're OK.

Thanks for sharing. Safety reminders can never happen too often...
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

What the heck caused that and how would one make sure that did not happen? That is scary stuff right there man. Are you saying that prescribed eyeglasses is not enough protection? I was pretty sure that prescribed lenses had to meet or exceed the same requirements that safety glasses have to, at least nowadays.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

That is ugly. Glad you are alright and even better that it happened on your quals and not when you need it. Amazing how much pressure the AR will endure.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

I am fairly sure that the culprit was a faulty round. Like I said before, this was the first round from a fresh magazine, so it wasn't a double feed issue. The rounds were from USAAmmo.com 55grain FMJ. I hope that the good people over at Stag arms will replace it.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

TAG

Glad that you still have your requisite vision and digits to type out a PSA for the rest of us.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

I hate wearing eye pro. Never comfortable. In the summer when the sweat drips into your eyes it doubly sucks. BUT, being blind must suck donkey balls. I wear it nonetheless. Glad you made it unscathed.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Silentstalkr, most prescribed eyeglasses are not rated eye pro. You can have them made that meet the Z34(?) standard upon request but they aren't necessarily going to do it otherwise. That being said, something is better than nothing in a lot of cases.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

First time ive seen that happen, glad you where able to walk away from something like that!! and most people dont think safty until something bad happens thanks for the brief.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

I have seen lots of reports of things like this lately. This is tge 4th I have read about in less than a month.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

I have a fair amount of experience with investigating situations such as yours.

I now live in Tuscaloosa. I'd be willing to take a look at your evidence if you would like...pro bono.

I sent you contact information in a pm.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Glad to hear you made it out realitively unscathed.

It is amazing to see how the rifle dealt with that much force.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Prescription glasses ARE NOT anywhere near "safety glasses". Do not confuse the two, UNLESS there are permanent side-shields attached to the arms. As well as Hardened lenses. (Hardox, or some-such-thing) I'm sure there are eyebologists here that'll set the record straight.

Congratulations!!!! You too have been Seriously Reminded!

I have been on this bandwagon for over 20 years, when I had a similar experience (with a different firearm) during an ammo-recall.

My rifle definitely explodicated real good. Same as yours.

Eye protection ONLY WORKS when it is worn, and worn properly. It is only the really cool show-offs who wear eye-patches.

Rant off, just simply so very happy that you were wearing 'em.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

this reinforces the admonition to wear Eye Protection. Serious eye protection.
You will probably have diminished hearing over time, and can keep on shooting no matter how deaf you are, but lose your eyesight, and shooting is over FOREVER.
I just cringe when I see (even posted here) children at the range and no eye protection.

One fine day at the range while score keeping for the International Silhouette meet, one of the kids walked up to me with her eye glasses, which had been provided by the shooting club. She had been standing 20 feet behind the 25 yard (chicken) line on the center fire line.
In the center of the left hand lens saw stuck the base of a .30 cal round. It looked like a tiny skill saw blade. She said it hit her glasses hard enough to make her flinch, and the kids standing next to her heard it hit.
The bullet had struck the target, and come apart, flinging the base 45 yards like a tiny frisbee. At a speed significant enough to bury the tiny piece of metal in the ballistic plastic lens, it would have buried in her eye completely.
Not a single kid forgot to wear protection the rest of the week.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Wow. Well, what ^^^do you guys suggest for people that already wear glasses? I hate having to wear two pairs but of course will if I have to. Can you suggest a good pair of safety glasses? I have my doubts about the el cheapos St the local sporting goods store.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

I'm not really sure where I would go from there. That sucks but at least you kept all your fingers and eyeballs.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

SilentStalker look at the Wiley X or Oakley glasses. The Wiley X are not that expensive and depending on the model you can swap out multiple lenses (clear vs. tinted) in just a few minutes. Just make sure they are balistic rated frames and lenses. If you know your prescription you can order direct from Wiley X. They also offer a LEO/MIL discount.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

I think someone on here has a perm discount for SH members with ESS for those who haven't got protection already.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

I was using a Magpul PMag at the time as well, and here is a plug for them. The sides of the PMag, (windowed version) blew out, causing my injuries to my arm, but the PMag was still able to function. It is destroyed in my opinion, but at that moment, had my rifle not been inoperable, I would still be able to put rounds downrange. I'm almost scared to think what would have happended if I was using a metal GI mag...
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SilentStalkr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow. Well, what ^^^do you guys suggest for people that already wear glasses? I hate having to wear two pairs but of course will if I have to. Can you suggest a good pair of safety glasses? I have my doubts about the el cheapos St the local sporting goods store. </div></div>

As mentioned above most interchangeable lense glasses can have Rx lenses made for them, also your optomologist should be able to source safety or shooting glasses frames and lenses in any Rx, my father has his made/ordered by his regular eye doc.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Apart from being ballistic rated; the glasses should give your eyes protection from shrapnel entering from the side of your head.

Not likely in this particular situation but if you or other people at your range shoot at steel at lot, you are always in danger from lead splatters. I’ve been hit by these more times than I can count at our range working as an SO and although they only hurt slightly, they can hit you hard enough to draw blood.

However, if they hit your eye with the same force when you have your head turned and the side of your eye exposed, you will most likely be blinded permanently.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Oh, man!!! That looks bad! Thanks for sharing your experience. It's always good to get a reminder from time to time. Glad to hear you're okay.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

More than a couple times eye pro has saved my vision. Mostly with incipient head separation. Not catastrophic but when hot gas is sprayed back on your forehead and you don't feel it in your eyes, it may hurt but not as bad as eye pain.

Glad you came out of it okay.

I'd sure give USAAmmo a ring and see what they have to say about it. Replacing an Upper for you is a lot cheaper than where you could take this with them.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Glad you're ok. As others have said, I'f give your ammo company a call. That is in no way, shape, or form, "OK."
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TJ.</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think someone on here has a perm discount for SH members with ESS for those who haven't got protection already. </div></div> Contact NOMAD from Team Blaster/Impact Data Books for that, he probably still has it.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

WOW!!! Good to her you made it ok. Thank you for the reminder for sure. It is very easy to get complacent.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Do you have any pictures of the bolt? And of the barrel extension from a different angle?

The condition of the lugs will help determine what caused the kaboom.

Is the barrel clear? Case neck or bullet lodged in there?

If a thorough search of the area where the kaboom happened turns up the back end of the case, much information could be gained. It would be worth looking, even if it's 99.99% hopeless. It'd be worth paying some kids to scour the area for any brass or pieces.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

Glad your eyes, limbs, and digits are intact. Excellent example why eye-pro is imperative.

Regarding the KaBoom, ammo is usually the first-choice but not always the culprit. Excessive throat erosion in an AR will have similar results - I have seen and handled the remnants. Consider investing in a throat erosion gauge.

Kevin
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YourMotherTrebek</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At least it was a stag rifle. Didn't lose much. </div></div>

Really now, this is all you can get out of the OPs message here?
Not really the time to throw a cheap shot at Stag.
OP,
Glad there were no major injuries. I saw a shooter walk away from a match once because he was told to put on eye protection before he could shoot. Our local range has a very strict policy on eye protection. ALL people on the range will wear eye protection at all times, no matter if they are shooting or not.
 
Re: Catastrophic failure

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: YourMotherTrebek</div><div class="ubbcode-body">At least it was a stag rifle. Didn't lose much. </div></div>

You're a tool....
 
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