Dramatic rifle failure.

[Just a Hunter]

Guy's

I have no idea what caused this accident, but please let this be a reminder to make sure your loading the correct ammo for your rifle, and that over the summer months nothing has made a blockage in your rifle barrel.

2 very lucky hunters
http://www.break.com/index/blocked-rifle-barrel-explodes-after-shot.html

[swamp]

What the .... is right

[Bill Gunn]

Holy Socks !!!

Instant lamp stand !!

[swamp]

a couple of observations with some guessing...
a) the barrel appears to be stainless steel.
b) sporter weight barrel
c) caliber probably 30-06 or better
d) appears to be somewhat cold

[dave-t.]

A barrel blockage is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a hunter/shooter. He's lucky to walk away from that.

I've seen it happen with a Ruger .44mag redhawk. Nobody was hurt, but the barrel had a serious bulge, and about knocked the shooter off of his feet.

[Badger]

Just A Hunter,

I have too many security gizmos on my new computer and it will not run the video.

You say you do not know what caused the accident. Do you have any details? Was it a bore obstruction, handload overload or wrong ammo?

Badger

[Chuck S]

My bet is bore obstruction from the way the barrel splits. That's a fireworks show I'd rather avoid!:eek:

[dave-t.]

Badger-The barrel splits in two pieces (top and bottom of barrel sperate) from the muzzle end down through some of the forarm. At the end of it the barrel looks like the letter 'Y' turned on its side. The action and rest of the stock hold up pretty well for what took place, but the shooter looks and reacts like he took a hell of a shot on the shoulder.

[Gil Martin]

The video header says a "blocked bore caused barrel explosion". I believe them. All the best...
Gil

[swamp]

not so sure it was a blocked bore... stainless steel barrels can have issues in cold temps...

[Just a Hunter]

Badger,

Dave gave a good description of what happend to the rifle.
The video basically show's a hunting party of 5 going elk hunting.
The shooter spots a elk bugling down below them and drops into position, and loads a bullet into the chamber.
The camera man gets into position slightly higher than the shooter and to his right as he positions to flm the shot taking place. I suspect the other two members of the party are also cameramen filming from a slightly different perspective to the left of the shooter.
The shooter gets ready for his shot, but forgets to remove his gloves and takes them off. Finally he is ready for his money shot, but when he puts the squeeze on the trigger his rifles splits exactly as was mentioned prior.

Funnies thing about the video is as the poor shooter is visibly shaken and the camera man is filming the Y shaped barrel someone actually ask if they got the Elk.

[Rich]

I saw a continuation of that video. There was no break. The shooter asked someone else if he could use his rifle.

[Badger]

Guys,

Thanks for the information. If there is a subsequent investigation and a determination of the cause of the mishap, please post it here.

Badger

[Smokey]

It doesn't take much to blow a barrel. That why you need to check when you bump them on the ground or snow. The guy is lucky he didn't get hurt.

[Joe Boleo]

Guess the guy does not own a cleaning rod. Take care...
Joe

[Rich]

Joe Boleo,

Owning a cleaning rod may have nothing to do with this mishap.

When I was eighteen I went quail hunting on a light coating of snow. Some quail flushed. In the excitment I slipped and fell and came up and still got on them. The shot was WAY louder than normal. I looked at the action and then glanced up the barrel to the muzzle. The end was pealed back with a piece about 1/2" square missing. My buddy came running over. "You got hit!" he excitedly exclaimed. Above my right ear was a cut about 3" long. Apparently that little piece of barrel got a piece of me on its way past.

[Joe Boleo]

The video indicated that a blocked bore cause the explosion. If that is correct, a cleaning rod would have prevented the mishap.

Sorry to hear about your shotgun barrel incident. What was the cause? Take care...
Joe

[Altjaeger]

The video indicated that a blocked bore cause the explosion. If that is correct, a cleaning rod would have prevented the mishap.

Sorry to hear about your shotgun barrel incident. What was the cause? Take care...
Joe

I don't know about you Joe but I do not carry a cleaning rod into the field with me. How do you know he did not have a clear bore when he left that morning and any blockage occurred later?

I can't say I check my bored everyday, let alone 2-3 times a day.

[Bushman]

I sure don't know why a piece of black electrical tape over the muzzle isn't standard equipment with hunters. Ever since the day when I had to use a stick to help get a chunk of crud out of my barrel, I've never left home without it. I sure like the piece of mind of looking at the end of the barrel and seeing that tape intact which tells me that I haven't gotten anything in there. The air ahead of the bullet blows the tape out way before the bullet gets there.

[Bill Gunn]

I sure don't know why a piece of black electrical tape over the muzzle isn't standard equipment with hunters..

That's what I do too.

[Joe Boleo]

I understand you concerns as you expressed them:

..."I don't know about you Joe but I do not carry a cleaning rod into the field with me. How do you know he did not have a clear bore when he left that morning and any blockage occurred later?

I can't say I check my bored everyday, let alone 2-3 times a day."

I check the bore and put a piece of masking tape over the barrel as these other posters suggested using electrical tape. Works for me. Take care...
Joe

[Gil Martin]

All the best...
Gil

[Altjaeger]

I sure don't know why a piece of black electrical tape over the muzzle isn't standard equipment with hunters.

Soldiers use condoms and claim their uses more varied! :D

[Chuck S]

http://www.uline.com/BL_1016/?pricode=wq831

These work great and are inexpensive while staying put better than tape but still blowing off when fired. Here is a commercial version with an o ring as insurance.

http://www.ultimateboreprotection.com/Product_Info.html

Small balloons work well as well and are inexpensive also as is a rubber band and saran or plastic wrap.

[Bushman]

Wow, the phrase "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing" sure comes to mind when they commercialize something over the end of the barrel with its own O-ring! I've thought about those finger cots, but I like the dark color of the electrical tape better. To insure that the tape stays there the whole time, I use one piece over the muzzle and a second piece circumferentially around the muzzle about an inch back. No worries.

[Hi Ball]

Bushman you and I tend to think alike, I carry a small roll of electricans tape with me all the time when hunting. I noticed that the stainless steel barrel split like a chef would slice a pickel. I somehow believe their was also a fault in that stainless barrel, just by the way it came apart.:)