40 cal went bang

[Laker_Taker]

I was at the range yesterday and using a load that I have used for years. 135 grain nos and 12 grains of blue dot. At the time I did not know how serious this was until I got home. The pistol grips were blown off and the slide bar release was blown out as well. The slide was jammed. At the time I just picked up a different pistol and started shooting. There were no injuries at the time of this shooting. I am thinking it was weak brass (fired tom much) Any guesses?

Aaron

 

[Laker_Taker]

First time trying to upload pictures. Not to successful. Anybody have advice on the right way to upload?

Aaron

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I got it figured out.

 

[DrMike]

I'm really grateful (as no doubt you are) that you weren't injured. While it is impossible to speak definitively without examining the brass more closely, that doesn't look as if was the result of a weak case. Twelve grains would not normally be an excessive charge. Frankly it looks more like a brass that was double charged. There was some pretty good pressure generated. Was your scale properly tared? Have you checked to ensure that it is weighing correctly. It does appear to me that you got an excessive charge in the case.

 

[Laker_Taker]

I always use a balance beam scale and than put it on a digital to make sure they are correct. I loaded up fifty and this shot was number 28 and thats when the gun got messed up. I do weigh each load individually each time thats not to say I might of put more powder in than normal. I wish I took some pictures of the gun with the grips bulged out and the slide release backed out.

Aaron

 

[RiverRider]

I have two questions: what kind of pistol was it, and in what position was the slide jammed?

 

[Laker_Taker]

The handgun is a 40 cal. Desert eagle and the slide bar was only pushed back about 1/2 inch. I could not move the slide bar because the release was hanging half way out.

Aaron

 

[JD338]

Laker_Taker

Glad you are OK.

JD338

 

[Desert Fox]

I second DrMike here. Definitely a sign of double charge. Blue Dot is a flake shotgun powder and it's very sensitive to temperature change. I used to load it for my 9MM and the 357 Mag and I stop using it because of it.

 

[Guy Miner]

This used to be pretty common with the .40's, particularly in handguns with a partially supported chamber, like a Glock.

I'm not familiar with the Desert Eagle barrel/chamber design.

After quite a few problems (even with factory ammo) in the mid 90's, .40 cal brass was strengthened in the web area by at least some of the manufacturers. Was all your brass the same, or mixed?

Glad you're okay. I had a similar thing happen with Federal 155 gr .40 cal ammo years ago, from my Glock. Blew the magazine out of the gun. The case was ruptured where the chamber didn't support it, and my hand stung, but no other damage to me or the gun.

FWIW, Guy

 

[FOTIS]

Cartridge : .40 S&W
Bullet : .400, 135, Nosler JHP 44852
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.135 inch or 28.83 mm
Barrel Length : 4.0 inch or 101.6 mm
Powder : Alliant BLUE DOT

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.754% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-17.5 102 10.72 1115 373 21257 5750 63.2 0.478
-15.8 104 10.95 1141 390 22440 5960 64.3 0.466
-14.0 106 11.18 1167 408 23687 6172 65.5 0.454
-12.3 109 11.40 1193 427 25002 6385 66.6 0.441
-10.5 111 11.63 1219 446 26388 6600 67.7 0.430
-08.8 113 11.86 1246 465 27851 6817 68.8 0.419 ! Near Maximum !
-07.0 115 12.09 1273 485 29395 7034 69.9 0.408 ! Near Maximum !
-05.3 117 12.32 1299 506 31026 7252 71.0 0.397 ! Near Maximum !
-03.5 120 12.54 1327 528 32748 7472 72.1 0.387 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
-01.8 122 12.77 1354 549 34568 7692 73.1 0.377 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+00.0 124 13.00 1381 572 36492 7911 74.2 0.367 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+01.8 126 13.23 1409 595 38529 8131 75.3 0.358 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+03.5 128 13.46 1437 619 40686 8350 76.3 0.349 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.3 130 13.68 1466 644 42972 8569 77.3 0.340 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+07.0 133 13.91 1494 669 45396 8787 78.4 0.331 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.8 135 14.14 1523 695 47970 9004 79.4 0.323 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 124 13.00 1478 655 43304 8668 82.4 0.338 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 124 13.00 1274 486 30091 6993 64.8 0.403 ! Near Maximum !

 

[Laker_Taker]

My Brass was mixed.

Aaron

 

[Guy Miner]

With the .40 and it's history of burst cases - I'd grab 500 - 1000 brand new cases and start with those.

Just for safety's sake.

Regards, Guy

 

[JD338]

This used to be pretty common with the .40's, particularly in handguns with a partially supported chamber, like a Glock.

I'm not familiar with the Desert Eagle barrel/chamber design.

After quite a few problems (even with factory ammo) in the mid 90's, .40 cal brass was strengthened in the web area by at least some of the manufacturers. Was all your brass the same, or mixed?

Glad you're okay. I had a similar thing happen with Federal 155 gr .40 cal ammo years ago, from my Glock. Blew the magazine out of the gun. The case was ruptured where the chamber didn't support it, and my hand stung, but no other damage to me or the gun.

FWIW, Guy

A LE friend of mine has had this happen twice, both times with a Glock.
Its department issue so he can't carry his Kimber 45 ACP.

JD338

 

[big rifle man]

Reading the previous comments makes me glad I chose a Kimber. I've been using Blue dot in my warmer .45 caliber self defense loads for quite awhile and have experienced no problems. I was unaware that Blue dot was extremely sensitive to temperature change. I've also used a lot of 231 but can't quite get the velocity I was looking for.

 

[Ol` Joe]

Reading the previous comments makes me glad I chose a Kimber. I've been using Blue dot in my warmer .45 caliber self defense loads for quite awhile and have experienced no problems. I was unaware that Blue dot was extremely sensitive to temperature change. I've also used a lot of 231 but can't quite get the velocity I was looking for.

Try PowerPistol in your 45acp. I`ve found it to give very good velocity and being a fine flattened ball it flows like water in my measure. Another good one for velocity is VV-N340 but it is extruded.

As to the OP I 2nd the idea to dump your remaining brass and replace it with new. If they are getting old and weak you surely don`t want to chance them further.