went to see a buddy today....

[JDMAG]

I went to see a buddy of mine today, he's a gunsmith, and just before I got there, a fellow had brought in about 5 rifles he had just purchased for around $1000.00. He wanted them appraised. There was a couple of 243's a 308 and a 270. and one that was not marked. So My buddy specked it out and it appeared to be an 8MM of some sort. (used a go nogo gauage) so My friend, grabbed a couple of 8MM rounds and proceeded out the back door to fire this rifle. Something didn't sound right. upon inspection, they couldn't get the bolt open. After hammering a rod down the bore, the bolt finally opened, and was of course damaged. Mauser of some type, didn't pay attention to what he was saying about it. Upon examination of the case, it looked different than it did when it was inserted into the rifle, of coarse it was cracked in a couple of places, but for some reason it looked different. we broke out a book on wild cats after I mentioned maybe it was an Ackley rebuild, and finally found out what it was.I say finally, but it actually didn't take that long, he's decently knowledgeable. It was an 8MM-06. after, comparing a spent 06 cartridge, to the 8MM that was just fired, they were identical. BUT there were no markings what so ever, as to what caliber the rifle was. This could have turned out worse than it did.
It WILL BE MARKED WHEN IT LEAVES HIS SHOP! after he repairs the bolt!
JDMAG

 

[JD338]

JDMAG,

Glad to hear that no one was hurt!
Maybe a chamber cast prior to firing an unknown caliber would be the safe way to go.

JD338

 

[JDMAG]

Undoubtedly!

 

[bullet]

WOW!!! :shock:

 

[FOTIS]

Yikes......that is why you make a chamber cast first!

 

[buckfever]

+1 to what JD338 and Pop said that could of been a deal.

 

[JDMAG]

JDMAG,

Glad to hear that no one was hurt!
Maybe a chamber cast prior to firing an unknown caliber would be the safe way to go.

JD338

They all looked a little shook up when I walked into the back room, He's a reloader, but the first words out of his mouth were " your a reloader what do you make of this case?" that was before we realized that the shoulder looked more like an 06 than it did an 8MM. It looked different, but we hadnt put a finger on it yet.
Without being stamped, you could have just as easily put a 30-06 cartridge in there, and shot it. It would have done less if any damage, but probably wouldnt have hit anything you were aiming at.

 

[jtoews80]

Seen brass from those kind of accidents. I've seen 300 win mag brass after a trip thro a 300 wby(posted that last year). adn today I seen a 308 win case that made a trip thro a Savage 111 270 win. Not really good for the case and I think the rifle should be retired. The case had to be tapped out with a cleaning rod by one of our local sporting goods store owners who was still dumbfounded when he showed me the case.

It had serious seperation aroun 2/3's of the case, the case head was cocked to about a 25 degree angle from being tapped out and the primer was blown out. The shoulder was moved forward to simulate the 270 chamber diamensions, but there wasn't enough brass to grow that much so it left between 1/16"-1/8" turned @ the shoulder angle and about a 37-40 caliber hole without a neck. Story was that buddy made a mistake loading his gun in the morning. I find that doubtful unless the guy was drunk. More likely, there was a mad panic after a big buck went across a road and the 308 round was frantically loaded into the ill fated 270. I'll try to get a picture of that case. Reportedly both gas vents had released the excess preasure as well.
Just goes to show ya that if you aren't trying to introduce people to the shooting sports and teach them how to participate safely, we all get to look stupid and dangerous.

CC.

 

[JDMAG]

So what happend to the barrel? I dont think that 308 would fit!

 

[jtoews80]

I just seen the shell case, the store owner showed me it. He tapped the case out and told the guy he didn't figure it was safe to continue using, but the guy just said whatever and took it home. I'll try and remember to bring a camera to that shop the next time I'm in town. It's a hell of a site tho, I'm VERY impressed with the savage action being sooo forgiving of such stupidity. The guy is very lucky to have not been injured at all, the rifle not being rendered totally unusable may be a mixed blessing. It may have been better if the rifle showed the obvious strain it was just subjected to and there could be metalurgical damage that won't show up to the naked eye. Hope nobody tries to learn how to reload on that one, even a small error in seating depth, primer selection or improper load workup could be a disaster.

CC.