Blow Ups!

In the first blow up story, that came within a hair’s breath of ending in death, is the video Randy discusses that was brought to our attention by a client produced by Kentucky Ballistics: • My 50 Cal Exploded
The blow up was from a 50 cal. Serbu and a very old round of ammo. After much thought, Randy feels that part of the problem was perhaps the old round had powder that had broken down over years from heat, etc., as well as, because of the explosion, the cap on the rifle, though fully engaged, was not deep enough to contain the explosion. However, even a deeper, thicker cap very well could not have prevented this astounding amount of power. Yet, with all of the pressure, it still could have happened.
As a result of putting his thumb in his open wound, they now have shirts, “Just Put a Thumb In It”.
Thanks be to God, from quick thinking and outstanding care, he survived and continues his interesting work.
Randy recounts a blow up that happened to his friend, and it is quite possible that the breakdown of the powder, 4064, also caused this experience with his 03-A3 Springfield rifle. There is also his friend, that years ago, had a blow up, from his M-1 Garand. He received shrapnel from this, and though this was decades ago, he had shrapnel work out just recently. Strangely enough, this piece of shrapnel caused year long eye issue and with removal of the shrapnel resolved the eye issue.
Finally, a friend who wanted his Mark X Interarms Mauser in .338 Win rechambered to Randy’s .308x.404 Wapiti Express, however, there was something wrong with the rifle that needed checked out first. Thankfully, the issue was found and corrected or that man would have had a possible deadly explosion.
In summary, Randy discusses some powder issues in reloading that can cause extreme issues, possibly harmful issues.
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[@thomasdaum1927]

I have been handloading for 48+ years , this man ( knows ) what he is talking about !…..

[@burrco3086]

When I reload, no one is allowed in my reloading room. A lot of people think I'm rude, but I don't care. Someone walks in with a beer sits down and starts talking I always stop, write a note to myself , walk towards the door and start turning the lights off. I don't need to talk to anyone when I'm reloading. Great video

[@WillyK51]

He, He There is one moment were you can't be distracted, pouring powder. alse no big deal. And Ogle all the cases to see if one is underfilled or over. 👍

[@jeffreymiller5336]

That is rude- and unnecessary

[@WillyK51]

@@jeffreymiller5336 He, He, His Home his rules. The only time to be extra careful is pouring powder into the cases. I deprime, then clean/tumble. Another time clean poquets and trim and rezize. Hand prime watching TV. And Pouring powder no Beer or Booze, or else

[@davidfornkahl8374]

So true, I'm the SAME WAY!

[@davidfornkahl8374]

Lately, I don't even let the dog in.

[@user-eg8hb8xt3j]

It was a slap round loaded with the wrong powder . He was shooting loads someone else made which is a mistake in itself . He’s reconstructed this video using different powders . Scott’s an awesome guy

[@spookytkid]

He didn't know they were counterfeit.

[@BillyWillicker]

The rounds Scott was shooting were re-worked SLAP rounds that someone loaded with the wrong powder. The cartridges were not unmolested vintage cartridges. They were cartridges that were patched together to make money. Someone who didn't know what they were doing put them together to sell at top dollar. Time dulls all blades. We're not as sharp as we used to be.

[@waynesimpson3138]

Nice to see people like you teaching the younger generation in a world of lack of information. Good job.

[@servicedogojokeguys2967]

There is not a lack of information. There is a lack of people wanting to learn. The information is here you just have to listen

[@edwardabrams4972]

This showed be a required video for everyone who reloads ammo or even just hunts and the dangers of using ammo you don’t know anything about 🙌👏👊

[@tommydean2955]

Right you are about 4831 and the other slow burners. When loading to reduced charges. Po ackley wrote about this and so did Jack O'Conner. Jack had an action to blow up. According to Ackley from a reduced charge of 4831. All reloaders should read the 2 volume set ackley published.

[@Joe-lk6oc]

Recently, I have been amazed just how dangerous some of the loading videos coming from Ultimate Reloader on KZbin. Pushing to dangerous above SAMMI velocities and putting out videos to inevitably reckless reloaders is a recipe for disaster in my opinion.

[@WillyK51]

If you don't reload it's ok to doubt what others talk about. All modern rifles(and old ones) are very safe for 65 K Psi. If you know what you are doing, THE RIFLE wil tell you is safe or above. Some have tight or loose chambers. Some will over-pressure with fac. loads. But the rifle will easily take it. Start reloading, It's quite simple

[@45-70Guy]

Nothing to be amazed about when they disclose that it’s for testing purposes only in their controlled environment. Look up the videos of the nee receivers guys are running I think 70-80,000 psi? I can’t remember but they get 1 reload on the brass after every shot. The receivers are brand new made to handle that. These aren’t your grandpas M1’s

[@flaganpetska6179]

Just because the load manual says thats the max load, that does not mean that you are at max pressure. If you hang a bullet out of the case and make space and choose an appropriate burn rate powder, you can load well over published data. The bullet just has to be well on its way down the tube before all of the powder is burned.

[@mosinw6697]

Thanks for caring and helping us novice reloaders . Godbless

[@Paladin1873]

I've heard of glove box guns blowing up for the reasons Randy mentioned.

[@kansasboi8742]

he went back shot all the other .50BMG shell on a shoting sled and a rn50 the same gun as the last one and all the shell had diffrent psi rate mark serbu got it the gun part from the atf to look over to see if he could find any thing he was think the 50 shell where bad reloade someone sold off as real but what you say make a lot more sense

[@loganhefner906]

I love Randy!!!

[@Joe-lk6oc]

So many people don't realize that an under load cartridge can be as dangerous as one over loaded. Thank you for letting people know the dangers Randy!

[@WillyK51]

Under/over load a 65 PSI cartridge ?? not Possible.If you do read , If You use the wrong powder YES. Load a 30-06 with 58 grns of Bullseye instead of 4350 and your rifle will blow up. .I reloaded plenty Squib loads in my 30-06 for small game. No problem if you read and have idead about it

[@Dougarrowhead]

@@WillyK51hes talking about all calibers in general, not a specific one. You would probably argue with yourself in the mirror.

[@WillyK51]

@@Dougarrowhead He, He, I got a Rem 550 and a Marlin 39A plus a Old Ruger Std/#1 for small game,. and the 22 Ruger has plenty rabbits notched when allowed to carry with the 30-06.or 12 GA shotgunning.But I often spooked White Hare while hicking up to Deer grounds. My Old 1 MOA 1917 US Enfield got me a few Hares head shot. If I didn't get a deer. Hare over a fire not bad. I even reloaded squib loads. But not worth while.

[@WillyK51]

@@Dougarrowhead Ok, I started with a self made sling shot at about 8 old, got a air rifle at about 10-11, Dad gave me a spear gun for fishing for my 10 th birth day. Mom Bought me a 12 Ga Browning Superposed when 19.Got a Rem 550 by 22, Bought S/W 36 by 23. 30-06 in 1983, Reloading since about early 1970's. Guess I know nothing about guns. Got a few other ones, short and long

[@SAUM76]

@@WillyK51 No, it is very possible. It's practically listed in every Reloading manual I own. Reduced Loads can be Very Dangerous especially with a Slow burning Powder. Look it up

[@jasoneverett7343]

Ive got one of his stick a thumb innit shirts.

[@My-You-TubeAAA]

Always learning new stuff. Keep them coming and thanks for sharing your knowledge. Hello from Europe.

[@kevmoful]

I reload as sober as pelosi .

[@frankevans6584]

Good advice

[@markhoyt8643]

Let’s see how many likes we can give video it helps the channel and it lets KZbin know!!

[@aminkhashm]

thank you for your very informative video!

[@robertlennihan3113]

On the second instance with the 06 the extremes in temperature also contribute to degradation of ammunition along with the rolling around.

[@bdlit7165]

Just a side note. I was an ammo tech in the Army. Any ammo that was made before 2000 was strictly used for training. Anything pre 1985 was considered not safe for use. Now admittedly we only ever found a few cases that predated 1985.

[@anthonykaiser974]

Yes, for training. My QASAS said maybe 15 years ago we had old WW2 Bangalore torpedoes still being used and the old WW2 ammo (I had picked up two spam cans of steel case 45 ACP from Evansville Cartridge) was safe to fire if not corroded.

[@normanmallory2055]

Omg ! I seen that video of that 50 cal . Blow up , Scott I think is the fellows name ! He could have easily lost his life if it wasn’t for quick thinking ! You have some great stories to share , you’ve been there in your life and seen first hand a lifetime of information!

[@fric8489]

Thank you for making these type of videos. I find that i prefer the extruded stick powder as opposed to small ball powder just because i always make a mess with the ball powder. I think i need to change my opinion. The ball powder is likely more inherintly safe when it maybe treated roughly during long term storage like military applications. The spherical powder with 100 case fill seems like it would be the way to go with those type applications.

[@edwardabrams4972]

This is why I NEVER shot reloads from someone I don’t know PERIOD!

[@TODinWY]

Better to NEVER shoot reloads you did not load yourself, PERIOD!!

[@richardfitzsimmons5244]

Yeah I saw that video. Pretty scary stuff. I hear a lot of people that tumble loaded ammo. And they think that its just fine. They have no idea what could happen.

[@paulsimmons5726]

Question: If you buy ammo in a deer hunting sized caliber, is there a shelf life, with the ammo stored in a dry, cool area?

[@edwardabrams4972]

My step grandfather had this happen in the 50’s with some ammo he got from a friend and it blew up and almost blew his head off and left scared on his face for the rest of his life and was lucky it missed his eyes by less then an inch😳

[@jasonshults368]

You can find old IMR manuals online that list the powders in their line that will work in a cartridge. I experimented with a lot of that. You certainly can use too much of a fast-burning powder, and too little of a very slow-burning one. I've never seen proof, though, of a secondary explosion due to too little of a slow powder. Fun fact, if you use a powder far too slow for a cartridge, if you compress the charge and ignite it properly, it will burn consistently and fire, at a lower than standard pressure and velocity, but it will work.

[@REDNECKROOTS]

This happened like almost 2years ago

[@user-eg8hb8xt3j]

Yeah. So what

[@TheRealGunsmith]

And we were just made aware of it recently.

[@45-70Guy]

@@user-eg8hb8xt3jjust old news that anyone who’s watching videos on here would have already seen.

[@REDNECKROOTS]

@@TheRealGunsmithok . I was just getting u kno most people interested in hunting n shooting probably already saw it.

[@roquri]

I have heard about a secondary explosion danger with 41 mag using Blue Dot, and not to use that powder for reduced loads with that cartridge.

[@user-wr1yh2zw6l]

I reload and bought out a friend of mine ammo and reloading equipment when age and health prevented him from shooting anymore. I had hundreds of older factory 12 gauge shells from when this gentleman owned a little outdoor and bait shop decades ago. Paper shells, plastic, you name it. I can testify that some of the shells were extremely hot! I think the coatings that slow the burn rate deteriorate. I have shot them with corroded brass heads, rusty steel heads all manner of damage, I finally decided not to shoot the high velocity #4 3" magnum because some of the brass heads were split from front to rim. I'm currently breaking hundreds and hundreds of shells down for shot and wads. Side note, old Peter's shells, have almost perfect shot and I sold the empty boxes for about $15.00 apiece.

[@Gdone]

Are you talking about Scott from Kentucky ballistics?

[@TheRealGunsmith]

Yes. While I just published this video, and Scott's accident was some years ago, the video was just recently brought to our attention. Thanks for watching.

[@gascheck8151]

We had an incident where some fool loaded up some .300 Weatherby ammo and decided to tumble it in a tumbler. Well he touched one off and no more gun. He got away with some minor injuries and complained about loosing his gun. It takes all kinds in this world.

[@TODinWY]

Buy every old reloading manual you can get your hands on. Build a library.

[@keithcondon9871]

Randy, based on what you’re saying about changing the form factor of the powder effecting the burning rate, can you run into problems by over compressing powder? Would it have the opposite effect? Making the burn rate slower? I ask because I shoot a heavily compressed load in a 308 using Varget powder. Generally, I have found at least a somewhat compressed load in any caliber tends to tighten SD and ES. Where is the point that too much powder compression becomes a problem?

[@michaelwilson9986]

I would tend to think that if there was it would not be listed in the manual..Provided the same case is used n primer that are listed.

[@TheRealGunsmith]

Hi Keith, Generally speaking, yes, a compressed load in a certain case volume can be an advantage. It doesn't make the burn rate slower, but a more uniform burn round to round. Thanks for watching.

[@terrycalvert7812]

I have a friend that shoots a fair bit and got into reloading about three years ago!! Well he loaded some round for deer season didn’t use them all and the following year he pulled this ammo out and from setting around had tarnished a slight bit so he decaides to throw it in his tumbler to shine it back up! He calls me up ask to go shooting help him sight in his rifle third round the rifle blew up and he lost sight in the right eye and had a nasty gash on his face from shrapnel! As soon as he told me what he had done I knew right then and there he had vibrated the powder into powder and over presssured his rifle and blew it up! Was a very scary experance needles to say I don’t shoot with this fella anymore!!

[@kevinpavlich4136]

So it's safe to assume that the WW2, Yugoslavian made, 8mm Mauser rounds i have need to be disposed of, not fired, correct?

[@TheRealGunsmith]

Not necessarily. You are reading something into this. Until you pull a few bullets and see if the powder has deteriorated or not is the safe issue. If they are all of the same time/lot, and you find no deterioration, you should be good to go. Safety first and foremost. Thanks for watching.

[@kevinpavlich4136]

@@TheRealGunsmith thank you for the advice, much appreciated! 🙏🙏🙏

[@user-se8ds5ev5k]

I seen this very video and he's really lucky to still have his hade on his neck after the size of that explosion. No way in molten lava hells that I would ever shoot a patchwork gun in 50 cal!

[@roquri]

Never blew up a rifle, but have had to replace a barrel on a handgun before. No ones fault but mine.

[@REDNECKROOTS]

He shot an over pressure Russian loaded slap round.

[@sinisterstitchescustomupho1817]

And maybe it was over pressure because it rolled around a lot. Or Maybe not. How does your statement or your previous one pointing out it happened two years ago counter the validity of the information he’s passing on to you?

[@donovanchilton5817]

Fancy, super fast burning pistol powder was the cause of the failure as noted by Mark Serbu himself.

[@michaelmoslak2975]

Thank you for the valuable safety information!! Have you ever considered writing a book besides your videos?? You're a national treasure and it will be a great loss to humanity when you pass on and so much info is lost. Might as well be like losing how they built the pyramids of Egypt to the shooting world. I hope your sons and associates have let all of your knowledge sink in. The world is full of lazy and incompetent people today and sadly you're a dying breed. Best wishes to you and yours.

[@TheRealGunsmith]

Thank you so much. I am not a writer, not my strong suit. Also, it would be time consuming and take away from the work I do for clients, my meat and potatoes, as well as my passion. It may happen one day, or not. Cathy has said when she gets time [?] it may be a project to transcribe video content. Again, not sure when that time will be. We truly appreciate you, and others, who have brought this up and the reason you want a book. In the meantime, I'll share content here and hope it gets enough knowledge out to enough people to make a difference. Thanks so much for watching.