Key word..."Reloads".
Problem is, there are so many variables when reloading, micro fissure in the case neck, wrong primer etc, with the potential for disaster. There's even one called "detonation" from NOT enough powder that can blow up a firearm from excess pressure! The ballistics experts equate it to a "dust explosion", similar in theory to the spontaneous combustion of abandoned grain elevators. I've often wondered about the durability of plastic guns, and this reinforces my faith in owning all metal receivers!
Bummer about the shrapnel in that fella's hand, got a couple of tiny pieces myself (industry related, not guns), and they are a pain.
Anyone else notice the BB spatter and underfill of the welds on the top of the slide in the second foto?
I know, this is the off topic bar n grill..........can't help it!!
Saw it. I can not help it either. I am constantly catching myself looking at welds when I go to stores, carnivals, fairs, heck even driving down the road. I look over and there is a truck pulling a RANCO rock trailer, what do I do? Look at the welds.
Obsessed?
jrw
Superflux,
apples to apples, I'll go up against any other metal frame pistol with a glock. I can't speak for any of the other "plastic" guns as you call them, but the polymer frames on the Glocks cannot be beat. I've tried dilligently to destroy them and could not succeed.
I cannot say the same for several of the metal frame models of which are numerous over the years.
The way I look at a pistol is that it's the last line of defense before the knife and fist come out. As such, it should be able to withstand tremendous abuse, and abuse them I have. Only 5 line of pistols have every withstood the abuse I've put them through. Those being 1. Glock, 2. IMI 3.Ruger and a few of the SIG line, and the HK usp.
I will not own any other make. My current information came at great expense financially and physically, but now I own what I can trust to a. Stay together b. hit the target and c. function in extremly adverse conditions.
one other thing of note. For reloading, you get what you pay for, and get out of it what you put in it. Every single case I load goes through a more rigerous inspection than a section XI class one weld. It takes me a lot of time to load, but one thing I've never had is an unexpected case failure. On the other hand, I've tried to make them fail, and couldn't in some cases. Especially on lake city brass and IMI.
I have heard of the cases you speak of, but it's usually someone who is either not being watchfull during loading, or has tried to go cheap on money or time or both. Those are the same kind of people that drive in rush hour with a phone in their ear, eating a hamburger, and checking out the lastest sports illustrated at the same time. The potential for disaster follows these people around like a cloud of flies in the cow pasture.
Reloading is a bit like welding. Take the time to learn how to do it properly, follow the safety rules, don't exceed your abilities, follow the procedures, and you will be fine.
Do it wrong and you have a good chance of having something come apart at the seams.
I have reloaded for abut 30 years now without any major problems - knock on wood.
Now an AD (accidental discharge) is another matter. I've had one. Dry firing a 10mm I picked up a mag that apparently still had one round in it, The mag was stainless - the round was nickel plated case with silver tip bullet - and on a quick albeit careless glance, I mistook the round for the silvery magazine follower. I blew away a kerosene lamp (without any kerosene in it), penetrated several jackets (one of which was goose down - glass and feathers everywhere), and embedded the slug in a wall stud.
It is strange how all sound suddenly muted to silence, then came rushing back in time to hear the casing hit the floor. My German Shepard gave me a dirty look that I thought only a human could make. It's funny how that dog always disappeared whenever I brought a gun out after that.
Stupidity on my part caused the problem, but at least I had not pointed the gun at anything I would not be willing to see destroyed. (The jackets were no big deal and the lamp was only a decoration.)
So lesson learned- as with reloading...always put away anything else that does not have to do with what I am doing at the moment -roloading or shooting. Only one powder out on the bench. One type of primer, one type of bullet and etc. For shooting, only one type of cartridge out at a time (no 20 ga shells in a 12 ga barrel; or .308 in a 25-06) and if dry firing - ALL ammunition is put away. Then pay strict attention to what I am doing. If I can't do that, then I must wait until I can.
Peace of mind... That is why we (ok, me) own hi-capacity large caibre hand guns. It's like at 2:30 AM when walking from the parking lot to the motel room, and there is a group of rough looking characters, hanging out in the shadows, smoking a "rock", talking loudly and staring in your direction...my peace of mind is cocked and locked in my lower coat pocket with a buncha hollow point bang bangs in the handle.
When I saw the fotos of the blown frame, couldn't help but think that a 4140 steel frame would have saved that gentleman an emergency room visit (Think he put on clean underwear first?). I only own one piece that is not a steel frame. I just prefer the ductility and over all toughness of steel vs. aluminum alloys.
The Glocks are truly a "modern marvel" and set a benchmark for innovation in the design of sidearms, with their polymer construction and the unique safety. First time I saw one, I thought they were going to be a bit unweildy/uncomfortable, but it did feel good shooting. Glocks have proven themselves thru the test of time, and millions of rounds fired...
Is there any documentable evidence of FN's firing out of battery? Should we wait a while B4 test driving a FiveseveN?
I am in total agreement with CHGuilford and CWI555's reloading practicies. I've damaged a couple of pistols, but I was playing with the 2000 fps goal in a .44 mag. 1) sheared the bolts on a scope which then struck me on the eyebrow...try explaining that to your long gun benchrest buddies. 2) reversed a primer into the firing pin hole and locked up a S&W 629. 3) blew open a Thompson Contender.
Lessons learned...save new cartridge developement for the experts with universal receivers and be content with a slower bullet that you can put 2 or 3 into the same hole...
Without a test barrel and duplication of the loads involved in this incident, everything said here (by myself and others) is only conjecture and guesses. Having said that this gentleman's reloading procedures are dangerous. According to HIS posting as listed below, he went from a 28 GRAIN BULLET loading which in his words functioned flawlessly and then nearly (only off by one grain) DOUBLED THE BULLET WEIGHT by going to a 55 grain bullet WITH THE SAME LOAD DATA. Since he does not list powder charge weights, primer types, and case brands, it must be reasoned that with the same load data he means same powder charge weights, primers and cases.
I cannot recall any pistol calibers that have such a wide range of bullet weights available. Semi-autos have a relatively narrow range of loads that will function properly and he said the 28 grain bullet loads "functioned flawlessly". By going to a 55 grain bullet with the same charges, he sent the pressure curve off the chart.
While possible, I find it hard to believe FN designed a firearm that would fire out of battery. I have seen several old guns (most of which had been worked on by un-qualified people) that would indeed fire out of battery.
THE PARAGRAPHS BELOW ARE QUOTED FROM THE SHOOTERS POST ON ANOTHER FORUM
"Back to the accident. I had fired 66 rounds all reloads of various bullets (Hornady 40grain VMAX, pulled 28grain HP from SS195LF, Hornady 55grain FMJ). My 2nd 20round magazine I fired 5 rounds of 40VMAX I had some failure-to-eject (these were loaded with HS-6, I've had problems with that powder causing FTE), then tossed the magazine so I could pull those bullets and reload them with Ramshot TrueBlue.
After that I fired 20 rounds of the 28grain bullets, all of which functioned flawlessly with Ramshot TrueBlue powder. The next magazine of 20 rounds was the 55grain FMJ with the load data above.
The first magazine fired flawlessly, I even noted in my reloading book that it I might want to try loading to 5.1grains and see how they functioned. The 2nd magazine is when I ran into the malfunction, the first round fired like the previous 20, the it happened."
Hope my Glock doesn't ever do that.
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