Explosion while reloading smokeless powder

[LaMan]

Ok I have tried to post a link to stories about this but I am afraid my lack of computer skills is preventing it.

The story is in Seffner Florida on Friday there was an explosion at a residence that destroyed most of the home and send two of the occupants to the hospital, the gentleman doing the reloading in critical condition. Apparently he told emt's that he was loading ammunition with smokeless powder and had 6 pounds of powder in close proximity when the explosion occurred. You can google Seffner explosion and see a number of stories and pictures of the incident. I can find nothing from ATF or sheriffs office about a further investigation or details.

This happened about 10 miles from my home and it certainly caught my wife's attention since she knows how much powder I have stored. My first thought was that he was must have been using black powder which is certainly more prone to exploding than smokeless but he apparently he did say smokeless, if you believe the reporters.

So I asking has anyone seen or heard of a violent explosion while reloading smokeless? If so what were the circumstances? I have been reloading 50 years and never been worried about reloading or my storage of powder.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I find it very hard to believe that 6 pounds of loosely stored smokeless powder could cause anywhere near that much damage.

 

[DangerRanger]

Doubt it

 

[piie]

Mine regularly explodes violently each time I pull the trigger

 

[pintopete]

Something doesn’t seem right…that is a lot of damage.

 

[john pruitt]

Fake news never happened.

 

[r bose]

25 grains of smokeless powder burning in video above. 6 pounds would make quite the fireball if it was lit on fire but does not explode.

 

[Joe Salt]

MORE FACK NEWS! I would expect a nice fire but exposition NO.

Joe Salt

 

[SSL]

Something smells a little fishy here...

 

[jepp2]

So I asking has anyone seen or heard of a violent explosion while reloading smokeless? If so what were the circumstances?

The damage looks more like a hot water heater explosion (and when was the last time you changed the T&P valve on yours). Smokeless powder - unconfined will not explode. It just burns. Period. It has to be confined in something that will cause pressure to build in order to accelerate the burn rate for an explosion to occur.

 

[LaMan]

Oh it was definitely an explosion, garage door blown across the street, neighbors houses shook and no sign of fire damage. Over the years I have burned a number of pounds of smokeless powder to dispose of it, quick brilliant flame no pop but of course it was not contained, open air burn.

If not black powder than maybe an open flame source ignite some loose powder that causes the reported 6 pounds to blow? I am certainly curious since I have a few of the black bottles stored inside in a controlled enviroment.

Injuries to the man were reported as serious wounds and burns to the stomach and hands.

 

[Retired45]

Something is off. I keep looking for more info but not seeing any updates. I'm thinking he was making a pipe bomb.

 

[wbm]

In an open container, powder does not explode. It burns.

 

[kvd]

https://www.fox13news.com/news/2-seriously-injured-after-house-explodes-in-seffner

 

[joshb]

This could be the beginning of a campaign to outlaw reloading by the fanatics.
Just wait! It will be described as an “unlicensed ammunition factory” or “ underground munitions lab”!

 

[Mark W]

There‘s definitely more to this story. The ATF will get to the bottom of it, but we will never hear the truth unless it makes a good news story or fits a certain political agenda.

 

[garandman]

This could be the beginning of a campaign to outlaw reloading by the fanatics.
Just wait! It will be described as an “unlicensed ammunition factory” or “ underground munitions lab”!

Hopefully the "armed the Taliban with 300K machine guns and Blackhawk helicopters" guy won't pull that stunt. Cuz there's a whole buncha ppl who would like to revisit that event.

 

[joshb]

https://www.fox13news.com/news/2-seriously-injured-after-house-explodes-in-seffner

I don’t see any mention of reloading in that report.

 

[itchyTF]

I'm thinking he was making a pipe bomb.

I would venture to say if he was making a pipe bomb he’d be dead.

I was at a live fire event, many years ago, where the Army National Guard was firing 155’s. Quite cool! At the end of the event all the un-used powder was burned. It was a LOT more than 6 pounds but they didn’t put it in one big pile but rather in a line. Still just burned. I took still pictures of it but who knows where they are.

 

[trader steve]

I don't see that happening sounds like a meth lab blew up and let's blame it on reloading.