I've been reloading for about 10 years in various calibers. Mainly 30-06, but also 6.5 Grendel, 20 Practical 243, 308 etc... and never had a problem till this happened. Looking for some insight on what possibly happened as I can't figure it out and all of the people I've talked to that I know and at the range I go to haven't been able to crack the mystery either.
As a baseline, I feel I'm conservative about reloading. There is always more to learn, but one thing I always do (since I'm loading low volumes) is double weigh my charge loads just to make sure they are what I think they are.
I bought a 280AI as I wanted a lighter weight mountain gun for elk hunting 22" 1-9 Twist. Did some load development using ladder load/3 shot strings with a variety of bullets (Nosler AB, Berger, Sierra GK, Hornady ELDx, Barnes TTSx) but focusing on H4831SC since I had it, it was listed with much of the published reloading information and others in various forms have had good results. Measured the CTBO to Ogive for each bullet I was using and then backed that off by 0.02 using the Hornady tool. I started the ladders at 55.0 grains (bottom of the Nosler data) with 160 grain bullets (preferred Elk weight for me), moved up in 0.3 grain increments and maxed out at 57.0 grains for these ladders. Recipe = Virgin 280AI Peterson brass, CCI LRP's, H4831SC. At the range, used a Magneto speed for velocity and was getting around mid 2600's for velocity which is well within the 3-4 sources for reloading data that I used when determining loading parameters. My philosophy is to try and find the softest load that produces the best accuracy and still allow the bullet to perform as intended. All good at this point. Fired 90 rounds that day.
My youngest also bought a 280AI from a different manufacturer and wanted to do some load development as he hunts our ranch as well. We used the same reloading source books (just to double check) and loaded around 50 rounds (ladders for load development) and I loaded another 18 with same CCI LRP's, Virgin Peterson brass, the Nosler 160 AB's and the H4831SC starting at 56.5 (accuracy node based on initial round of shooting) and moving up in 0.3 grain increments His velocities out of his gun were similar to the first strings I shot (Mid 2600's) as measured by the Magneto Speed. Again - all good at this point after 140 rounds fired in two different guns.
I started shooting my rounds (56.5 grains) and was getting velocities of mid 2700's. We scope each shot to check placement before firing again. Got to the 57.1 grain string (11 shots fired) and was just starting to touch 2800 fps with the last shot at the 57.1 grains. I check for pressure signs on the cases after firing just to make sure I'm not missing anything and saw nothing out of the ordinary. First shot at 57.4 grains (next step up) blew the action out of the gun, scared the living )(#&*&$ out of me and my boy and resulted in some four letter words being uttered. Luckily no one was hurt.
My first thought was a squib load, but we registered 2800fps on the shot before and saw the hole on the target down range. The barrel was intact and showed no bulges (that I could see) although it was no longer attached to the gun. You can see the base of the barrel with the cartridge still in the barrel. The shot where the action fragged still recorded 2600 fps which I can't wrap my head around. I've attached pictures.
I recognize there are most likely to be (hopefully) further questions and happy to answer but really just looking to see what I could have done differently, particuarly going forward. I'm a little gun shy (pun intended) at this point and while I have never had an issue before, I don't ever want another issue again.
Thanks
As a baseline, I feel I'm conservative about reloading. There is always more to learn, but one thing I always do (since I'm loading low volumes) is double weigh my charge loads just to make sure they are what I think they are.
I bought a 280AI as I wanted a lighter weight mountain gun for elk hunting 22" 1-9 Twist. Did some load development using ladder load/3 shot strings with a variety of bullets (Nosler AB, Berger, Sierra GK, Hornady ELDx, Barnes TTSx) but focusing on H4831SC since I had it, it was listed with much of the published reloading information and others in various forms have had good results. Measured the CTBO to Ogive for each bullet I was using and then backed that off by 0.02 using the Hornady tool. I started the ladders at 55.0 grains (bottom of the Nosler data) with 160 grain bullets (preferred Elk weight for me), moved up in 0.3 grain increments and maxed out at 57.0 grains for these ladders. Recipe = Virgin 280AI Peterson brass, CCI LRP's, H4831SC. At the range, used a Magneto speed for velocity and was getting around mid 2600's for velocity which is well within the 3-4 sources for reloading data that I used when determining loading parameters. My philosophy is to try and find the softest load that produces the best accuracy and still allow the bullet to perform as intended. All good at this point. Fired 90 rounds that day.
My youngest also bought a 280AI from a different manufacturer and wanted to do some load development as he hunts our ranch as well. We used the same reloading source books (just to double check) and loaded around 50 rounds (ladders for load development) and I loaded another 18 with same CCI LRP's, Virgin Peterson brass, the Nosler 160 AB's and the H4831SC starting at 56.5 (accuracy node based on initial round of shooting) and moving up in 0.3 grain increments His velocities out of his gun were similar to the first strings I shot (Mid 2600's) as measured by the Magneto Speed. Again - all good at this point after 140 rounds fired in two different guns.
I started shooting my rounds (56.5 grains) and was getting velocities of mid 2700's. We scope each shot to check placement before firing again. Got to the 57.1 grain string (11 shots fired) and was just starting to touch 2800 fps with the last shot at the 57.1 grains. I check for pressure signs on the cases after firing just to make sure I'm not missing anything and saw nothing out of the ordinary. First shot at 57.4 grains (next step up) blew the action out of the gun, scared the living )(#&*&$ out of me and my boy and resulted in some four letter words being uttered. Luckily no one was hurt.
My first thought was a squib load, but we registered 2800fps on the shot before and saw the hole on the target down range. The barrel was intact and showed no bulges (that I could see) although it was no longer attached to the gun. You can see the base of the barrel with the cartridge still in the barrel. The shot where the action fragged still recorded 2600 fps which I can't wrap my head around. I've attached pictures.
I recognize there are most likely to be (hopefully) further questions and happy to answer but really just looking to see what I could have done differently, particuarly going forward. I'm a little gun shy (pun intended) at this point and while I have never had an issue before, I don't ever want another issue again.
Thanks
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