Real damage

[sheepherder]

Originally Posted by John Sabato

More than likely IMHO it would have been a double-charged handload...that was already too hot to begin with.

Just out of curiosity, John, do you reload???

(Not being disparaging; I just don't recall you ever mentioning reloading).

[John Sabato]

Originally Posted by sheepherder

Just out of curiosity, John, do you reload???

(Not being disparaging; I just don't recall you ever mentioning reloading).

I have all the equipment and got started reloading back in the late 1960's. I own an original RCBS A-2 press, and dies for every caliber I own... but I haven't reloaded anything for a couple of decades... never have time to do much shooting, but when I do get to do some shooting, I enjoy every bit as much as back then.

My comment was based on the number of pistols I saw back when I was gunsmithing that were the result of careless powder charges by both amateur and very experienced reloaders.

Thank goodness I never actually witnessed the accidents... only the aftermath. Seeing a S&W .357 magnum with the top half of the cylinder and top strap missing was as close as I ever want to get to that kind of accident... The shooter escaped with only minor injuries. I also saw a modern Colt .45 SAA in the same condition... SCARY stuff...

In the photos that started this thread I find it amazing that the "ears" of the receiver fork were damaged by the stress and NOT the toggle... I would not have expected the toggle to survive such a detonation.