Range incident - can anyone explain?

[Thunderbox]

Safety damaged or incorrectly assembled? All it takes is for part of the safety to be elevated in order for the cocking piece to be fouled and caught.

If there is some play in the boltway, then starting the bolt opening might just provide enough clearance for the cocking piece to continue.

Is the rifle a rebuild?


Can you duplicate the incident with drill rounds or empty cases?

[RobD]

Many thanks for all those suggestions. Very useful.
I shall take photos of all the rifle components this evening and you can study them and advise further.

Rob

[villiers]

So this rifle is inherently unsafe. Do NOT USE IT! Send it to me (I´ll pay for transport). Please include the scope, box etc. etc.

[Beerhunter]

It couldn't have been a "proper" half-cock because when that bent is engaged one cannot lift the bolt handle.

When you post photos Rob. Close-ups of the cocking piece would be useful.

[Thunderbox]

Which reputable dealer did you get it from?


(it can't have been me, because I'm not that reputable....)

[RobD]

Many thanks. I attach the pics here; here are my As to the thoughful Qs posted above:

#3: Q:Were you shooting factory ammuntion or reloads?
A: Reloads

Q: Might you have pushed the bolt handle down when first trying to open the bolt?
A: Possibly. I think the discharge happened soon after I put my hand to the bolt.

#4: Q: ..the rifle CANNOT fire if you lift/unlock/open the bolt because the stud on the cocking piece will simply fall into the short cam groove
A: The striker went forward to half-way, but the bolt was not locked down in this position as lifting the bolt handle was easy.

#5:Q; is the bolt matched to the rifle? A: Yes
Q: is the bolt handle bent? A: No
Q: how many rounds had you fired before this happened? A: 10

#10 Q: So the discharge happened as the bolt was being closed, not opened as originally stated?
A: It went off as it was being opened. But, when one's hand goes to the bolt handle, I suppose it is conceivable that the initial slight force is downwards, even though this is unintentional.

#11: Q: Safety damaged or incorrectly assembled? A: Looks OK to me and works OK - see pics.
Q: If there is some play in the boltway, then starting the bolt opening might just provide enough clearance for the cocking piece to continue. Is the rifle a rebuild?
A: Play does not seem excessive. Rifle seems original and all-matching, and little-used.
Q: Can you duplicate the incident with drill rounds or empty cases?
A: Am trying, thus far I cannot.

#14 Q: It couldn't have been a "proper" half-cock because when that bent is engaged one cannot lift the bolt handle.
A: Correct.

#15 Q: Which reputable dealer did you get it from?
A: PM sent to prevent blushes.Attachment 58720Attachment 58721Attachment 58722

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Has the profile of the "half bent" been altered? Maybe not a good thing concerning the half-cock feature? Attachment 58737

[Peter Laidler]

I don't think I ever went on an ND or AD enquiry or acted for the Soldier OR to enlighten the Company Commander in the event of a technicality or a technical dispute, usually with the aid of a stripped/sectioned rifle or machine gun or part of the mechanism.... phew, - when the person being investigated didn't state that it was an ammunition or mechanical fault.

Indeed, I had an ND that I maintained was a mechanical fault*! But that's another story. ND's are all (?) human error. Another point to ponder is that with SERVICE ammunition, you CANNOT close the bolt with the sear depressed and fire a round. There is insufficient force of striker blow to the cartridge. And in the event of a sear breaking across the half bent and the break takes with it the half-cock undercut (thumbnails, photo 7), the same applies. Insufficient force of blow.

I'd put it down to one of two things Rob. Human error that wouldn't stand up to forensic scrutiny at a Board of Enquiry (or worse at a Coroners Court.....) or simply White Mans Magic!
* I'll tell you one day. Just say the words 'Bren Gun and Bulford No2 range'

[Brian Dick]

I exported that one to Rob almost a year ago to the day. A very nice rifle. Thank God it isn't damaged.

---------- Post added at 09:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 AM ----------

Peter maks a good point about SERVICE ammunition. The primers are harder and if you're using match primers in your reloads, they are much thinner and softer. I'm just glad that Rob wasn't hurt and the rifle is OK.

[RobD]

All v useful so far, thanks v much.
Further thoughts:

My reloaded brass gets mixed up, and hence is from more than one batch. In the past I segregated .303 brass by rifle, and neck-sized only. Latterly, I full length resize all .303 reloads, and retire the brass after 4 reloads. Since I have quite a lot of once-fired brass on hand I can afford to do this. On this shooting day, I noticed that some rounds were a bit stiff to close the bolt on - although the bolt did close on everything. Presumably those had been neck-sized and had been fire formed in another rifle.
Q1: Could this have led the bolt to take up an awkward position and enabled the striker to snag on the sear?

The primer on the accidentally-discharged round had a notably shallow strike - just as you'd expect from the striker coming forward from half way. I use Winchester primers, which are soft.
Q2: Are Winchester OK to continue with? I have about 1000 primers in stock and am reluctant to chuck 'em out.

Q3: what should I do in this situation again? I expect the safest would be to pull the striker fully back to cocked and open the bolt. Is that correct?