D-Day commemorative M-1 blows up with HXP

Printable View

10-06-2009, 07:02 PM
Griff Murphey

D-Day commemorative M-1 blows up with HXP

I was at the range over noon today when one of our vintage and Garand shooters had a blow-up of his first M-1, which is an SA Inc. D-Day commemorative. The rifle's stock was split from the ferrule to behind the pistol grip, then split again from the rear of the trigger group straight back. The wood stood out on the right side of the rifle by about 1/2".

At the time he was shooting HXP 1965 from CMP, lot # 1062 HXP 65 in cartons.

The case had separated and was stuck in the chamber. The case head and about 1/4" of case still attached was recovered. There was slight damage to the line angle between the locking recess and top of the receiver rail on the right side. This incident occurred after he had about 300 rds. of HXP through the gun. He has shot is in several local matches.

My guesses are excessive headspace, or excessive headspace induced by a stretched receiver (bad heat treat?), or a hot round.
10-06-2009, 07:15 PM
Snafu

Out of spec bridge on receiver
10-06-2009, 07:17 PM
browningautorifle

As long as he's OK, he can always get another M1. Too bad that one would be so expensive!
10-06-2009, 09:25 PM
KarlKW

Don't forget the Lifetime Warranty...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff Murphey

I was at the range over noon today when one of our vintage and Garand shooters had a blow-up of his first M-1, which is an SA Inc. D-Day commemorative. The rifle's stock was split from the ferrule to behind the pistol grip, then split again from the rear of the trigger group straight back. The wood stood out on the right side of the rifle by about 1/2".

At the time he was shooting HXP 1965 from CMP, lot # 1062 HXP 65 in cartons.

The case had separated and was stuck in the chamber. The case head and about 1/4" of case still attached was recovered. There was slight damage to the line angle between the locking recess and top of the receiver rail on the right side. This incident occurred after he had about 300 rds. of HXP through the gun. He has shot is in several local matches.

My guesses are excessive headspace, or excessive headspace induced by a stretched receiver (bad heat treat?), or a hot round.

Griff, Don't forget that Springfield Armory, Inc. has a lifetime warranty on their rifles (at least for their M1A rifles, I assume they offer the same deal for their M1 Garand rifles). Your "buddy" may be able to obtain a replacement at no cost. HTH, KarlKW
10-06-2009, 10:10 PM
Griff Murphey

I did advise him to contact SA Inc.
10-07-2009, 03:31 AM
ltcboy

Now here is where I may be offending some.., but, SA,Inc used surplus parts along with using a cast receiver. Now their M1-A's I'm sure are fine rifles, but I really dont tink they really worked out the bugs with their new production M-1 Garands.

Too much $$$ while you can get a USGI milled receiver from the CMP. Thank God he is not dead or maimed.

MIke
10-07-2009, 03:52 AM
gunner

Is the HXP a hard ammo? So if, every single shot causes the weakness of the metal. We had a similar case with an K98k. The guy fired only surplus ammo from old army stocks. After a few years at the first shot the chamber blows off. Some metal parts went through the scope, the stock splits under the chamber and the guy had light injuries at his right hand. We sent the rifle and the ammo to our " Beschussamt " and they said the ammo had a little over pressure wich causes the damage to the rifle shot by shot. As a result i won`t fire cheap surplus ammo.

Regards

Gunner
10-07-2009, 08:04 AM
GregM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarlKW

Griff, Don't forget that Springfield Armory, Inc. has a lifetime warranty on their rifles (at least for their M1A rifles, I assume they offer the same deal for their M1 Garand rifles). Your "buddy" may be able to obtain a replacement at no cost. HTH, KarlKW

I've ran across someone else that had a springfield Garand blow, and Springfield did make good on the warranty BUT....they have no more Garands, so they gave the guy credit towards a M1A. This whole story really stinks thats for sure.

GregM
10-07-2009, 08:06 AM
Griff Murphey

Greek HXOP surplus ammo has a great reputation here, it has been issued at our national matches. Our quasi-governmental agency CMP bought 60 million rounds, I think, and has been selling it to qualified buyers. It is supposedly softer-loaded ammo.

This gun was a new-made SA Inc. not made by or for the U.S. Government. These rifles have new-made cast receivers and a mix of surplus parts and new made commercial parts. When the owner bought it, it appeared new and unused except for having some dings in the stock; no wear marks on operating surfaces to suggest it had been fired a lot. He had about 300 rounds through it.
10-07-2009, 08:37 AM
limpetmine

I've read elsewhere that "commemoratives" are built up from floor sweepings, as they are never intended to be fired. I recall reading one thread where the owner of an M1-A commemorative called the factory to ask for help on an issue, and the response was unbelief (that he was shooting it).
All my experience is that HXP is fine ammo, better than LC-68/70 hands down.
10-07-2009, 07:10 PM
Griff Murphey

Speaking specifically to Limpetmine... I wondered about the quality of those pieces and whether they are actually made to spec. How much actual work SA Inc. did with the rifle as opposed to the people who sold it is speculative...
09-07-2010, 12:40 PM
tim-stock

HXP is really one of the finest
09-07-2010, 01:34 PM
RCS

other things to check

It could have been an out of battery firing of the cartridge as it was being chambered, I have seen one of their M1A rifles with the same problem and result. The SA Inc M1A had a defective trigger pin which was broken and caused the out of battery firing.

There are other things to check such as the receiver, bolt & firing pin, barrel and headspace.
09-08-2010, 03:31 AM
JustPassingThrough

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff Murphey

At the time he was shooting HXP 1965 from CMP, lot # 1062 HXP 65 in cartons.

I've shot several cans of HXP-65 lot 1062 without issue. In fact I reload the brass also and haven't had any issue with it.
09-08-2010, 08:04 AM
Griff Murphey

I still have the blowup pix on my phone; just looked at them the other day. BTW the end of it was: SA Inc. had him return the rifle, and they then replaced the D-Day commemorative with a new M-1A. My friend is very happy to have it, and I set him up with some slightly used match brass. He's happy. Boy... he was "gun shy" (LITERALLY!) for a while....

My guess is that SA INC. would have not replaced the rifle if they felt, after examining it, that it was the ammo's fault. But then that would be a big bad ball of wax for SA Inc. to say anything about those gazillions of rounds of HXP CMP has sold to everyone from you and me to wholesalers...
09-08-2010, 10:51 AM
tokiwartooth

Never buy "commemorative" anything.

HXP is very safe. If it blew up on that, I shutter at what would have happened had he run today's hot loaded 30-06 Springfield through it. Or Prvi for that matter, which for the most part, which I've safely fired through my CMP USGI Garands (although I would recommend an adjustable gas plug).

Sounds like he got a lemon.
09-09-2010, 11:47 AM
Bob Womack

Note that the original post is a year old...
09-09-2010, 09:46 PM
willie8

Who would shoot a commemorative?
09-10-2010, 09:53 PM
byronroland

I do have a question/comment. Even though it was a commemorative "now" what will it be in 50 years? No one will know what or who it commemorated or at least there is a good chance no one will. And, we may still be using brass ammo.

I have 2 M1A Springfield's, a wood stock standard and a "tanker" with fiberglass stock. I have shot both very little. Should I be worried about the strength of these? I have been thinking of trading in one or both for a M1A NM, I am getting older and would like to get back into target work. Both of mine are at least 15 years old, should I purchase/trade for a new NM or upgrade my standard? This would only apply if the quality has deteriorated over the last 15 years?

Thanks!
09-11-2010, 01:15 PM
Maniac

There was a similar occurrence that was the subject of a thread on the CMP forums over a year ago that involved a USGI M1 Garand and HXP. A couple of the posters then mentioned that the year before at the National matches at Camp several shooters had similar problems using HXP. The description of the mishap mirrors the one that happened with the commemorative in this thread, FWIW
09-11-2010, 03:54 PM
Wulf

Quote:

Originally Posted by willie8

Who would shoot a commemorative?

My thought exactly!
09-11-2010, 04:55 PM
Claven2

Quote:

Originally Posted by byronroland

I have 2 M1A Springfield's, a wood stock standard and a "tanker" with fiberglass stock. I have shot both very little. Should I be worried about the strength of these? I have been thinking of trading in one or both for a M1A NM, I am getting older and would like to get back into target work. Both of mine are at least 15 years old, should I purchase/trade for a new NM or upgrade my standard? This would only apply if the quality has deteriorated over the last 15 years?

Thanks!

The only thing to typically worry about with M1A rifles is if the scope mount lug is properly positioned (if you want tu use a scope mount) and if the bolt roller hollow is properly machined into the oprod ledge. The strength should be just fine.