Will excessive headspace blow up a gun?? Check this video out

[frankderrico]

You got that right Charlie.....Frank

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[us019255]

Interesting story about the FAL with excessive headspace. I, unintentionally, created a head separation in a FAL. No ill effects from the adventure:

Story:
Receiver: Imbel
Rest of rifle: G1
Headspace: between .308 go and .308 nogo.

Brass: Once fired LC purchased from major firearm retailer.
Bullet: 147 gr. FMJ made by FN
Powder: IMR 4895 43 gr.
Primer: CCI
Full length sized, normal die.

After firing 40 or 50 rounds, a bit of a strange sound, bolt partly open with next round partly in chamber. Examination shows case head on ground next to shooting station. Rest of case in chamber.

Examination, by probing with a bent paper clip, showed that ~10% of the brass as I received it had a ring from being stretched. After sorting brass, I have not had any problems. After 5 reloads no ring can be felt. I discard at that point.

My conclusion has been that in the future I will not purchase "once fired" brass. It may have been stretched in a previous life.

By the way, while not something I want to repeat, no injury or near escape from injury was experienced.

[Denny779]

Hatcher's Notebook is interesting reading. He covers head space quite extensively. He also has fun with plugged barrels and metal failures.
Badger has it posted here: Hatcher's Notebook

Here's some sections you might like: "M1/M2 Carbine" Adobe pg.186 Hatcher Book pg.177
"Experiments with Barrel Obstructions" Adobe pg. 188-206 Hatcher pg.180-197
"Strength" of Military Rifles" Adobe pg. 207-220 Hatcher pg.198-211
"Receiver Steel and Heat Treatment" Adobe pg.222-240 Hatcher pg.213-231
"Head Space" Adobe pg.241-261 Hatcher pg. 232-252

[DaveHH]

They seem to stretch the heck out of brass.

I can honestly say that I have never seen a greater display of firearm stupidity than these two. Not because they were in so much danger, that Mauser wasn't going to blow, but from the cardboard shield, hammers and cavalier way they went about it. Some firearms WILL blow up and they can take eyes and teeth with them. Hatcher's list of exploding low number 03s is stunning and they were not induced problems. Some of those men were very seriously injured. This stupid video doesn't paint gun people as too bright. These types of idiots are out and about among us.