Remington M1917

[Cosine26]

Know your powder
One night a number of years ago I realize that I had no loads for the 1000 yard match the next day. I hurried into my reloading room, identified a can of powder by looks as IMR 4831. Using a full load of 4831 and a 200 grain Sierra MatchKing I prepared a supply of ammo for the morrow. On my first sighting shot at 1000 yards, I saw a huge burst of flame and felt a burning sensation on my face. The attached pictures are self explanatory. I believe that the powder was IMR 4064. Act in haste; repent at leisure! Of little consolation: the hit on the target was a low “V”.
As I analyze what happened, the case head melted and hot gas traveled down the left bolt channel, blowing out the magazine floor plate, the extractor ring and extractor. The gas hit the bolt stop, annealed the bolt stop spring, flipped open the bolt stop, and melted into the bolt plug. Fortunately I was wearing case hardened safety glasses so sustained no eye injury, only a large burn on my face. The molten brass from the case head fused itself into the lens of my shooting glasses .
My gunsmith punched out the old case and amazingly enough the rifle still headspaced within limits. The rifle was a Remington M1917 converted to cock-on-opening. There was no other visible damage such as receiver ring cracks, etc.; however, I scrapped the action. The M1917 handled the blow back better than I expected however not as well as a M98.
The moral of this story (1) KNOW your powder, (2) always ear eye protection.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...Rem/Rifle1.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...Rem/Rifle2.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...Rem/Rifle3.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...Rem/Rifle4.jpg
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...Rem/Rifle5.jpg

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[BruceV]

Thank God you were wearing a good pair of shooting glasses! Sincerely. BruceV.

[Cosine26]

You are correct! The hot gas actually melted craters in the face of the bolt plug. I always wore industrial grade safety glasses.