Well it finally happened......I destroyed a gun.

[Colorado Cowboy]

In about 65 years of shooting, reloading and building guns of all types, I finally destroyed one! I have a custom .300 Wby that I blew up at the range this morning testing loads. The rifle is a commercial Mauser action, Shilen SS match barrel with a B & C stock. I had it built about 20 years ago. I have been shooting the same loads for elk since then and it shoots lights out! I decided to work up a new, lighter 150 gr load for deer. I was out to the range last week and shot a2 different loads. I went back out this morning to try 6 more. I shot 3 rounds of my elk loads (180 gr ) for a group as I had just received my chronograph back from being repaired and calibrated. No problem at all, great group and consistant velocities. First round of one of the possible loads and all hell broke loose! Floor plate flew off along with several other parts. My shooting glasses flew off and I had a few drops of blood on my hand after I wiped my face. Nothing seriously wrong with me, just a destroyed rifle. I am going to pull bullets and check powder charges. Hard for me to believe I could have seriously overloaded the powder charge as Weatherby cases are really full with a normal load. I weigh each powder charge to a 1/10 of a grain. Guess a trip to my 'smith is in order too.

 

[JimP]

Glad you are alright.

I think that I was lucky when I found a few of my .340 Weatherby loads under loaded. And I know what you mean by how Weatherby loads fill the cases to the brim so to speak.

It'll be interesting to see if you find a problem.

 

[Winchester]

Glad you’re ok CC.
Sucks about your rifle though.

 

[Bonecollector]

Glad all is well with you. Looking forward to your load analysis.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Glad all is well with you. Looking forward to your load analysis.

When I am working on a new load, I always follow the same steps. I start out midrange from the tables in one of my reloading manuals. I load 3 rounds each progressing in 1/2 grain increments to max suggested load. When I start shooting, I start out with the lightest load and progress up to the hotter loads. I chronograph each load and record the data to be looked at later. If I find a great load, I stop and that's it. I pull the bullets on any remaining loads.
Today the round that did the damage was the lightest and chronographed at 3060, actually pretty mild for a 150 grain load in a .300 Wby.

 

[ScottR]

Glad you are ok!

 

[mallardsx2]

Dang!

Was your powder brand new from a can? Any chance of a mix-up with a random powder?

I am glad you are ok.

 

[taskswap]

Wow very glad you're alright.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Dang!

Was your powder brand new from a can? Any chance of a mix-up with a random powder?

I am glad you are ok.

I was working with RL 22 and 4350. I am going to pull the remaining bullets and weigh the powder in each one. The one that did the damage chronographed at 3060. That is really not too hot at all for a 300 Wby. My 180 gr loads are 3250.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Just disassembled the rifle. Got the bolt out and the barrel is actually loose, I can unscrew it 2 or 3 turns. The case (minus the head) is still in the chamber. I am wondering if I had a total case separation. With case separation, it doesn't take too much pressure to screw thing up. I can see part of the rim on the outside of the chamber and can see the Weatherby name. The aluminum machined base in the stock was moved rearward at least 1/4 inch.

My 30-06 will have to do this year until I decide if I am going to get anything any heavier that it is. Have killed elk with it (a lots of deer), so it will do. Looks like I'll have a bunch of once fired Weatherby brand .300 cases to pass off to somebody.

 

[mallardsx2]

I had a JRC 9mm carbine double-fire and send a factory 9MM case down the barrel one time.

Its not on 300 WBY scary pressure but it scared the crap out of me!

 

[dan maule]

I was working with RL 22 and 4350. I am going to pull the remaining bullets and weigh the powder in each one. The one that did the damage chronographed at 3060. That is really not too hot at all for a 300 Wby. My 180 gr loads are 3250.

That had to scare the crap out of you, I am really glad that you didn’t get hurt! As you mentioned 3060 FPS from a 150grain 300wby, I would consider a very light load. Please keep us informed if you get to the bottom of what ever happened.

 

[D_Dubya]

Wow! Glad you’re alright. Was it once fired brass?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Yes it was.

 

[dan maule]

Yes it was.

Was it Weatherby (Norma) brass? I have reloaded 300 wby Norma brass up to 3 times and with a lot hotter loads than you described, I am kind of concerned, as you appear to be much more meticulous than I am.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Was it Weatherby (Norma) brass? I have reloaded 300 wby Norma brass up to 3 times and with a lot hotter loads than you described, I am kind of concerned, as you appear to be much more meticulous than I am.

All I reload for the .300 is Weatherby brass. When I lived in California, I had a friend who worked for Roy Weatherby and he got me the brass, it was all primed, unfired. I actually went to school with Ed & Diane Weatherby. I am pretty sure I know what happened and I'll post a little later.

 

[buckbull]

Damn CC. Glad you are ok. Like everyone else, interested to hear what caused the issue.

 

[dan maule]

All I reload for the .300 is Weatherby brass. When I lived in California, I had a friend who worked for Roy Weatherby and he got me the brass, it was all primed, unfired. I actually went to school with Ed & Diane Weatherby. I am pretty sure I know what happened and I'll post a little later.

That’s awesome! I am a big Weatherby fan.

 

[Extractor]

Glad to hear you are OK. Can replace a gun, not so much with a noggin.

 

[Slugz]

Glad you are ok CC.