Shootn reloads, had a slow fire round go through, next round loaded and the packing from the other round hadnt left the barrel. Didnt notice the barrel till I reloaded for the next set of ducks.
Oh, almost definitely,i just didn't recognize it! couldn't you get the whole gun for a little more than just a new barrel alone? Glad everyone is OK and thanks for sharing , it's a reality checker 4 sure!
I've had a couple of those slow fire rounds using factory loads. It kinda sounds like the wick fizzling on a sky rocket. I always stop right there and check the barrel for any blockage. I think my personal safety is way more important than another duck in the bag!!
You were VERY lucky, not to mention the person next to you in the blind.
I suppose I've had 6 or 7 "blooper" and my customers have probably had a dozen or more over the years. It seems to have gotten better with factory ammo. the first steel shot shells were pretty bad about it. Anything "off" is cause to do a barrel check before shooting again. Thanks for sharing. and you're right. If a wad was stuck in the barrel, no difference in $188 Maverick or a $1300 Benelli. Same result. Unbelievably (unless you've seen it) it doesn't take much. A freind in Kansas stuck his barrel in a snowdrift, knew he'd done it, but when he was just about to clean it out a pheasant took off and he couldn't resist. After all, just a little snow. Blew the side out of the barrel of a Wingmaster.
Do you know the brand of powder, bushing number, wad type, ounce of shot,? I never tried loading steel shot. Was it done on a Mec600? Also, primer manufacture and number? Hull type?
If a wad was stuck in the barrel, no difference in $188 Maverick or a $1300 Benelli. Same result. Unbelievably (unless you've seen it) it doesn't take much.
here's a pic of my benelli. first shot wounded a duck, went to fire a finishing round, and it sounded funny, benelli blamed the remington ammo i was using, but they replaced the barrel free of charge. a metalurgist friend of mine said the way it split seemed like maybe there was a hairline crack in the metal, and the pressure of the round made it burst.
Shootn reloads, had a slow fire round go through, next round loaded and the packing from the other round hadnt left the barrel. Didnt notice the barrel till I reloaded for the next set of ducks.
Not bragging, just showing what happened... what can happen---TO anybody. Im on the water 3-5 days a week during duck season, and this is the first ive ever had... But then I probubly just wasted time replying to someone that just wants to stir a little.
I think Ill go ahead and leave it up. I'm fairly sure I'll be just fine. But thanks for the support, and financial impact concern for me.
Good luck to you sir and I hope all your many future hunts are Productive and Filled with Memories/Stories as are mine.
A "sho nuff " reality check! It's more likely to happen on a hand load/old shells, but it could happen with any new ones too! With a pump,or any other type of gun, a bad sounding discharge does not warrant slamming another round in the chamber and going for it period!
A reality check in any case! Great thread for many reasons.....
Not trying to stir the pot, I just thought someone worked up a good load for steel shot. Thought I might try it if they were willing to share load specs. Excuse my error. Good luck-good hunting.
Wow! The same thing happened to me back in 1999. We were hunting flooded timber up on lake fork and the water was high that year. I raised up to take a shot and had water in my barrel. The gun was a Remington 870 express. Completely my fault and thank god everyone was ok. Needless to say the duck hunt was over for that day.
reminds me of a funny experience when a freind shooting reloads tried to shoot a cripple mallard drake once.............
we were in a fairly tall blind on a cypress lake (boat docked underneath a shooting port) and i pointed out the cripple swimming off to the right fairly close..........
he aimed at it's head and when he pulled the trigger (the duck was broadside but i could tell it was looking right at'im out of it's left eye) and there was a 'POP!' and i actually heard the shot cup sliding out the barrel and with all the pellets still in the cup it headed for the ducks head,........ seeing it coming at'im it just 'ducked' it's head down at the last second and it all splashed right behind'im............... funnier-n-hell at-the-time
the rest of us were laughing too hard to take a shot, but the boy shucked in another round and got it........... i guess he didn't think it was too funny what-with-it being one of his own reloads
Great post!! My buddies and I were talking about this issue this morning and HogHeaven very well might have just saved someone from making the same mistake. I don't know him personally but I would still hunt with him after hearing about this incident...
I am not trying to start anything, just stating a view point. I have had bad loads many times in the past as well, I just tend to pull off and check the barrel before firing off another round, making sure the barrel is clear.
Just trying to help, that is all. I actually was seriously thinking about giving you a call this year to book a hunt, because it seems you have a pretty reputable business. I about called you twice seen I was looking for a new outfitter closer to home. This thread really made me question that my decision for the future, and now your reply has confirmed it.
I am not trying to start anything, just stating a view point. I have had bad loads many times in the past as well, I just tend to pull off and check the barrel before firing off another round, making sure the barrel is clear.
Just trying to help, that is all. I actually was seriously thinking about giving you a call this year to book a hunt, because it seems you have a pretty reputable business. I about called you twice seen I was looking for a new outfitter closer to home. This thread really made me question that my decision for the future, and now your reply has confirmed it.
A "sho nuff " reality check! It's more likely to happen on a hand load/old shells, but it could happen with any new ones too! With a pump,or any other type of gun, a bad sounding discharge does not warrant slamming another round in the chamber and going for it period!
A reality check in any case! Great thread for many reasons.....
:work: Man, I've shot tons of reloaded steel shot and haven't had anymore problem with them than factory loads. If it doesn't sound right, don't squeeze off another round. It's a simply as that.
By the way, I'm glad the original poster was okay. That could've been bad.
this is a great educational post. for those of us over 40 who weren't required to take a hunters education/safety program to get licensed, its a nice refresher. i know now what to do if i have a shell slow pop as described in this thread. i have never had it happen to me or anyone i hunt with. but at least now i know. thanks for the heads up.
!!!... Don't forget, it can happen with firearms other then a shotgun. I've seen more then one high power rifle blown, pistols as well.
About ten years back I was squirrel hunting with a 22LR when a round 'piffed' instead of 'ke..raccckked'. Amazingly the squirrel didn't fall.
Sure enough, the bullet hadn't exited the barrel. I got the barrel clean with a field cleaning kit I had back at the truck. It was just a last second hesitation and seeing/hearing of other problems that had me check the barrel instead of firing again.
A reminder about safety is never remiss. If the thread helps prevent one mishap then well done Hogheaven.
Good post. I had one do that to me this year for the first time. I almost pulled the trigger on the follow up shot when I decided against it. Glad I did because the wad was stuck in the middle of the barrel. Scared me a little. Good thing I remembered my hunter's safety but if someone would have posted an email it would have been fresh on my mind and there wouldn't have been any hesitation.
Judging by the post from Greenheadless you probably wouldn't have a pleasurable experience if you guided him and his group.
Thanks for the heads up. I don't use reloads, but I am glad someone posted that it will happen in factory loads. I will keep that in mind when I am in the field next time. and keep a cleaning rod in my duck bag. green to you and txwhtlhntr. I also don't see how someone should judge you and not use your services based on this. Things happen just glad to hear no one was hurt.
PS. your lucky imagine what your hand could have looked like.
Thanks for the heads up. I don't use reloads, but I am glad someone posted that it will happen in factory loads. I will keep that in mind when I am in the field next time. and keep a cleaning rod in my duck bag. green to you and txwhtlhntr. I also don't see how someone should judge you and not use your services based on this. Things happen just glad to hear no one was hurt.
PS. your lucky imagine what your hand could have looked like.
Or what the clients face next to him may have ended up like! Very lucky!
18 years ago i had to take a hunter's safety coarse to hunt in Colorado and in that course they had several barrels that they showed to everyone and were very thorough about how these things could happen, i don't Know if they show these types of things now, but i think it would definitely be valuable!
If you have to come to a hunting forum to be reminded check if your barrel is clear after a funny sounding load before you ram another shell in and pull the trigger, wow.
My original post was simple advise on what someone who was considering using an outfitter's services thought about a topic he had brought up that could possibly be construed as a negative mark against him, that's all. If he wants to keep it, then go ahead, I really don't care.
If you have to come to a hunting forum to be reminded check if your barrel is clear after a funny sounding load before you ram another shell in and pull the trigger, wow.
My original post was simple advise on what someone who was considering using an outfitter's services thought about a topic he had brought up that could possibly be construed as a negative mark against him, that's all. If he wants to keep it, then go ahead, I really don't care.
i think its good that he posted this ,so it will let those who dont know the effects of barrel blockage. but i would hope my guide knows what dud sounds like and the aftereffects ! btw, it happened to me too ,closer to the end of the barrel though, the shells my freind gave me were submerged more than once.lol i was 16 at the time
I fired off a wet shell the final day of last season. The wad and shot lodged in the barrel about 3 inches in front of the action. Luckily I noticed the problem before shooting again. Eventually I found a sapling straight enough to ram the wad out of the barrel.
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