Wear Eye Protection!

[DMark]

This is just a reminder to always, Always, ALWAYS wear your eye protection!!!!!

 

A couple of weekends ago I was shooting my 7.62mm NATO Navy Mk2 Mod 1 Garand in a local Vintage Military Rifle Match and this happen......  :eek:

 

 

The round was an Atomic Match Ammo that I picked up at the CMP south store in 2012.  This reloaded ammo uses once fired military brass with an Nosler 168gr OTM bullet.  It is loaded for the M1 and M14.  I have fired several hundred rounds of this ammo with no issues...., and will continue to do so.  This thread is not to bad-mouth the ammo manufacturer, it is a warning to all of us not to forget that there is an explosion going on inside that firearm that is very near our eyes.

 

 

The blowout happened during the single load, prone, slow-fire stage of the match.  This was the 15th of 20 rounds to be fired.  When the shot was taken a very noticeable boom was heard and the recoil was much stronger than normal for this ammo.  I am happy to report that I maintained position, had good follow through and even with the round doing something odd - - - it was still a hit in the 9 Ring!

 

AND - - - My eye protection was covered in black soot and fine particles!  :stunned:

 

At first I figured that due to the sound and recoil that I had fired a double-loaded round.  173rdABN, who was also firing the match, found the brass and it did not appear to show any overpressure signs.  The design of the Garand limits the likelihood of an out-of-battery firing, so after an inspection of the bore, bolt and operating rod I finish the remaining five rounds.

 

 

 

Wear your Eye Protection.  Safety Rules are written in Blood, or in the case maybe a lost of sight.

 

Stay Safe, and I'll See You On the Firing Line!

 

 

 

[rugerla1]

Wow, glad it didn't turn out worse! Thanks for sharing and the reminder.

[Monkeyman2500]

Good reminder. Failures can happen.

[leftyk82]

only a 9? :)

[Johnny Rotten]

Couple yrs back I squibbed 8-9mm rounds in FA, it only stopped when the extractor blew out and I'm pretty sure the last round was out of battery, it scared the crap out of me!!