When a 338 Lapua Magnum goes BANG the wrong way

Vitaver

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Minuteman
Jun 9, 2013
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Fort Lauderdale, FL
My friend was cleaning the barrel of his 338 LM when he got distracted by a fellow shooter. He then went right to fire, forgetting the rod was still inserted at the muzzle.
 

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When a 338 Lapua Magnum goes BANG the wrong way

Distracted?! Really?!! Was that all there was to it, do you think?

How and why, exactly, was he 'cleaning' a bolt rifle from the muzzle with the bolt and the ammo in it.

Simply 'forgetting' that the rod was there.... or not having a clue: You decide.
 
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Was this at Mannatee range? Just noted you were in Florida and there was that big long multi page post that went on past couple weeks of a similar event--understood that event was from a brass rod used to dislodge stuck cases not cleaning, so pictures of damage looked similar as well.

Glad no one was seriously injured or killed.
 
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There was a lot of damage in all directions BUT to the left, where the shooter was sitting. I agree, there is no possible excuse, that was very stupid. You got it right, but I can't name names, it is a friend still who otherwise is a nice, smart guy. I keep my distance (at the range).
 
Distracted?! Really?!! Was that all there was to it, do you think?

How and why, exactly, was he 'cleaning' a bolt rifle from the muzzle with the bolt and the ammo in it.

Simply 'forgetting' that the rod was there.... or not having a clue: You decide.

It all depends on what the shooter next to you was doing... And what she looks like. I can get pretty distracted... Good thing I don't bring a cleaning rod to the range, I guess.
 
Are you saying that all you ever bring is a bore snake?

....Or was that too subtle.

A kid brings a range rod everywhere he goes- and it generally gets him into trouble... An adult has more situational awareness. I've never not had a range rod when necessary... ;)
 
Seriously, what the fuck? Was he looking at tits or what? :unsure:

Hopefully he still has both eyes. I found a laser sighter that fits in the muzzle stuck in the overhead baffles at 50yds last year at a local range. Check with the RO and he said, no one reported it and the last guy he saw using one only fired one shot, then packed up, waved and left. hahahahaha

It's in a frame on the clubhouse wall with a picture of where we found it.
 
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I found a laser sighter that fits in the muzzle stuck in the overhead baffles at 50yds last year at a local range.
I found remnants of a Mauser barrel band on the range from a rifle that met that same fate. When seeing photos of such things online, or finding those parts. I thought to myself.. "How is that even possible? How could you not notice it?" Well I'll be damned if I almost didn't do it myself some time later. Just too much going on, too many distractions.
 
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When you get stuck cases, shouldn't you stop shooting those loads?
Wouldn't that be way beyond stiff bolt lift already?
Necrothread, but interesting.
I've seen a case stuck due to carbon buildup in the neck, the loads were nowhere near maximum. It did come loose with a light tap from a cleaning rod. The owner was justifiably hesitant to apply force to the bolt handle.

I had the cleaning rod with me because, 1.) I was breaking in the barrel, and 2.) I was doing load workup with multiple charge weights and wanted the barrel to be in the same condition for each group.

That incident lead me to bring it every time.
 
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