Witness mark in my future.

[doggzoe]

Looks like I will be marking my range rod.
Went to the range day for finale practice round before our season on Friday and lucky I will still be able to go on Friday.
Was shooting when my cousin came over to my bench to use the spotting scope. I must have put a load in and then got to talking to him on how to use the scope. Went back to my gun. Did I load that. Dropped the rod in. Heard it hit solid. I think its empty. Hey count your bullets. Ok! I sized 10 bombs for today. Three in the target, 7 in the bag with the other bullets I sized. Take one out and load up. Shoot. Holly crap. Recount the bullets in the bag and only have 5. Miscounted. Double load. Very destructive. Blew the barrel apart. Destroyed the stock, shooting bag and scope. But luckily I nor anyone else was harmed. This is what 20 grs of 4759 and 116 grs of 4198 with two 302 bombs will do. BIG LESSON LEARNED. If I had had my hand on the forearm it would probably be mush. Good news is I got a email today that my full form die is on its way from Luke's for this barrel.

[Deleted]

Wow, very happy your okay and humble enough to let everyone know what happened. Thanks for sharing, again very happy your okay!!

[al53]

WOW...I am glad you are OK..and able to type this...dam thats scary looking..glad you posted this as a reminder that poop happens..I always set my witness mark on my range rod when I get to range..first load I wrap blue tape on rod.when bullet seated...

Some one upstairs was watching over you on this...glad he was ..and yes you were humble enough to come and tell of your experience..it is sorta a wake up call to us..

Again GLAD your are ok ...

Al

[Deleted]

Glad your OK. Thats one of the reasons I shoot free recoil at the range.

[lwh723]

Glad you're ok! Good reminder for everyone to take every precaution possible to limit operator error.

Hope you've got another option for this weekend. Let me know if you need anything rushed over?

[mrbuck]

Hey !! The good news isn't the die . The good news is you are not seriously injured and that no one was standing too close to you when you fired ! I really dislike having people around when I'm shooting and especially my MLs .
I usually just shoot 3 shot groups ( 2 shot groups if they are real close and where they are suposed to be ) and only take out 3 powder vials and 3 bullets at a time ... and since I'm still a sabot shooter , I take things real slow .
I am happy that you were not hurt . God was looking out for you .
Chris

[edge]

Sorry about your rifle but no one was hurt so that is good indeed!

I have been interrupted more than I would like and have a procedure that works for me ( along with a witness mark ).

1) if I have shot but not loaded just leave the rifle alone;
2) if I put powder down the barrel then it gets a fiber wad JUST at the muzzle and not rammed home;
3) if it is loaded then the ramrod goes back in the barrel OR it goes on the bags in firing position with the bolt open and primer next to it.

Whatever you come up with, have a procedure and stick to it...or it isn't a procedure

edge.

[rambler]

Wow that is too wild. I am so glad you didn't get hurt.

[schunter]

Wow that is ugly! So glad you were not hurt!

[Deleted]

so glad to see that you are okay.After reading on this forum awhile back that other people had did the same thing,I marked my ram rod the very first time I loaded it.Once again good to hear you walked away with all your human parts.

[doggzoe]

Thanks guys. Yes someone was looking over a sinner like me and I'm thankful. Really was a spooky thing. One thing I did not mention is the barrel split into 3 piece and if you look at the picture, one of them is gone. Did not notice it till I got home.
Luke, thanks for the offer but I have 3 more in the safe to cover me this season. I will be talking to you later though! Need one with a Brux barrel to fit the full form die.

[edge]

Nov 15, 2016 15:30:21 GMT -5 doggzoe said:

SNIP.
One thing I did not mention is the barrel split into 3 piece and if you look at the picture, one of them is gone.

SNIP.

I couldn't figure out why I got such great radio reception on the way home from the shooting range. but found I have a new "antenna" stuck in the side of my car...I even pick up satellite radio

edge.

[jims]

Thankfully you were not injured. That is as bad of damage on a double load that I have seen.

[rangeball]

Wow. Glad you or no one was hurt.

Out of curiosity, what barrel contour?

[kennacl55]

Glad your ok, I did the same thing once without injury but it sure changed my procedure when shooting all my MLs.

[doggzoe]

Rangeball
The contour WAS the Brux modified sendero Luke sells.
Ken
The procedure will be changed.

[BuckDoeHunter]

Really sorry to read what happened, very glad you are ok. I read a report on another board about a double load and a witness mark was on the ramrod but not looked at. I am going to research putting a collar with a set screw on my ramrod so it's very obvious something is not right.

[Dave W]

Glad you are OK, like others said, develope a system and stick to it along with a witness mark.

[Deleted]

I bought a Knight Ultimate Range Rod years ago when they were around $50. Load your bullet and set the collar. Looks like Knight still has them for $104! Glad I got mine when I did.

[nyhunter]

Glad to hear you were not hurt.

Yes someone on the other message board double loaded and forgot to check his witness mark.

He was not as lucky as you, he had his hand on the forearm.

Thank god he didn't lose it, however he did require SIX hours of surgery.

This is the 3rd double load I have heard of inside of a month, we all need to pay close attention when we are loading.!!!!!

[7mmfreak]

Day-um. Glad you came out of that ok.

[doggzoe]

You and me both bother. Look at it every day and just think what could have happened.

[rpcw]

Can I make a suggestion?

If I have any question, I keep a flashlight with my box and shine a light up from breach end with primer out. If no obstruction you can see light clearly.

[ourway77]

That is a great suggestion (Light) Sure glad the shooter came out of this fine which could have been worse. It's posts like this that really make you think. When I am loading it never fails some one will ask a question what I do is put the patch in the barrel answer the question then I see the patch I know I am loaded. Witness mark #1 pull the breech plug #2 if still uncertain (Messy) Powder all over the place clean up is far better than a blow up

[kralik4jr]

Very Glad Your OK!!!