Admiral Von Tirpitz Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 I was out rabbit shooting last night, aimed up for the next rabbit, squeezed the trigger and just had a click, immediate thoughts was I had not ejected out last round, so did so, despite thinking I had and there indeed ejected a spent round. Then I could not get the bolt to close fully, tried several attempts and had to give up and go home. My friend tonight has found the problem, the bullet had travelled about 2 inches if that and jammed in the barrel, he used a 17HMR rod and it popped back out intact. His theory is either a bad round or my barrel was dirty ( I have to admit it had not been cleaned for a while, as many on PW had suggested no need to clean every time out). Anyone have any clues? Also my major concern is what if that bullet had made it another inch down the barrel and I managed to load in another one behind it and it fired, would I now be playing a harp on a cloud somewhere, or would the two rounds have fired out clearing the barrel?? :( Thanks if anyone can share a view on this. The gun must have had 500 rounds through it since new and is about 2 years old, being faultless until now. Admiral Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beretta28g Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Just a dud round possibily only having a priming compound in it. It would be interesting to see if you get another ike it in the batch of ammo. Just be carefull if you hear a off report. A for the two bulets, my supition would be bust barrel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 It's a dud round, probably no powder. It would be very unlikely that you would blow up your barrel firing a second with a HMR as it is not very powerful in the great scheme of things, but you may well ruin the barrel/rifle and it is obviously not to be recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 If you ever hear or notice anything unusual about a shot, check the barrel! No report is a sure sign something is wrong. Wait 30 seconds then eject the round. If there's no bullet, check the barrel before shooting again! I'm glad you were lucky. I don't know if the powder in a HMR round is enough to blow a barrel but I wouldn't want to find out either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shropshire_Lad Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 I had my first after 1600 rounds, you just know something is not right. Mine was the same, the round made it a inch or two up the spout. If in doubt check the spout! That would be barrel, it just does'nt sound as good! atvb Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 The same thing happened to my shooting bud Katzenjammer a few weeks ago. I agree with other posts. More than likely no powder charge in the case and the primer has ignited sending the bullet up the barrel. This has been discussed in previous posts and i am beginning to think there is or has been a faulty batch of ammunition. Was it Hornady blue or red tips you were using? At the end of the day it highlights to all HMR users that we must be aware of any unusual report from your rifle at any time. As for 17hmr being a low powered round and there is possibly no risk, should you inadvertently fire another round into an already blocked barrel :o . Well i'm afraid i beg to differ and i for one would certainly not want to have experience the end result. And that goes for all fellow shooters as well. Take care and shoot safe . ATB Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edr Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Probably just a conincidence, but within a few weeks of each each could there be a problem batch/machine wise at there end? EDR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1in9 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) I heard the same issue reported by some local shooters out lamping a couple of weeks back. After much gunsmith chinwaggery they were told its in fact a known issue, with tight throats on some .17 barrels hanging on to rounds if not discharged. If the primer had gone without powder there would still be a pop and the bullet would had made it much further down the barrel. I shall be manually checking the barrel after any misfires from now on, not had any to date on my .17 though. Be interesting to hear what ammo it was. Edited March 30, 2011 by 1in9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy111 Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 Had something similar last year with my Sako quad. Fired ?? rounds since I bought it, then, that night, "just" not the same noise. After a short while, ejected and found the primer ring had been struck but not ignited the powder. It happened twice that night, but never happened again from the same box. I used to get the odd, empty case, stuck in the chamber, but that was due to lazy cleaning. I don't clean the barrel until POI goes off but now clean the chamber regularly and no problems since..................touch wood/head Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadioles Posted March 30, 2011 Report Share Posted March 30, 2011 (edited) I feel fortunate in never having experienced such a misfire. One thought ... When the HMR fires, there is an unmistakeable and very loud crack as the bullet goes through the sound barrier a few yards after leaving the barrel. That would not happen if the bullet did not exit the gun. If you fire the HMR into soft earth a couple of feet away, you do not get the supersonic crack. That is quite a good way to evaluate the moderator on an HMR. So if your fire the HMR and do not hear the supersonic crack there is a fair chance that the bullet may still be lodged in the barrel, even if it went off with a reasonable bang. I guess that (as in this case?) if it is only the primer, or even just part of the primer, that has gone off, it could be very quiet and just enough pressure to push the round into the barrel. An easy mistake to assume that it was a previously fired round, especially at night when everything is so different. Thanks for making me think twice. I assume it was your CZ but what was the ammo - not Remington by any chance? Edited March 30, 2011 by dadioles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jb1 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 There was a post on the stalking directory about this a couple weeks ago, sako quad blown to bits after firing another round, be careful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KennyB Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 I happened to me last week for the first time, I was using remington's, had some light use since with no probs but ill be on my guard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 to me it sounds like either a dud or one with no powder added, however what has happened is the bullet has simply detached from the case at the start of the barrel. Had it moved up the barrel you would have been able to chamber another round. A keeper mate did the same when he unloaded to cross a road then couldn't chamber the next round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunray Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Exactly the same thing happened to me earlier this week. I have a CZ452 HMR and noticed a click rather than a bang when I tried to shoot a rabbit about 50 feet away. I pulled the bolt back in order to load the next round and noticed that the ejected round did not have the bullet head in place. I could not load the next round in by pushing the bolt forward. I tried with a separate magazine, same result. I took the rifle home (only 100 yards, fortunately) and saw that the barrel was blocked. I removed the bullet head with the help of a cleaning rod. The ejected cartridge case was full of powder, I emptied it and tried to fire off the primer in the cartridge but it would not go off. Presumably the primer was faulty or had gone off when I tried to fire the round initially. I have put fewer than 10 rounds through the rifle since I last cleaned it. The round was a Hornady 17gr. red tip and I must have fired off about 600 since I got the rifle two years ago. This is the first time that I have had a problem of any kind. The really annoying aspect of this event is the fact that the rabbit which was my initial target returned whilst I was fiddling with the rifle! It looked at me for a few seconds and then ambled off. I will be paying additional notice to that part of the field in future. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 the moral of the story is after any missfire drop the bolt out and make sure you can see down the barrel rather than trying to load another round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunray Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 the moral of the story is after any missfire drop the bolt out and make sure you can see down the barrel rather than trying to load another round Absolutely! I thought that I had got a problem with the magazine for some reason and tried the spare to see if it made a difference. As soon as it became obvious that something else was wrong I unloaded and took it home for a proper check. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 The same thing happened to my shooting bud Katzenjammer a few weeks ago. I agree with other posts. More than likely no powder charge in the case and the primer has ignited sending the bullet up the barrel. This has been discussed in previous posts and i am beginning to think there is or has been a faulty batch of ammunition. Was it Hornady blue or red tips you were using? At the end of the day it highlights to all HMR users that we must be aware of any unusual report from your rifle at any time. As for 17hmr being a low powered round and there is possibly no risk, should you inadvertently fire another round into an already blocked barrel :o . Well i'm afraid i beg to differ and i for one would certainly not want to have experience the end result. And that goes for all fellow shooters as well. Take care and shoot safe . ATB Pat You are misconstruing what I have said. The HMR kicks out 245ft lb at best generally, that IS low powered in the great scheme of things, when compared to centrefires and the relative barrel/breach strength/thickness. I have no issues here and have made no suggestion this is safe or does not present a risk. It seems HMR is getting a bit of bad press over the last year or two ammo wise, anyone want to relay a story of a Blown Up barrel...not what your mate heard down the pub. With this apparently happening regularly, where are the destroyed HMR rifles and bodies? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 here is one for you Dekers http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?21558-Exploding-.17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 here is one for you Dekers http://www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?21558-Exploding-.17 Hi al4x I have no issue with the fact people have had problems and apparently magazines have been blown out, and even possibly barrels enlarged slightly...this guy is fine, alive and fundamentally just shocked. I am no belittling the problem and I have made no suggestion there isn't a problem, and anything that has a safety issue MUST be taken seriously. But lets not sensationalize HMR barrel/ammo issues, most certainly there are/have been problems, show me a blown up barrel or an injured/dead shooter. ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat g Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Hi there Dekers, yes i appreciate what you are saying. I have shot and owned centre fire for many years from 223 up to 7.92 (8mm Mauser) inclusive and obviously the working pressures are much greater than that of Hmr,however i still think its worth reminding fellow shooters to take care in the event of a misfire. I never have and hope i never will see the effect of a shooter firing an hmr with a blocked barrel but i have witnessed a shooting accident and believe me it was not pleasant. Yes the hmr is only pushing out 245 ft lbs but there is still the potential for serious injury should the inevitable happen. Lets all be careful and be aware, Cheers Dekers . ATB Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Galore! Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 my sako does it if i overload the mag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wy111 Posted March 31, 2011 Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 my sako does it if i overload the mag. Not been pedantic mate, but how you can you overload? Mag only takes 5 max. Not sure(Age related ,but last year) whether I was using Hornaday(Don't use owt else) blues or reds at the time. Never pulled the bullets to see why(Went in ditch). Just main charge never ignited and bullet never left case. So, presumably, duff primer. Main thing, I knew something not ok, so, did thorough check, BEFORE, trying to rechamber another round Maybe should have saved duff rounds and complained, but for a couple? Can't be ar&ed And thats from a tight ar&ed Yorkie Ok, my hearing not the best in the world, BUT, I know if sommat don't sound right Factory ammo? Makes me wonder sometimes. I reload for CF and NEVER had one misfire, or maybe just lucky? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Von Tirpitz Posted March 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2011 Thank you all for your replies, I feel much more comfortable now and will certainly be far more careful if I get a click and not the normal crack of fire. I agree very short range shots do not produce any sound, but better safe than sorry. I was using that evening (and always have used) Federal Premium V Shok with black tips. I am always so careful with shotguns and regular check the barrels are clear of any obstruction, I will be checking the old HMR now too with far more respect, even if I scare off the rabbits now and then. Anyway its still an amazing rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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