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Sako 85 Finnlight 270 blew up

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ccoker View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ccoker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Sako 85 Finnlight 270 blew up
    Posted: October/21/2009 at 15:14
So...
I have been holding off on posting this until I got a good letter together for Sako/Baretta with all the pertinent facts documented

First, the letter:


The first shot exploded the gun.

Thankfully I suffered only minor injuries but was obviously very shook up.

As a long time fan and owner  of multiple Sakos (and later Tikkas) I would like to think it was just a total fluke!

I saw no barrel obstruction and have no idea why this happened.

In the interest of full disclosure:

I do reload and have been for many years and am VERY cautious.

My load was within spec according to the bullet maker (Barnes)

I pulled the remaining loads and they were all perfect.  I use an electronic scale and load one bullet at a time for precision, not volume.  I verified the primers were the correct type.  I had cleaned the barrel the previous week and had fired less than 20 rounds through it.

For reference, powder was 59g of H4350, brass Federal, primer CCI BR, bullet was a Barnes 110g TTSX

This data is at the max per Barnes and shot fine the previous week

I had carefully worked up this load looking for pressure signs.  I have the brass from those rounds and each is marked with a sharpie for the powder charge, I would be happy to send them to you.

The bullet did make it on to the paper at 100 yards so it was not a barrel obstruction.

If you decide you can replace it with another gun I would be an estatic Sako customer for life (already am really)

 If that is the outcome, I would prefer to get a 25-06 in a standard stainless/synthetic model, I don’t think I can ever fire a 270 again.

2nd, the pics







So..
I post this NOT to slam Sako or start a panic
but, this forum has some of the best people on it of any gun related forum and I would like to get other's opinions on as to what could have happened

I double checked everything and don't think I screwed up, I almost wish I did so as to be able to positively ID the root cause of the failure and if I caused it, to make damned sure I never let it happen again...

If it was simply loading at the edge, well, I guess I know firsthand what can happen
my goal was not to wring out the absolute last few FPS but according to Barnes and others their bullets tend to group best when pushed hard...   

I feel very fortunate to have sustained only minor injuries, and if it is deemed that I screwed up by running too hot and have a $1400 paper weight, so be it.. at least I have my fingers and can see.. and am alive..  I have kids I want to see grow up..

If that is deemed the case, then please let this be a lesson to us all

My brother has a friend who designed firerarms for Baretta who we hope can assist.

thank you
Charles




Edited by ccoker - October/21/2009 at 15:15
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 15:34
Glad to hear your OK!! 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ccoker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 15:48
thanks
suffice it to say, it was a scary thing
and it took some effort to get back to shooting the first time out

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:00
Wowza, I can't believe it blew up like that and still shot the projectile down the barrel.  I wonder if the barrel has the wrong caliber whole drilled in it. 

Glad you are okay, that had to have been scary.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ccoker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:05
no, I have had the gun over a year and have shot it plenty to know it was working fine

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:13
Ahh, I took it it was a new gun as since it said the first shot exploded the gun. Dang that is crazy, keep us posted when you figure out what caused it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ccoker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:16
thanks
perhaps I need to change that first sentence then
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:33
Hmm... Tell us about the cases?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JF4545 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:42
Charles, Yes I thought the rifle was new also from what you wrote. I too am glad you were not hurt (for sure) and actually from the looks of that, Im surprised you were not.. Pretty lucky dude really, damn are you sure it did not get a double charge of powder accidently? Thats one of my worst fears of reloading, to much powder by accident...Just a thought, again glad your you are ok and actually shootin again..
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:44
WOW!  I'm glad to hear you're o.k.!
 
Just looking at the damage, it looks like a case head separation to me.  How many times was the particular case you were using reloaded?  I'm assuming there was no barrel damage here, given that it isn't clearly shown in the pics...
 
Is there anything left of the case that you could post a pic of? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote helo18 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:56
That is amazing! Glad you are ok. Hope it gets worked out. Do you have pictures of the cases?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 16:57
I had a .308 give me a problem a week ago, but NOTHING like that!  Glad you are OK, sorry about the gun.

The trouble with a .270 is that the case has capacity for a double charge, smaller (most short-actions)cases do not.  My guess is Sako will do something for you, but since it was a handload, I doubt they'll step up and make you whole.

Is the case still in the chamber?

Given where the energy went (and how much there was), I'd say you were WAY, WAY over pressure.

You say the round was on target?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Preston Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:02
Thats crazy, good to hear you are ok!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SD Dog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:11
Glad you are ok.  Darn scary.  Given the powder, case should have been fairly full so a double charge would have been spilling out of the case.  Looking at the damage very glad you are ok.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:15
im glad to hear you survived that, it looks horrible. i hate to break it to you, but i have a funny feeling that sako wont help you out at all. remington puts in their owners manual a clause that strictly states that any use of handloads will void the factory warranty in full. sh*ty deal, but at the same time they cant control the guy who owns the gun.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cyborg Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:17
Shocked YIKES MAN............I am glad the injuries were minor. Talk about shell shock....
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:21
I've had a rifle blow up in my hands once.  

Definitely not an experience I care to repeat.

I am glad you are OK.  The damage looks like case head separation, but I am not an expert.

ILya


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:36
As Pyro stated, the fact you were using a handload probably means Beretta/Sako won't accept any responsibility for replacing your rifle, for the very reason he stated.  You say your load was safe, and it may very well have been, but you can't prove it in this situation.  The round has already been fired, so it becomes your word vs. a blown up rifle, and all they have to verify is the blown up rifle.  They have no control over the proper use of reloads, and they cannot accept liability for things outside their control, so most firearms companies simply refuse to provide any warranty coverage when the use of reloads is involved.  Really, I don't blame them either.
 
Who knows, maybe they'll take care of it.  I highly doubt it, though.  If it was a case head separation, the charge may have been within safe pressures and it wouldn't matter.  Case head separations are caused by either excessive headspace (shoulder was set back too far), you had a crack in the brass near the rim you didn't notice when reloading, or the brass was too thin just forward of the rim from multiple FL resizing.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Monster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:41
Normal case separation would not have caused that bad of a reaction. There had to be some insanely high pressures in that round.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mike650 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/21/2009 at 17:47
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