Thread: .17 HMR blow up

So I was out 2 nights ago, spotlighting. I took aim at a hare, pulled the trigger and boom! The brother inlaw fell off the bike. I felt impact on
My fore arm then on the side of my face. Both of us felt deff. Put the head light on and the sides of the 10 shot polymer magazine had blown off, there was a black mark on the wooden stock underneath the pressure release hole. Carefully opened the bolt. When I removed the suppressor there was the projectile sat in the end of the barrel. A big shock after putting 100s of rounds through the CZ never missing a beat!

Bolt gun or semi auto

Bolt will add pics soon.

Older Hornady ammo?

Yes I think that was the problem as have read about the issues

My guess, squib round, bullet pushed up the barrel, second round loaded and fired. I've seen old Hornady with neck cracks fail to fire, extract and there's no bullet in the case, it's up the bore.

Wow thanks keep a eye on that got a CZ & hornady ammo. Good to know. Seen a Savage that split every neck, rifle got returned to the shop.

Don’t blame the rifle for split necks
Some HMR brass hasn’t been annealed before sizing to 17 cal and the brass is as brittle as

Add in galvanic corrosion “sticking” the projectile in the neck of the brass and when you fire it’s too much for that extremely thin brass

I’ve had it in my HMR, can’t remember which one, I’ve owned four of them. Projectile half way down barrel, I picked up the different noiseand checked, powder was black, still in the case. I think dampness. But listen to the noise when using.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

Don’t blame the rifle for split necks
Some HMR brass hasn’t been annealed before sizing to 17 cal and the brass is as brittle as

Add in galvanic corrosion “sticking” the projectile in the neck of the brass and when you fire it’s too much for that extremely thin brass

Split necks are common in everyone I’ve owned

It's not that uncommon as some would have you believe.
I've been through the blowing up of a T bolt and it only pushed the projectile half way down the barrel. In the last few weeks, I've been testing the ammo only to find split cases and I was getting the odd double to extract, but on the bench I was seeing a lot more split than normal, tentman+ gamely stood by as inspector Morse. In different ammo, like .22 find a batch and buy it and the newer the better.
Here's what I have learnt, the cases aren't annealed and the older the more prone to splitting. Hornardy have said it's usually ammo getting to the ten year mark that case are seen to split. Yet I don't find that to be the guide line.
Hornady recommends! Typically we like to see below 30 percent humidity and temperature of 65 to 70 degrees.
They have no control on shipping and storage when it gets here and how many years old is it, well at least three in the batches I've shot.
Now I am a great fan of the 17hmr in pest control and while major failures can happen, the idea is to take note of the batch and check for splitting.
Keep your ammo dry in good storage and keep an eye on the gas leakage in the chamber, because it will eat it at some point, if you shoot a lot.
I have taken to keeping the chamber ring clean, so not to add pressure to the neck of the case, the 17hmr have very tight tolerances that's what makes them shoot.
May we all continue to shoot another year.
KH

Here's a few of the small split cases, these gave no problem with ejection and didn't spread on the target.
But the brass isn't that good on inspection and I had two that went click. No batch buying on theses federales.
KH

Everybody ok? No serious injuries I hope.

Originally Posted by 40mm

Everybody ok? No serious injuries I hope.

I think some Poo came out

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

I think some Poo came out

Better than blood or aqueous humour ( eye fluid)