I wonder ? ?

[Ben]

I was browsing through some photos of T/C single shot pistols this afternoon on the internet. I found this..........WOW ! !
There were no details.
Makes you wonder , what exactly went wrong ?
I wonder what kind of pressures did this damage ?
I also wonder about the condition of the shooter ?

Ben

 

[Brad]

Or the shooters shorts.

Damn, that would get your attention.

 

[Rick]

A logical guess would be a really hot load with a plugged barrel. I've seen a few damaged Contender barrels from double charges & who knows what all but never anything even close to that. Was little doubt a re-chambered barrel, look at the end of the chamber and how thin it is, considering the diameter of a Contender barrel that looks pretty thin.

 

[Ben]

Yes, Rick....A very good observation.
I'll vote with you, looks like a barrel obstruction to me.
I'd love to know more , but alas I may never know ? ?

Ben

 

[JWFilips]

Could you imaging the force required to achieve this with modern steel? And inches from the shooter's face!

 

[freebullet]

Mmm, not to good there.

 

[Rick]

Had to be a minimum 308, possibly an 06 looking at the chamber. Contender frames were never meant for hot loads in such cartridges but look at the bright side, the action didn't open and it looks like the barrel lug weld held just fine.

 

[Ben]

Rick,

I really like my Contenders.

I've always felt that the " moderate calibers " that fit my action , ( 30-30, 357 Mag., 44 Mag., 32 H & R Mag, etc ) are safe enough.

Anyone that can follow:

• Safe and accepted reloading procedures and
• Range safety procedures

Should have zero problems with a T/C Contender. Whoever was holding that T/C Contender when it went off failed to follow one of the above.

I wonder if they experienced a " Blooper Round " and failed to check the bore for obstruction and then chased that Blooper with another live round ? ?

Ben

 

[fiver]

look at the ringing right at the end of the chamber.
the pressure waves must have been horrendous.

I'd say,,,, he had an obstruction.

 

[Bret4207]

Looks like a long straight walled cartridge to me, maybe a 444? Either way, I'd say barrel obstruction.

 

[JSH]

Pretty sure that was a 444 Marlin rechamber. Picture looks familiar from years ago.

I won't mention a name, but I personally know a fellow that shot a 44 mag in a 309JDJ. The crazy thing is it did not rupture or stretch the barrel of frame. I am pretty sure JD has the complete gun, if I recall correctly. That is pretty wild running a 44 jacketed bullet through a 308.

I have heard of guys stretching frames with the 375WW. I have one with a brake. It can be an uncontrollable monster. I have shot some crazy stuff in encores and Contenders. I have no idea why one would knock the hide off their knuckles and bloody their hands, then laugh about it and brag what a heman they are. All the while never hitting a darn thing to boot.
Macho, manly, brave, there is a fine line between that and stupidity.

Ben, I know you like the octagon barrels. I will give a heads up,the old octagon 44's with external choke tube, take the tube off and the barrel is around 7" or so. I had one that came in a package deal. It was a "biter" for sure. About the most wicked recoiling rig I ever fooled with, but the darn thing shot good and accounted for several deer critters. Makes my knuckles hurt thinking about it. And I am not so sure the knot on a bone on my right hand was not caused by that rig.
Jeff

 

[Ben]

Jeff,

I don't have a .44 mag with an Oct. barrel.
Nor do I own a barrel with a choke tube.
My only one is a Super 14", 44 Mag, it shoots fine.

Ben

 

[KHornet]

I also think a bbl obstruction!

Paul

 

[scb]

Blown up guns intrigue me so I dug a little deeper and found this. I’m taking the “explanation” with a grain of salt. More pics. at the link.

Moderator edit: The above link added 8 ads to this post, should that continue the link will have to go. Rick
.

 

[Rick]

I know Mike Bellm and that sure doesn't sound anything like him. He recently contacted me to ask permission to use content on my web site for his site that he's re-doing and ask if I would add more of his content to my site. I've never heard of anyone that couldn't contact him or anything about driving a truck in TX. I suppose anything is possible but his excuse sets off the BS alarm for me.

 

[fiver]

I figure the last thing Mike would be doing is driving a truck.

 

[scb]

Blown up guns intrigue me so I dug a little deeper and found this. I’m taking the “explanation” with a grain of salt. More pics. at the link.

Moderator edit: The above link added 8 ads to this post, should that continue the link will have to go. Rick
.

Sorry - didn't know. All I did was copy and paste what I thought were .jpgs'

 

[Rick]

Not your fault scb, it's the Tripod site. Anyone can have a free web page hosted by them but you pay a high price in all the ads on your page and others who click on or link to your page.

 

[KHornet]

Am sort of glad I shied away from Contenders. If I had bought one, I would
have had to have at least a half dozen bbls at min, and probably more like a
dozen. Additional bbls for contenders are addictive.

Paul

 

[Pistolero]

Scope holes nearly reached the bore, looking at the pix in the linked story.

Five screws all in a line, might be six......just like perforating paper to make it easier to tear,
and note that it tore right through the middle of these holes. No coincidence.

Seems like a bad idea to rechamber to .444, but I have never owned a Contender.

Bill

Moderator edit: Tripod ads removed.