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What advice would you give?

misst
Guy I know bought from a gunshow a M1 Carbine Inland 1944 for $575, 95% original condition. Saw the gun, thought he got a great deal, I would have paid more for it, it was that nice. Had it about 3 months before he shot it. Fired 90 rds, no problems. On the 95th round, gun blew up. Almost tore the lug off the bolt. Thank goodness he was not injured. Trying to figure out why it happened? He wants to know if he should ask the guy who sold him the gun for his money back? What would you say?
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Ambrose
    Sounds like an ammunition problem. Glad he wasn't hurt!
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  • rufe-snow
    Firearms just don't blow up. Either the ammo was bad or their was some kind of obstruction in the bore.

    Investigate the ammo first. Was it commercial or reloads. Millions of rounds of commercial ammo are loaded every year. Unfortunately every once in a while a bad round gets through. If their was a round fired with out powder the primer would have enough pressure so that the bullet would go into the barrel. The next round would be a KABOOM! You get the picture.
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  • beantownshootah
    This, by the way, is one reason why you should always wear eye and ear protection when shooting.

    I agree with Rufe and Ambrose.

    Problem was most likely faulty ammo, not the gun itself. An ordinary round fired after a low powered "squib" round can blow up a gun.

    Careful examination of the wrecked gun and residual cartridge by a knowledgeable inspector can usually reveal what went wrong.

    What sort of ammo was he firing? If he can document the problem, he may well have a good case against the manufacturer of the ammo. Any reputable manufacturer would probably be THRILLED to get him a new gun and make this problem go away.

    But if he reloaded the ammo himself, bought someone elses reloads (including a fly-by-night "remanufacturing" company), then he might be out of luck.
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  • CS8161
    There is surplus 30 carbine ammo that is maked LC-52, but its made overseas and loaded to higher than normal pressures, did he get a batch of that stuff?
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  • Spider7115
    Whatever the reason, I don't know of any seller who would guarantee the shootability of a 66-year-old collectible firearm. Besides, it worked fine for 90 rounds, which would be more than enough for test firing. Just be thankful that your friend is OK.
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  • NOAH
    had the same happen to me on two differnt carbines[:0]realized i was using the same ammo i had from years back that i bought for a bargin,i thought[B)](reloads[xx(][xx(])so i would say it's your ammo.get rid of it.the guy that sold the gun is NOT LIABLE.
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  • misst
    Guy said he was shooting factory S&B. Says no way a squib round, he would have known. He thinks headspace was off. I asked if any of the casings of rounds he shot before had swelled or split, said no. Is there anyway to check the headspacing once one lug is about broke off and the other bent and reciever damaged?
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  • wpage
    Check both ways. See if there is any documentation on the rifle. See what is the story on the ammo...
    There can be recourse on both sides. Depends on on the vendors.
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  • misst
    No documentaton on rifle. Non-import. No telling where it came from but in "mint" shape with proper barrel for date of receiver. Didn't look like a rework of any kind. Late 1944. Anyway to check headspace once bolt & reciever damaged?
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  • Grasshopper
    quote:Originally posted by Spider7115
    Whatever the reason, I don't know of any seller who would guarantee the shootability of a 66-year-old collectible firearm. Besides, it worked fine for 90 rounds, which would be more than enough for test firing. Just be thankful that your friend is OK.


    Absolutely,,,no recourse for the buyer,,,wasn't the sellers fault..end of story
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