Exploded 10mm Nighthawk 1911

The_Shadow · May 26 2016 11:28:59 AM MDT

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/05/26/exploded-10mm-nighthawk-1911/

Well well a 1911 and Armscor Ammo! Say it isn't so! Not sure what happened to this one but here is what we looked at in the Armscor cartridge Pull-Down this is what was found:
Cartridge is from Ammo Manufacture: Armscor 180gr FMJ (plated)
Ballistics Information: 10mm Auto
Muzzle Velocity: 1150 fps
Muzzle Energy: 529 ft. lbs
Brass Make/Headstamp: A USA - Brass
Bullet Make/Weight/Construction/Info; Length 0.5740"/Dia. 0.4000": 180gr. FMJ (plated)
Actual weigh 180.0 grains Crimp Diameter 0.3990"
Meplat 0.2650" / Concaved Base
C.O.A.L.: 1.2470"
Primer: Nickel color
Case: Diameter 0.4200" Crimp Diameter 0.4220" Length 0.9860"
Powder Description/Positive ID/Type/Charge Weight: Tight Group 6.4 grains

Seeing that I have heard of guys having issues with the TightGorup powder over the years, it is a fast burning powder and at that loading double charge with 12.8 grains is possible...
This is what 12.8 grains TightGroup looks like in the 10mm brass

The brittleness of the slide and frame seem strange, but what intrigues me even more is why the grips are still intact on the frame. Mose casing blowouts will blow the magazine and guts out and even the grip panels off the frame. This seems to show the upper chamber of the barrel split as well? ${$default_huh_smiley}$ ${$default_huh_smiley}$

In today's mechanized world there are suppose to be system checks for out of tolerance (such as a powder check) things.
One thing comes to mind is powder bridging, where the powder gets stuck inside the powder drop, that case goes out short on powder, the next casing comes around and the previous charge that was hung up drops along with the normal charge into it making it over charged!

Intercooler · May 26 2016 11:37:36 AM MDT

It seems awfully weird the muzzle end expanded more.

sqlbullet · May 26 2016 12:24:18 PM MDT

Based on the pictures I am not sure the case head failed first. It looks like the front of the chamber under the locking lugs gave way. This would direct the pressure into the slide and dust cover, explaining why the grips are still intact. And why the slide and dust cover are such a wreck.

Apparently none of the case was found.

Wolfie · May 26 2016 12:32:29 PM MDT

You could not even fake that if you tried.

The_Shadow · May 26 2016 01:09:58 PM MDT

Quote from: sqlbullet on May 26 2016 12:24:18 PM MDT
Based on the pictures I am not sure the case head failed first. It looks like the front of the chamber under the locking lugs gave way. This would direct the pressure into the slide and dust cover, explaining why the grips are still intact. And why the slide and dust cover are such a wreck.

Apparently none of the case was found.

All of us handloaders will think of OVER CHARGE of powder as the cause just because.
We will have to wonder if the barrel was defective? ${$default_huh_smiley}$ I know that Bar-Sto rates their barrels as being 180,000 PSI rating.

QuoteAll Bar-Sto Pistol barrels are machined from solid 416 stainless steel bar stock which has been heat treated 39 to 43 RC and 180,000 PSI tensile strength.

So what are the STI's rated at?

QuoteSTI barrels are made from 416R rifle grade stainless steel billet forgings. The bore is gun drilled, button rifled, then air gauged to offer the most exacting size, and most consistent barrel available. The rifling is 1 in 16 twist and has six lands and grooves. The barrels are vacuum heat treated and vacuum tempered to 40 Rockwell, then machined to exacting specifications.

And the Slide and Frame???

QuoteSTI International slides are CNC milled from pre-hardened bar stock 4140 carbon steel to ensure slide rail exactness. The breech face is wire EDM cut for maximum precision angle.

QuoteThe STI 2011 Frame is manufactured from 4140 Maxell Alloy steel, pre-cut for high ride beavertail grip safety and ambidextrous thumb safety configuration. The frame is CNC milled billet, creating a very accurate frame to build the highest quality pistols.

NightHawk frames...

QuoteAs always, our frames are cut right here in Berryville Arkansas from solid forgings. We never use a cast frame.

BEEMER! · May 26 2016 03:07:45 PM MDT

I have never seen anything like that before.

Could there have been a barrel obstruction?

sqlbullet · May 26 2016 03:09:27 PM MDT

That is a great question!

yfdcap · May 26 2016 06:01:03 PM MDT

Ouch. Hate to see that. About the most expensive 10 you can blow up.

sstewart · May 26 2016 08:16:12 PM MDT

Quote from: BEEMER! on May 26 2016 03:07:45 PM MDT
I have never seen anything like that before.

Could there have been a barrel obstruction?

This seems very possible to me. Squib followed by normal round.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quick 2 · May 26 2016 09:02:29 PM MDT

NightHawk Customs posted 4 hours ago they disassembled this 1911 had proof it was a squib load that cause the gun to fail. With ammo manufactures running 24/7/365 and they have every round they can make already sold this could happen more. I have never seen as many recalls on ammo,firearms, and powder just last glad they caught them but it should have been caught and never have left the manufacture. To me reloading your own ammo QC is a lot better. My son has a Ruger 10/22 carbine and had a squib round and thankfully it just bulged the barrel. Found a like new barrel on Ebay $30 shipped when Ruger wanted $115 for a new one and never mentioned replacing it. Factory ammo and he was shooting double taps just couldn't stop because he was into the cadence and multiple targets.

The slide looks cast or over heat treated to me. If Nighthawk uses bar stock it should not look so crystalized. But NightHawk stood tall replacing the pistol even after a so called gunsmith beat and pried the slide to remove it enough to remove the brass.

sqlbullet · May 27 2016 08:26:39 AM MDT

That is great to hear about Nighthawk standing by this.

Squib. Gotta remember that too little powder in many ways is more dangerous than too much. But I really doubt a squib that obstructed the bore cycled the gun.

Good lesson for us all to learn again. If you get a malfunction, check your bore before you send another down the lane.

Intercooler · May 27 2016 09:11:44 AM MDT

The problem with that is many shooters today are speed racers. They fire them off about as fast as it will go!

Blades · May 27 2016 09:16:58 AM MDT

Quote from: Intercooler on May 27 2016 09:11:44 AM MDT
The problem with that is many shooters today are speed racers. They fire them off about as fast as it will go!

It is fun to blast away! ${$default_shocked_smiley}$ Sometimes ${$default_cheesy_smiley}$ I like to let loose with a full magazine every now and then.

This does make me want to by a Nighthawk. Great customer service.

sqlbullet · May 27 2016 01:20:45 PM MDT

I have no problem with just blasting away.

Just saying when blasting if you have a malfunction remember to thoroughly check it out.

And if you want to run malfunction drills, set up malfunction drills. But if you have a non-setup malfunction, you should check your bore, unless it is the "real deal" gunfight.

Charlie_Zulu · May 27 2016 03:04:01 PM MDT

Quote from: sstewart on May 26 2016 08:16:12 PM MDT
Quote from: BEEMER! on May 26 2016 03:07:45 PM MDT
I have never seen anything like that before.

Could there have been a barrel obstruction?
This seems very possible to me. Squib followed by normal round.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Was my 1st thought. But after looking at the other pics of it, to me, looks more like an over charge.

Would like to see the barrel out of the frame.