Originally Posted by
Turnup;7089297
A detonation is a chemical reaction which proceeds through the fuel supersonically, i.e. faster than the speed of sound [I
in the powder itself.[/I] Since the powder is a solid this is very fast indeed. Such events will cause shattering. Claimed nitro detonations show no such evidence, barrels etc, being destroyed by stretching/deformations which are characteristic of over pressure.
I have seen first hand the effects of downloaded detonations of rifle ammunition three times.
First was someone reducing the loading to try and get a subsonic load but managed to get a detonation first. We heard the bang in a cubicle along the range and saw the shooter trying to hammer the gun open. It held together but the brass flowed and jammed the bolt.
Second and third were light charges due to poor powder measures (one it was found had a small piece of the powder tub sealant stuck in the powder hopper, I never found out the reason for the other light charge).
In one instance the case ruptured and destroyed the bolt, bolt carrier and magazine of the rifle, most of the recovered rounds were found to be approximately 50% the intended charge. We didn't find all the magazine parts.
The final one the brass again flowed around the bolt but didn't fail at any part other than the primer. No visual damage to the rifle.
In all the cases the worst injury was a stinging hand where the shooter was resting the rifle magazine on his gloved palm.
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