MUST SEE!! Smokeless M/L explodes

Bang4theBuck

Bang4theBuck

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2013
Messages
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Location
Tennessee
I promise this is not clickbait. I follow Jeff Hankins as I respect his no BS approach to things, and I like the quality and simplicity of the products that he makes. I have one of his 'Remage' Smokeless ML barrel conversions. I came across this video immediately as it was uploaded, yesterday. I respect Jeff for posting this for the betterment of us guys that spend a lot of time behind the bolt of a rifle, as well as those that don't and need others watching over them. I have seen rifles come apart at the range before, but nothing like this. It is a miracle that no one was seriously injured. I suggest you watch the whole video, as there is good info to learn and share.

 
I agree you cannot be talking to another person while you're loading your muzzleloader. I made a similar mistake and double loaded mine however, figured it out before shooting.
 
I am another product of the distracted mind.
Several years ago, I was sighting in my T/C Omega Z5 prior to deer season. After a shot and during reloading, I got distracted....apparently.

It didn't blow up, why I don't know, but after seating the bullet, I had failed to remove the ramrod!
The recoil (90 grains of loose 777) was awe inspiring as was the scope that lacerated my eyebrow!
Never did find the ram rod!
 
My son shot his ramrod out of his Encore, left great bloodtrail back to house. Sliced open eyebrow pretty good. Marking ramrod to verify load is basic ML safety procedure. I use white dental floss and seems to work for us. My son was distracted helping buddy new to ML and simply failed finish load process. You cannot do both at same time. Unless using your process to teach.

Unbelievably lucky video.
 
I brought my nephew to my private club once as a guest. And of course it was the time of year when only the "Last Minute Joes" are there, so it was packed. He loaded a round and as the ceasefire happenned, without any warning he set is loaded ML down in the rack woth the rod in it. After the cease fire he put a primer in and let it rip.....the whole range saw the ram rod kick up dust part way to the target. He tried to deny it was his, but the circular slice in his forehead gave him away..
 
Muddyboots said:
My son shot his ramrod out of his Encore, left great bloodtrail back to house. Sliced open eyebrow pretty good. Marking ramrod to verify load is basic ML safety procedure. I use white dental floss and seems to work for us. My son was distracted helping buddy new to ML and simply failed finish load process. You cannot do both at same time. Unless using your process to teach.

Unbelievably lucky video.
Click to expand...
Bang4theBuck said:
I brought my nephew to my private club once as a guest. And of course it was the time of year when only the "Last Minute Joes" are there, so it was packed. He loaded a round and as the ceasefire happenned, without any warning he set is loaded ML down in the rack woth the rod in it. After the cease fire he put a primer in and let it rip.....the whole range saw the ram rod kick up dust part way to the target. He tried to deny it was his, but the circular slice in his forehead gave him away..
Click to expand...
I'm kinda lucky, I guess!
After that unfortunate event, I was able to take a doe that fall.
The next summer, I had shoulder replacement surgery. Can't take the recoil of that gun now.
I'm horribly right handed and shooting left hand just won't come together.
Besides, I don't need more than one deer a year anymore and I'd rather hunt the regular gun season.

Que sera, sera!
 
Those old T/C Omega ML rifles must have been made super strong. Here's what my buddy did:

On one of our first range outings of the spring, we decided to do some muzzleloader shooting. My friend loads up his Omega and fires a shot - KaBoom!! There is a loud report and some fierce recoil. There were no holes in the target. We were both mystified as to what just caused this event. He was certain that he only single charged the rifle.

Personally, I wouldn't have shot that rifle again, but he was itching to try another shot. This time he notices that the ram rod inserts much deeper into the barrel. After a little deep thought, the guy realizes that he never emptied the barrel of the slug & powder that he used when hunting in the fall. :eek: At the range, he had added another full charge and another sabot on top of the original load and fired it!

There was no damage to that rifle, and he still shoots it several years later.
 
Time and time again we either see or hear of double loading. The very first muzzleloading safety rule I was taught was the simple mark your ramrod. The verification of your load on a ramrod is no different than verifying the load and bullet used itself.

Ramrods have ridges to make it easy to do this. So why are there so many incidents of this being ignored? This is a serious question since it is resulting in potential injuries.

So why?🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Varmint Hunter said:
Those old T/C Omega ML rifles must have been made super strong. Here's what my buddy did:

On one of our first range outings of the spring, we decided to do some muzzleloader shooting. My friend loads up his Omega and fires a shot - KaBoom!! There is a loud report and some fierce recoil. There were no holes in the target. We were both mystified as to what just caused this event. He was certain that he only single charged the rifle.

Personally, I wouldn't have shot that rifle again, but he was itching to try another shot. This time he notices that the ram rod inserts much deeper into the barrel. After a little deep thought, the guy realizes that he never emptied the barrel of the slug & powder that he used when hunting in the fall. :eek: At the range, he had added another full charge and another sabot on top of the original load and fired it!

There was no damage to that rifle, and he still shoots it several years later.
Click to expand...
I'm (normally) very meticulous about cleaning my muzzleloaders. I learned on sidelocks and GOEX black powder, so I know the importance of cleaning a front stuffer during and after a range session!
About halfway down the bore of my Omega, there is a rough patch.
It won't scrub out. I "scoped" the barrel. It isn't rust.
I just wonder if it "stressed" the barrel metal or maybe even "stretched" the barrel. (?)
It didn't seem to affect the accuracy.

....and "YES!", that was one of the FIRST things my mentor taught me!
Mark your ramrod at both empty and loaded!
 
I once shot at a DNR range that required MLers to put the ramrod in the barrel when range cold was called to show the gun was safe, even if they had been in the middle of reloading. After a lengthy discussing with the range officer about the danger and liability of that rule I got it changed.
 

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