winmag, I thought they first reported the explosion took place in a document storage area but, based on your post did it take place in the Ballistic lab area? Not sure how far apart Redmond is from Bend but, I guess your getting the latest info from the local news...yes?
It takes me about 15 min to get to Noslers parking lott from my house.... as long as I dont stop at Sportsmans Warehouse (whole sale sports here now) on the way.
Nosler employees have the ability to use the range (balistics test lab) down stairs, and all the data recording equipment, in the ''basement'' wich is to the west of the Custom shop, and almost directly below the production facility, from the way I understand it.
So how, unless someone had a ''hangfire'', then burried the round in a compressed 55gallon bbl of powder then put it in a room with in-adequate vent tube.....
Couldnt happen.
Having built Sportsmans Warehouses all over the western U.S. I can tell you that ANYTIME powder, or firearms are involved there are a NUMBER of hoops to jump thru to even get a signature from an A.T.F official/inspector, and a State Explosives inspector, not to mention that Homeland security is tied in with these agencies now, and all this has to take place PLUS meet local and state building codes and Fire Marshal approval before you can even get a T.C.O. (Temp. Cert. of Occupancy) to even let employees come in the building to stock a store. Then when all the signatures are there you get a final inspection for C. of O. for letting customers in the bldg.
Something aint jiving here. These guys cross thier ''T's'' and dot thier ''I's''. They dont let anyone slide. Ever. From the way ''explosives'' are stored and labled to the building itself.
Im just not buying it. An employees rifle caused the explosion just doesnt cut it.