What Happened????

[Bob Wright]

This happened to me this morning. I was shooting a Three Screw unmodified .357 Magnum Blackhawk, blue, 6 1/2" barrel. Load was .357 Magnum, R-P cases, 9.5 grs. HS-6 behind a Nosler 158 gr. JHP. I shoot Wright handed with my thumb high on the ball of the standing breech. My left hand wraps my right, with the thumb of my left hand alongside the thumb of my right hand.

I had fired ten rounds and reloaded. On the third shot something stung the tip of my thumb of my left hand, and I felt an impact. Either particle spitting or hot gas, I figured. It STUNG!

There were no particles embedded in my thunb as usually happens when a case head blows. Nor was there any indication of jacket shaving. This was the third shot, so the two chambers nearest my thumb were loaded with live rounds. Nor were the cases split or burned through as is usually the case. Primers were obediently and correctly indented, no punctures there. My thumb is far enough back so any sideward blast should bypass my thumb.

No further problems were encountered, and I'm mystified by the happening. There was no straight path from the barrel/cylinder gap to my thumb.

Anybody got any idea what happened?


Bob Wright

 

[Donaldjr1969]

Was this at an indoor range by any chance?

 

[Bob Wright]

Was this at an indoor range by any chance?

It was, indeed. I was firing on the No. 1 lane, the wall to my left. The lanes down to No. 4 were vacant, my friend on No. 5. We get there about an hour before the range opens so we don't get the shower of brass from the "spray and pray" gang. Classes are in session so personnel have to be there anyway, so they let us in early.

What would that have to do with it, anyway, may I ask?


Bob Wright

 

[louiethelump]

more likely to get splash back from the debris in the lead catching backstop in an indoor range is what I suspect he is thinking.

 

[SAJohn]

Bob, Long ago I had a model 27 that would occasionally spit lead but only when fired double action. The cylinder was not quite locking up when doing a slow trigger pull.

I have one old model Blackhawk which will not quite lockup if I ease back the hammer really slow. Any chance you pulled the hammer back slowly on that particular firing?

Lead spitting is rare but is a good reason for always wearing safety glasses, especially when firing revolvers.

John

 

[Bob Wright]

I appreciate ya'll's input, but neither seems likely to me.

First, lead shaving, or in my case, copper shaving, leaves some residue at the barrel stub as evidence of what happened. As to lock-up, I'm relatively sure this old gun locks up when cocked. I don't cock the gun gently.

Back splash is pretty well contained at this range. The bullet slides upward on the backstop into a split pipe which allows it to lose its velocity and then drop downward into the bin at the bottom. (Hope that makes sense to you.)

And, even if it were shaving, it would have to come across the face of the cylinder then turn backward to get to my thumb. Particle spitting travels in a straight line sideways.

Keep theorizing! I'm open to any possibility.


Bob Wright

 

[Olsherm]

There some very large Mosquitos in Memphis last time I was there in the warm weather?? Sorry. There is one in every crowd you know. Just funning. olsherm

 

[louiethelump]

Alien space ships and a near miss from a death ray?

The direction you describe comes from downrange. That kind of narrows it down. Flying debris does not make sharp corner turns.

How about a hot particle of powder coming out of the throat of the chamber, hitting the frame AROUND the barrel where it comes through and then coming back. You did not describe penetration as you would probably have gotten with a piece of jacket material. So, it was probably a hot powder particle if you don't like the backstop theory. (or the near miss with the death ray)

 

[Olsherm]

It has been my observation that there are some very large "swamp mosquitos" in Memphis during the warm season. Just a guess on my part.
Sorry. There is one in every crowd.LOL
OOPS double posted. sorry

 

[RugerHound]

I'd love to see a photo of how you remember holding the gun... I've had similar experiences albeit infrequently over the years. I've suspected it's cylinder movement or some fluke with my grip, like my thumb is getting bumped due to recoil or too tight/too loose a grip on the gun. There's a bunch of nerves in the hands that can get 'stimulated' and manifest sensations in different spots.

 

[SAJohn]

I agree with Bob's logic; however, that Smith would somehow send lead particles back at me. As you say, it will leave evidence.
I have a Hawes .22 SA that once fired way out of cylinder to barrel alignment. The left side of the back face of the barrel was rounded over and lots of lead was almost welded to that area. (The gun survived and is still one of my favorites.)

 

[tom black]

Not to steal this thread but 40 odd years ago this incident happened to me. I had my old 4" Model 29 loaded with 5 grs. Bulleye under a 429421 slug. I was leaning over one of the big round bales of hay shooting two handed at a seasoned knot on a big dead maple tree, range was probably 20 steps. I had shot several rounds at it when on one round I pulled the trigger and the gun recoiled only to recoil again in a split second. I couldn't figure out what it was until I looked at the top of the bale of hay and there lay the bullet that bounced straight back at me and hit the revolver. I didn't shoot at the knot again.
Tom Black

 

[Donaldjr1969]

more likely to get splash back from the debris in the lead catching backstop in an indoor range is what I suspect he is thinking.

Yup, that's it. Certain traps are more prone to it, I think. The range I patronize uses vertical funnel traps. Every once in a while, I will feel something lightly graze my leg or arm. I have also seen fragments from a copper jacket laying in the range floor.

 

[Hondo44]

In my experience louiethelump has hit upon the most likely scenario:

"How about a hot particle of powder coming out of the throat of the chamber, hitting the frame AROUND the barrel where it comes through and then coming back. "

The interior upper corner of the frame above the barrel/cylinder gap has a vertical surface, a corner and a horizontal surface under the top strap. More than adequate geometry for a ricocheting particle or hot gas to bounce right back at your thumb tip which was virtually pointing right at that corner.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

There is a lot of stuff that comes out of the B/C gap. If you don't believe it watch a slow-mo vid sometime. I have been peppered on more than one occasion with debris to my hands and face. I have also been hit with ricochet debris, sometimes quite large, at an indoor range.

 

[M'BOGO]

Bob, don't you shoot " Wright " handed, as you say, no matter what hand you use? BA-DA-DUMP!

I suspect backstop splash/ricocht as well.

 

[Donaldjr1969]

When I have shot my SRH, I have had a bit of stuff outside the b/c gap trike me somehow. Usually it is a tiny piece of lead or a hot powder particle. With the bag rest I use, it is easy to have happen. However, when that has occurred, it is a minor sensation to me, at least. I mean, I can feel it but it is not enough to warrant an ouch. It feels like a pin prick to me.

With backsplash, it hits with enough force that I know it is not a hot particle striking me. It just hits too hard. I also have seen fragments actually sitting in the pocket of the hoodie I wear to the range on cool days.

 

[roarin 54]

I had something similar happen yesterday while shooting my SBH, I shifted my grip slightly and got a sharp sting on my left thumb. It was the fingernail on my trigger finger digging in to my left thumb. I pay better attention how I grip the revolver now.

 

[robertkirksey]

I don't know what happened, but could you post a picture of the grip as you described it?

 

[mindustrial]

"I was firing on the No. 1 lane, the wall to my left."

Ricochet off the wall? Any steel beams, posts, or structures to rebound off? A block wall- perhaps debris hit a small nook or cranny which was able to be redirect right back at you.

 

[Bob Wright]

This is an old photo, and the gun is a Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum, but it demonstrates my grip. My right thumb is on the recoil sheild ball, my left lies alongside it.

Sorry, so far I can't download photos from my camera to this lap top. Hope to learn how soon.

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

"I was firing on the No. 1 lane, the wall to my left."

Ricochet off the wall? Any steel beams, posts, or structures to rebound off? A block wall- perhaps debris hit a small nook or cranny which was able to be redirect right back at you.

I think a ricochet from the wall would have struck my thumb on the side, the impact I felt was from straight downrange.

Somehow I can't buy splash for downrange, I can't believe such small particles would have retained enough velocity over twenty-five yards to strike with such impact as I felt.

Bob Wright

 

[Iron Mike Golf]

Bob,

I have been cut and dug copper jacket bits out of my skin from ricochets. Since I was shooting lead, it had to come from firing on different lanes. No clue as to flight path.