SGC 9mm - Catastorphic Failure - Almost lost an eye :(

[Blu]

I saw something like this happen before with an AR although it was a 5.56 AR. The cause was later established as defective ammo. What happen was one of the rounds (factory ammo) had a bulge in the case and when fed into the chamber the bolt didn't close all the way in. When the trigger was squeezed the result was much the same as happened to your rifle. As I recall the guy who owned the rifle got a fair bit of money from the bullet manufacturer without even going near a lawyer.

My advise to you is, before you hand that rifle over to anybody, get an independent report done first in case whoever was at fault tries to BS you. Remember once they have it they can do anything to that rifle to make it look like you were at fault. Might not happen but then again it might.

Glad that you are okay although shaken up, get back out on the range as soon as you can and don't wait around thinking about it.


Blu

I see the from the photos that the rifle is from Cornwall, maybe someone should tell them to stick to making pasties

[Chapuis]

Blu is absolutely correct as regards an indipendant report from a suitably qualified person or organisation such as the proof house. Continuity of evidence is also something that should be considered. Do not go poking around yourself and do not allow anyone else to play with it or "inspect" it. Bag it, tag it, and take it to the proof house or indipendant inspector along with any remaining ammunition and empty cases. This would constitutes a near miss in an industrial environment and would require notification to the Health & Safety Executive. I am not sure quite how this should be treated legally as it is privately owned but a couple of phone calls to the H&S executive in your area and the proof house should supply the required information.

[phaedra1106]

Hi and thanks for the replies and advice.

I've been trying not to think about this as I'm getting more upset every time I do. Roger Bill was seriously concerned and has assured me he will sort it out. I will let him collect it on Tuesday and see what he says. I will of course take photos of it from every angle before it goes.

[John MH]

There are very few if any bodies in the UK qualified to examine a firearm and determine the cause of failure. I doubt the Proof Houses would be able to help, other than to tell you that yes it's failed, as the regularly blow perfectly good and serviceable firearms up themselves by getting it wrong. There is a company in Cornwall, Helston Gunsmiths, that does forensic firearm examination who would be qualified to advise you if you wanted an independent assessment. I doubt that there is anyone in the NRA SQEP to help and they would have to have the firearm assessed by a suitably qualified body, probably off site, themselves.

[Dangermouse]

If the firearms is collected by TNT (like mine was) all you get is a slip of paper with little info on it. I would recommend that you contact your FET by usual means, and let them know that the firearm has been returned. It is unlikely that you will be getting the same serial number back anyway so they will have to be notified sooner or later anyway. How much you decide to tell them over the basic, "this gun is not working so have sent it back" is up to you & Roger Bill.

Good luck

DM

[dromia]

If you are a member of a "national" organisation I would ask them for advice on what you should do and where you stand.

Any half decent shooting body should be able to give you chapter and verse on this. Fortunately things like this don't happen very often but they do and the correct procedure, liabilities and advice should be laid down somewhere.

The first piece of evidence should be the Incident/Accident - Firearm/Ammunition Report Form that was completed at the time of the event as per the Range Action and Safety Plan (RASP) as this would cover the witnesses to the event that would be important if the blame was to be put upon the ammunition.

[ovenpaa]

We have a forum member who is an expert witness on all things firearms who may be able to suggest the right way forward, I just need to remember his name or hopefully he will pick this up.

[M99]

The first piece of evidence should be the Incident/Accident - Firearm/Ammunition Report Form that was completed at the time of the event as per the Range Action and Safety Plan (RASP) as this would cover the witnesses to the event that would be important if the blame was to be put upon the ammunition.

That is a really good point - I do hope you have a copy or can get a copy of this, as it will be good evidence of what happened and signed off by the RCO.

Was one done?

Mike

[John MH]

The first piece of evidence should be the Incident/Accident - Firearm/Ammunition Report Form that was completed at the time of the event as per the Range Action and Safety Plan (RASP) as this would cover the witnesses to the event that would be important if the blame was to be put upon the ammunition.

That is a really good point - I do hope you have a copy or can get a copy of this, as it will be good evidence of what happened and signed off by the RCO.

Was one done?

Mike

Only required if shooting on a MoD Range, if it was a private club range I doubt they would follow the procedure in Pam 21

[ovenpaa]

That is assuming it is an MoD range. If it is not an MoD range they may have a different approach to the duties of the RCO and train them in house. As an example Diggle have their own RCO's and training is slightly different to the NRA RCO as they need to take into account the layout of the Diggle ranges.

EDIT - John beat me to it :goodjob: