Factory Federal ammunition explosion

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I was at the range today and got ready to shoot some factory Federal 224 Valkyrie ammo (mainly to recoup the brass since it’s wildly inaccurate), and I had a big...event.

When I pulled the trigger, a strange bellowing report sounded and a massive fireball erupted from the suppressor and the ejection port. Like a HUGE one. If I was a lefty, I wouldn’t have eyebrows or facial hair. I dropped the mag and safed the rifle and inspected the chamber quickly, nothing unusual.

I was expecting to see the front of my suppressor missing and mangled. It was intact and not a mark on it.

I removed the can, and keep in mind I had cleaned the suppressor since the last time I shot it, so it was spotless. The blast chamber was FULL of crud. There was debris everywhere.

The brass showed zero pressure signs at all, and nothing unusual to speak of.

I think it somehow it had the wrong powder in it.

Glad I was wearing eyepro.

Any thoughts?


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I'm not sure I want you reviewing my new to me scope.

:p
 
What did you clean the suppressor with?
Heard of people using volatile cleaners, that cause the vapors to explode...
 
What did you clean the suppressor with?
Heard of people using volatile cleaners, that cause the vapors to explode...

Well, if there WERE vapors in there, they were probably gone since it had been about 3 weeks.

I just use Hoppes 9
 
Happy to hear you escaped any injury and a nice bonus that your equipment is okay as well.

Knowing you the damn bullet still hit the bullseye.
 
Million dollar question....
Are you going to shoot the rest of it?

I vote that you send it to @BatteryOaksBilly to test in his ultra awsome test laboratory.

I already did. :cool:

I had on eyepro (always wear it), I just pulled my sleeves down and put on gloves, did NOT reattach my can and shot the other 19 rounds into the berm

And @JustKeepSwimming thats one round I have NO clue where it went. It went straight enough, since I know it cleared the end of the suppressor, but who knows how much speed it had. It might be in the dirt 20 feet away, or it might’ve gone into the next county. I have no idea
 
Did you check the locking lugs on the bolt well afterward?

I agree with the lottery ticket idea. You are either due, or fresh out of luck, Only one way to find out.
 
....I have never thought about it......but is Hoppes #9 flammable?
 
....I have never thought about it......but is Hoppes #9 flammable?

It contains kerosene. But it was probably 3 weeks after I cleaned it that I shot the rifle and I’d wiped it all off with a rag before applying Slip2k

It probably would evaporate in a few days time anyhow.

However, filling up the can with Hoppes and then firing a round might be bad
 
Yeesh, glad you're ok. Suppressors scare me in that they handle so much pressure, but that's not stopping me from paying up that $200 to own one.
 
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