Visiting my favourite gunshop today the owner showed me a custom 338 W mag. on which the front lugs had sheared off and the safety lug had also nearly been torn off. The action was a commercial 98, probaly a Mark X or a Santa Barbara. The ammunition was Federal premium factory and the accident happened as the third shot in the string. Apart from some damage to the case rim the case was intact, primer flattened but no evidence of gas leakage. My assumption is the intact case makes it difficult to be the fault of the ammunition and that the action failed. Any thoughts or opinions?
Mark

Mark---

I do accident investigation as part of my work and have a couple of questions.....

If the lugs failed it means the bolt moved out of position....what moved it? If the case is intact it means the bolt didn't move, so the failure becomes a BIG question.

How about the extractor? Was it still on the bolt? If so it means there wasn't enough gas escape to cause the damage shown on the bolt.

I would have to see the parts and pieces to be sure but from the limited information so-far, I'd be VERY doubtful the failure was caused by shooting the rifle unless there was a LOT of grease, oil or water in the chamber......but you said it was the third shot....is it possible an oily patch was used in the bore between the second and third shot?

In any case, lug failure on a M-98 design means DRASTIC heat-treat problems......VERY drastic heat-treat problems. I've seen receiver failures in early Santa Barbaras but never a bolt failure in any M-98.

[ 11-13-2003, 17:33: Message edited by: JBelk ]

Jack
The extractor was intact. As far as I could see the only damage was the lugs ! Afriend blew up a rifle trying to shoot out a bullet jammed in a barrel while developing reduced loads. The damage on this action was not nearly as severe, in fact I could'nt see any signs of gas leakage.
If for your own edification I could send photos but it would be snail mail.
I appreciate your thoughts, I have bought 3 MRC actions on your reccomendation.
Mark

JBelk,

Glad to see back with us.

Thank you Saeed. It's good to be back......and I really appreciate the concern.

Now I'm off to see my Mom for T'Giving so I'll be gone again for a while.

Mark, I would very much like to have some pictures of the action and parts if you could arrange it. There's no such thing as too much information.....I learn something else from every blow-up I see.

I'll check with you when I get back.