AR10 Hot Reload

[MasonK]

Lifted this image from the Gun Shop and Range Stories group on Facebook. At first the shooter said it was caused on round 3 of some type of Remington 150gr factory loads. Apparently it was confirmed it was a very hot hand load.

I don't hand load, so I don't know how hot you need to make that round that it blows the upper in half and split the BCG like a peeled banana, but it looked like a fun picture to share.

[Bearcatrp]

Looks like a 80% lower but not sure. Depends on what powder he used to get it hot enough to blow. Other possibilities could have caused it to. I use 8208 for my AR10 with 168 A Max and 150 FMJ bullets. Case almost full without issues.

[Rip Van Winkle]

The barrel extension appears to still be in one piece and the bolt still locked in battery, so I'd guess it was a case head failure.

[grimbeaver]

The barrel extension appears to still be in one piece and the bolt still locked in battery, so I'd guess it was a case head failure.

Looking at where all the damage is I think you are right. All caused by a reloader who had a head failure.

[crbutler]

Doesn’t look like it makes sense that way...

If the bolt is locked in place, how does the gas escape without blowing the bolt and barrel extension apart before the bolt carrier and upper receiver? Any leaking would be through the ejector blowing out and the firing pin channel.

I’m not seeing this as looking like it makes sense.

OOB detonation could blow the bolt back into the BCG and banana it while blowing the upper apart, but then it shouldn’t have the bolt locked in place....

I just don’t get what happened here...

[Bearcatrp]

Could it be a stuck firing pin set it off before fully chambering? Could also be the bullet from the last round shot jammed in barrel. Still hard to tell.

[Holland&Holland]

You know bend the scope base back straight add a little JB weld and I would say try it again.

[hard h2o]

Listening to the latest episode of the "Reloading Podcast". They answered a question about hot reloads. Everyone on the show basically said no to hot reloads.

If you need a hotter round than the one you currently have you need to get something chambered in a hotter caliber.

[Bearcatrp]

A bolt action is more forgiving to hot loads than AR's. My savage bolt action 308 is 2 grains above specified loads for 200 grain ELD-X bullets. Its a tac driver.