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Posted: 1/2/2009 3:03:24 PM EDT
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I would guess that if it got stuck before the gas system the gun would simply stop fireing, after the gas port then there would be trouble?
On a recoil op system I would imagine it would just blow up. How common is it? |
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On a gas-op gun, no matter where in the barrel the squib got stuck, there would not be enough gas to cycle the gun. Only hazard there would be a squib which the operator cleared as a dud, then fired the next round into the obstructed barrel.
A number of things can happen when firing with a bore obstruction, the least destructive of which would be the new round pushing both out, and probably leaving an 'expansion ring' in the bore from the violent contact which would permit the weapon to continue to be used, but destroy its best accuracy. Worst case would be a full-on catastrophic barrel failure, cracking back through the receiver, completely destroying the weapon, sending shrapnel everywhere, and injuring or killing the operator and/or other persons nearby. ETA: destruction from a bore obstruction is very rare. From reading gun boards, on the order of once every year or three, with a destroyed gun and injuries common, but only rarely an operator fatality. Not every kaboom is due to bore obstructions, either. The most common kaboom cause is OOB from bad headspace or a bolt face protrustion/frozen firing pin. Next most common is probably an overcharged round, usually a reload, but also occasionally a faulty factory load. Another cause I've seen is barrel failure after extensive use from metal fatigue (microfractures expanding over years of use). I've seen reports of several squib loads pushed out of the barrel with the observed expansion ring and no other failure, but can't recall ever reading of a kaboom from a stuck squib. HK's got a video of them kabooming a standard M16 with a water bore obstruction, while their HK 416 survives a similar test. |
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re: recoil-operated MGs:
In most cases, a squib load –– where an underpowered round leaves a bullet lodged in the bore –– will just allow additional shots to be fired, bulging or "ringing" the barrel. You usually notice within a round or two, but I've seen ones where shooters have kept the trigger down until the entire barrel filled with lodged bullets. The only hassle is that when a barrel gets ringed, it can be difficult to remove it for replacement. Once removed, though, you just swap in a new barrel and keep shooting. re: gas-operated MGs: I've never seem one blow up from a squib. In most cases, if the pressure is insufficient to push the bullet past the muzzle, there is also insufficient gas to operate the action. In extreme conditions, a squib load can lead to a catastrophic failure. But FWIW, I have never seen this injure the operator or bystanders when the MG was under .50-cal (with the big guns, all bets are off). I have seen guns ka-BOOM and self-destruct, but rarely does it cause injuries serious enough to require medical attention ... and KBs tend to be caused by overloads, not underloads which lead to squibs. YMMV. |
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re: recoil-operated MGs:
In most cases, a squib load –– where an underpowered round leaves a bullet lodged in the bore –– will just allow additional shots to be fired, bulging or "ringing" the barrel. You usually notice within a round or two, but I've seen ones where shooters have kept the trigger down until the entire barrel filled with lodged bullets. The only hassle is that when a barrel gets ringed, it can be difficult to remove it for replacement. Once removed, though, you just swap in a new barrel and keep shooting. Tony- could please elaborate on how the bolt would keep cycling for continued shots to be fired (aside from the shooter manually recharging the weapon)- In every squib with a recoil operated semi-auto, there is not enough energy to cycle the bolt, even when there is sufficient energy for the bullet to clear the barrel. |
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Quoted:
Here is a 16" M10/9 barrel - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/capttoyota/93EDMbulletstack.jpg 
How many bullets is that? 10? |
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