Range Rental M&P340 KaBoom! & 686 WTF?

[echo5charlie]

These pics are from the summer of 2009 when I worked at an indoor range. Both occurred within a month of each other. Being range rentals only range bought ammo should have been used, at least for the 340. The 686 barrel had to be retrieved from downrange, the 340 bits were scattered around the booth. Neither shooter was injured in any way. Of note, the internal lock on the 340 did not engage (I checked)!The brass visible is the suspected point of detonation as we were unable to extract it using greater than normal force.




I don't have any other particulars like round count, exact ammo used, etc. I was just on the clock when they occurred. Sorry for the crappy pic quality, this was with an iPhone 3GS.

[TheNewbie]

My brother was a reserve Game Warden, in a state that had them, and he started around 2000-2001 in that gig. His issued gun was a S&W 686.



His first shot in firearms training sent the barrel flying down range.

[HCM]

The 340 looks like a kaboom / ammo issue.

The 686 appears to be either a metaurgy defect, an over torqued barrel, or both.

Both S&W and Ruger have had this issue. It has been attributed to the above listed causes and even the use of grease with chlorine which can cause steel to become brittle. Regardless the 686 was nkt an ammo issue.

[echo5charlie]

Without a doubt the 686 was not an ammo issue, just a "WTF?!?!?" situation.

Given both were under a S&W range program (both replaced at no cost) there was little interest in finding out any cause, especially since no one was injured. The 10-year-later-me has a different view. Thanks for the possibilities on the 686!

[OlongJohnson]

I'd buy a squib on the 340.

Agree with the overtorque/chemical embrittlement hypothesis for the 686.

[Bucky]

Did they confirm the user was using the store bought range ammo?

[Jim Watson]

Ah, the question is just what store bought range ammo was it?
The rental range here gets whatever factory ammo is cheap; WWB, AE, Fiocchi that I have seen.
But there are places that sell and require their own off brand Bubba Bulk Blasting Bullets.

[echo5charlie]

Did they confirm the user was using the store bought range ammo?

Yes

[echo5charlie]

Ah, the question is just what store bought range ammo was it?
The rental range here gets whatever factory ammo is cheap; WWB, AE, Fiocchi that I have seen.
But there are places that sell and require their own off brand Bubba Bulk Blasting Bullets.

Remington.

[jtcarm]

In 2009 there was a stocking dealer special 686. Quick-change barrel.

Now that’s quick.