Anybody Ever have This Happen ?

[Duck Me Runnin]

This past Saturday,at about 8:30,I pulled the trigger on a nice gobbler. He didn't feel a thing, but as is customary,I didn't waste any time in walking over there.

He flopped for a few seconds,and was done. At that point,I decided to unload my gun. Upon doing so,I noticed that the action was stuck open.

The empty shell was stuck in the receiver,...........MINUS THE BRASS ! Apparently,the extractor grabbed the rim,and it pulled free from the plastic. The next shell was trying to cycle,thereby jamming the gun.

At this point,two thoughts occured to me. First,what if that bird had gotten back up ? No way I could have unjammed the gun in time for a second shot. I would have been more than a little pissed.

Second,WTF happened to the brass ? Did it leave the gun intact ? Or did it leave as shrapnel ? The second possibility is kinda scary.

This was a factory 3" shell,not some home brewed concotion.

Anybody else ever hear of this happening ?

[Outdoorsfool]

Never had it happen or hear of it happenin'. Leave it to you!! Without seeing the shell casing, I'd have to guess that when the extractor grabbed the brass, the brass separated from the casing and ejected in tact. If the shell had come apart upon firing (shrapnel scenario) I think you would have noticed something was up. Now on to your other question ... First,what if that bird had gotten back up ? I'm guessing you would have been doing the turkey trot with one dazed, but pissed off bird!!

[Duck Me Runnin]

OF,I would have had to beat him with a stick or somethin'. I'm no braniac , but I know better than to grab a bird that's sportin' 1 1/2 spurs and can still use 'em.

The end of the shell has a small split starting from the primer hole. It's kind of a unique trophy,so I kept it.

[hobiecat]

TTTim and I did the "turkey trot with one dazed, but pissed off bird" earlier this year in Kansas. This was a bird in the mid to upper 20 with a 11" beard and 1 1/4" spurs. Wasn't a pretty site! If someone woulda filmed it we coulda made some money on America's Funniest Home Videos!! Them suckas can scrap, I'm tellin ya!!!

[GoGop]

Never seen that happen, and hope I never do.

[fish]

Nope, never seen or heard of such a thing. I think I'd send the shell back to the manufactuer an see if you can get a free box of shells out of it.

[Brander]

I had it happen once in the duck blind, the brass came apart from the plastic, the brass ended up laying in the open chamber and the plastic was gone I assume it went out the barrel.

[Gamegetter]

DuckMe, I would contact the manufacturer of the shell and ask them what to do with the remaining unfired shotshells from that box (and any others with the same lot number). If I had that happen to me, I would be more than a little concerned for the safety and well being of myself and my gun. My guess is that the manufacturer will send you a new box of shells, they may want you to send the remaining shells for testing to find out what went wrong. Good Luck.

[Duck Me Runnin]

I hear ya Gamegetter. There's only a couple of shells left in the box,and I'm not really worried about being compensated. But I think I will contact them (Federal) in case they have had similar reports,and may decide to do a recall or something.

I'm no different than anyone else. I have enough on my mind when that bird is strutting in front of me. I want to be concerned with his pending injuries,not mine.

[Swamp_Fox]

Duck Me,

Next time you score around the brass you need to cut a little deeper.

Oh yea, and keep your deer poaching loads seperate from the uncut turkey loads.

[Duck Me Runnin]

Damn,Swampy,it was dark when I loaded the gun. Besides,I can't be expected to remember everything.

BTW,how's that new squatty magnum of your's treating you ?