S&W AirLite exploded! - Page 2

geo · 03-22-2012, 12:03 AM

Yeah those light revolvers always scared me, and I am not shy when it comes to recoil.

Im glad no one was hurt.. thats scary.

carbofan21 · 03-22-2012, 01:12 AM

the thing that's odd is it wasn't just the cylinder that gave way, but also the top strap. that looks like a double charge to me. hopefully you saved the rest of the ammo. i would contact hornady as well.

my carry gun is a 642 and at 15 ounces it's no fun for me to shoot.

MAC702 · 03-22-2012, 01:28 AM

I can't fault the top strap. It's designed purely for tension forces. If a cylinder lets go, there's no alloy of 1/8" aluminum that's going to stick around.

I've heard double charges in guys' cowboy loads sometimes. This sounded normal, but I don't know what failure of containment might do to the sound, either. I also didn't get a fresh sample of "normal" right before the incident, either.

I'm sure I can find the Hornady box around here somewhere. They've been my favorite ammo company for a long time. I still think it was the cylinder.

Besides, a double charge of non+P .38 in a .357 cylinder? I don't think that should be anything to worry about.

SL Dangerous · 03-22-2012, 01:59 AM

Wow glad to hear she's OK. While rare these things happen. Plenty of posts in internetland about it.

Hopefully S&W (or Hornady) make it right without giving you any hassle.

CaustusPium · 03-22-2012, 02:10 AM

Talk about a holy chit moment! Glad your friends wife is relatively okay and is willing to get back on the horse, so to speak. Too bad you couldn't find cylinder remnants, be willing to bet they would show some flaw in the manufacturing.

Please let us know how S&W treats you and how long it takes to get your new revolver.

odesskiy · 03-22-2012, 03:37 AM

I have a 642 and carry it quite often, but like you said, steel cylinder is probably more trust-worthy. Not because steel is stronger than titanium (it's not) but because it's a much more time-proven design.

Glad no one sustained any serious injuries, glad to hear that the lady is in good spirits.

mattbcnv · 03-22-2012, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC702

The 442 is an aluminum frame with steel cylinder, rated for .38 +P, 15 ounces empty.

The 340PD is a scandium-aluminum frame with titanium cylinder, rated for .357 Magnum; 11 ounces empty.

Thanks I hope they hold up better than the 442, I shoot .38 specials out of it anyway!!
Thanks again!

mattbcnv

Vegas SMG · 03-22-2012, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAC702

...The 340PD is a scandium-aluminum frame with titanium cylinder, rated for .357 Magnum; 11 ounces empty.

I didn't want to read this.
Mine is a 340SC and has been relegated to the wife's car/purse carry gun for the last couple of years where it's carried everyday but shot very little. It's probably had 350 rounds down the pipe over an eight year period. This includes at least 100 rounds of full power .357 magnums, (just to prove I'm a real man). I'm not recoil sensitive, but even with the .38 specials, it's not a fun pistol to shoot but it's an excellent and extremely light weight "belly gun".

rat907 · 03-22-2012, 02:12 PM

Sorry to hear of incident, glad everyones ok and only shaken.

Sounds like a heat treating defect (highly undetectable) PLUS a stress induced failure. Even standard pressure ammo is lethal in this sense.

Hepcat · 03-22-2012, 08:36 PM

Wow, that's really scary! You might consider the M&P340. It's the same gun except it has a steel cylinder and a tritium big dot front sight. Although The 442 is also a great gun for half the price.

03-22-2012, 12:03 AM	#11
geo Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pahrump NV Posts: 2,645 Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	Yeah those light revolvers always scared me, and I am not shy when it comes to recoil. Im glad no one was hurt.. thats scary. __________________ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ex meis frigidis et mortuis manibus -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

03-22-2012, 01:28 AM	#13
MAC702 Schadenfreudist Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Clark County, NV--------------Mohave County, AZ Posts: 3,702 Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I can't fault the top strap. It's designed purely for tension forces. If a cylinder lets go, there's no alloy of 1/8" aluminum that's going to stick around. I've heard double charges in guys' cowboy loads sometimes. This sounded normal, but I don't know what failure of containment might do to the sound, either. I also didn't get a fresh sample of "normal" right before the incident, either. I'm sure I can find the Hornady box around here somewhere. They've been my favorite ammo company for a long time. I still think it was the cylinder. Besides, a double charge of non+P .38 in a .357 cylinder? I don't think that should be anything to worry about. __________________ Blue & Gold Firearms Training: Private Concierge Instruction Blue & Gold Services: Electrical, Welding, and Air Conditioning "It's not important how many people I've killed. What's important is how I get along with the people who are still alive" - Jimmy the Tulip

03-22-2012, 02:10 AM	#15
CaustusPium Non PC and Proud Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 642 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Talk about a holy chit moment! Glad your friends wife is relatively okay and is willing to get back on the horse, so to speak. Too bad you couldn't find cylinder remnants, be willing to bet they would show some flaw in the manufacturing. Please let us know how S&W treats you and how long it takes to get your new revolver. __________________ "As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must occasionally be raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the next article (The Second Amendment) in their right to keep and bear their private arms." - Trence Coxe 18 June, 1789

03-22-2012, 03:37 AM	#16
odesskiy Crazy Russian! Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,942 Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I have a 642 and carry it quite often, but like you said, steel cylinder is probably more trust-worthy. Not because steel is stronger than titanium (it's not) but because it's a much more time-proven design. Glad no one sustained any serious injuries, glad to hear that the lady is in good spirits. __________________

03-22-2012, 02:12 PM	#19
rat907 Another Clown With Guns™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Black Mesa, NV Posts: 2,744 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Sorry to hear of incident, glad everyones ok and only shaken. Sounds like a heat treating defect (highly undetectable) PLUS a stress induced failure. Even standard pressure ammo is lethal in this sense. __________________ Denny "When you reject the truth, all you have left is a lie" - John Haggee Keep your barrel clean, powder dry and your balls close at hand *There isn't a place called Black Mesa, NV. It's a fictitious Government research facility in a 1998 PC video game released by Sierra Studios named Half-Life. In which this facility closely resembles the aura of covert experimentation that surrounds the Nevada Testsite and the hero loosely based on Bob Lazar.

03-22-2012, 01:12 AM	#12
carbofan21 Gangmember Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: las vegas Posts: 303 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	the thing that's odd is it wasn't just the cylinder that gave way, but also the top strap. that looks like a double charge to me. hopefully you saved the rest of the ammo. i would contact hornady as well. my carry gun is a 642 and at 15 ounces it's no fun for me to shoot.

03-22-2012, 01:59 AM	#14
SL Dangerous Zombies aren't real Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NW Vegas Posts: 729 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wow glad to hear she's OK. While rare these things happen. Plenty of posts in internetland about it. Hopefully S&W (or Hornady) make it right without giving you any hassle.

03-22-2012, 08:36 PM	#20
Hepcat uber n00b Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 7 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Wow, that's really scary! You might consider the M&P340. It's the same gun except it has a steel cylinder and a tritium big dot front sight. Although The 442 is also a great gun for half the price.

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