Can you get that fired shell out of the gun? from what I see in the picture the base of the fired shell is rounded and the primer blown out??? I would wonder if you had a barrel obstruction in the bore. causing a horrible pressure situation . I am far from an expert but others will be along shortly. I think your lucky not to be hurt.

 

I think you should save that hull and contact the maker. I agree .45 Colt and that shell looks like it was a real overload or something else caused the excess pressures it displays. Good thing that is a strong gun and you were not hurt. You are undoubtedly going to send to Remington and they will inspect the gun completely.

 

Yeah, that shell doesn`t look right at all! Some kind of over pressure, or it looks like it. May well not be a gun issue per se, but no way I`d shoot that gun again without a go over at Remington.

 

I got home and it took it apart. Removed the magazine cap and the barrel separated from the receiver just the same way it always has. Removed my extended choke (Carlson's Cremator) and used a cleaning rod to punch the shell out which required very little effort.

The gas rods still move freely back and forth and the barrel doesn't appear to be any worse for wear. I wiped off the exterior of the gun and left the receiver and the rest of the internals as-is so my Gunsmith can see it the way it was when the malfunction occurred.

I'm going to have my guy go through it and I guess I'll send it back to Remington as well. Not great timing since I have a big Snow Goose Hunt one month from this weekend but I'll take my BPS (back up Gun) and it'll work out.

I've pasted some additional pictures below.

 

Additional pictures:

 

I can't believe the breech bolt was closed/locked as designed when the shell fired. Is firing pin intact and still operational? MCzar777, so glad you are ok.

 

I'm pretty surprised by the whole thing to be honest. I believe the firing pin is intact but I haven't tested it any further than cycling the action and dry firing which it does fine and goes "click."

Upon visual inspection, you'd never know it happened other than the chunks missing off of the bolt head. In fact, the bolt head still rotates when it goes into battery, the extractor is still there and everything feels the same as before.

 

I'm pretty surprised by the whole thing to be honest. I believe the firing pin is intact but I haven't tested it any further than cycling the action and dry firing which it does fine and goes "click."

Upon visual inspection, you'd never know it happened other than the chunks missing off of the bolt head. In fact, the bolt head still rotates when it goes into battery, the extractor is still there and everything feels the same as before.

Pretty solid gun, I'd say.

 

If it were Mine it would be going back to Remington today. and I'd contact Fiocchi about the ammo. Good Luck.

 

If it were Mine it would be going back to Remington today. and I'd contact Fiocchi about the ammo. Good Luck.

Safety demands this, IMHO.

 

Just got off the phone with Remington and the customer service rep was very nice and empathetic. He started the process for returning it and they're providing a free UPS shipping label which I thought was a nice gesture. Looks like it's going to be a couple of months before I know anything which is unfortunate but understandable given the number of firearms they sell and service.

Next phone call is to Fiocchi so I'll see what they have to say. I'll update as soon as I finish up with them but I'm the meantime, y'all might want to avoid buying their 3.5" #2s from Cabela's!

 

Looks like it's going to be a couple of months before I know anything which is unfortunate but understandable given the number of firearms they sell and service.

Next phone call is to Fiocchi so I'll see what they have to say. I'll update as soon as I finish up with them but I'm the meantime, y'all might want to avoid buying their 3.5" #2s from Cabela's!

I'll be surprised if Remington explains to you "what happen" to your gun other than possibly blame the ammo.

Same goes for Fiocchi. They'll blame the gun.

Neither of them will voluntarily provide evidence which you could use to sue them.

Hope I'm wrong.

 

I'm pretty surprised by the whole thing to be honest. I believe the firing pin is intact but I haven't tested it any further than cycling the action and dry firing which it does fine and goes "click."

Upon visual inspection, you'd never know it happened other than the chunks missing off of the bolt head. In fact, the bolt head still rotates when it goes into battery, the extractor is still there and everything feels the same as before.

Was it the first shell fired of three or a follow up shot?

 

I'm pretty surprised by the whole thing to be honest. I believe the firing pin is intact but I haven't tested it any further than cycling the action and dry firing which it does fine and goes "click."

Upon visual inspection, you'd never know it happened other than the chunks missing off of the bolt head. In fact, the bolt head still rotates when it goes into battery, the extractor is still there and everything feels the same as before.

Was it the first shell fired of three or a follow up shot?

Looks like it's going to be a couple of months before I know anything which is unfortunate but understandable given the number of firearms they sell and service.

The malfunction happened on the third shot.

Next phone call is to Fiocchi so I'll see what they have to say. I'll update as soon as I finish up with them but I'm the meantime, y'all might want to avoid buying their 3.5" #2s from Cabela's!

I'll be surprised if Remington explains to you "what happen" to your gun other than possibly blame the ammo.

Same goes for Fiocchi. They'll blame the gun.

Neither of them will voluntarily provide evidence which you could use to sue them.

Hope I'm wrong.

I have no plans to sue anyone over this and judging by the hull, I have no reason to think that the gun had anything to do with this. My goal in contacting Fiocchi is to let them know about this in case there's an issue with this ammo in hopes that they'll pull it before someone gets hurt.

If the gun is repairable and there is a cost involved to do so, I'm going to ask that they cover the bill. If they don't, then I'll leave it at that and stop buying their ammo which I buy about 1000 rounds per-year of.

The malfunction happened on the third of three shots with the Fiocchi ammo.

 

Looks like it's going to be a couple of months before I know anything which is unfortunate but understandable given the number of firearms they sell and service.

Next phone call is to Fiocchi so I'll see what they have to say. I'll update as soon as I finish up with them but I'm the meantime, y'all might want to avoid buying their 3.5" #2s from Cabela's!

I'll be surprised if Remington explains to you "what happen" to your gun other than possibly blame the ammo.

Same goes for Fiocchi. They'll blame the gun.

Neither of them will voluntarily provide evidence which you could use to sue them.

Hope I'm wrong.

Since it was factory Fiocchi ammo, I think Remington will foot the bill for the repairs. I don't think they will use the fact that it was the ammo to deny repairing your gun. OTOH, Fiocchi may just take the info and blame the gun but go revisit that Lot on their own.

My impression of Remington from numerous accounts is that their CS has been excellent. Good luck but you are getting the gun into the right hands for no cost. Good start.

 

I'm pretty surprised by the whole thing to be honest. I believe the firing pin is intact but I haven't tested it any further than cycling the action and dry firing which it does fine and goes "click."

Upon visual inspection, you'd never know it happened other than the chunks missing off of the bolt head. In fact, the bolt head still rotates when it goes into battery, the extractor is still there and everything feels the same as before.

Was it the first shell fired of three or a follow up shot?

Looks like it's going to be a couple of months before I know anything which is unfortunate but understandable given the number of firearms they sell and service.

The malfunction happened on the third shot.

Next phone call is to Fiocchi so I'll see what they have to say. I'll update as soon as I finish up with them but I'm the meantime, y'all might want to avoid buying their 3.5" #2s from Cabela's!

I'll be surprised if Remington explains to you "what happen" to your gun other than possibly blame the ammo.

Same goes for Fiocchi. They'll blame the gun.

Neither of them will voluntarily provide evidence which you could use to sue them.

Hope I'm wrong.

I have no plans to sue anyone over this and judging by the hull, I have no reason to think that the gun had anything to do with this. My goal in contacting Fiocchi is to let them know about this in case there's an issue with this ammo in hopes that they'll pull it before someone gets hurt.

If the gun is repairable and there is a cost involved to do so, I'm going to ask that they cover the bill. If they don't, then I'll leave it at that and stop buying their ammo which I buy about 1000 rounds per-year of.

The malfunction happened on the third of three shots with the Fiocchi ammo.

It`ll be interesting to see how Remington handles this. They would be repairing a gun at no charge to repair damage due to no equipment/workmanship failure on Remington`s part. That`s IF this was shell related ( which I`m betting it is ). Keep us informed.

 

If I am seeing this right, the locking lugs broke off the bolt correct?

 

I believe the lugs are still intact along with the extractor. See attached picture.

 

I've never looked at a Versamax bolt but it looks to me that, if the gun has a rotating bolt, the locking lugs are gone.

Something had to break those two pieces off the bolt. Did you find them?

 

I've never looked at a Versamax bolt but it looks to me that, if the gun has a rotating bolt, the locking lugs are gone.

Something had to break those two pieces off the bolt. Did you find them?

After looking at pictures of an intact bolt-head, it certainly looks like the lugs were broken off. They were initially stuck in the chamber still embedded into the brass. I picked them out with a screwdriver and I saved the two pieces. See pictures below.

 

There is reason to believe that the shell may have fired before the action was locked completely. Something ajar in the action from the previous shots possibly struck the primer as the bolt closed to cause it to fire prematurely. I realize only one of many possible scenarios.
70 years ago my dad had a Model 12 discharge as he closed the action with a broken firing pin. It had lodged with the tip protruding through the bolt from the previous firing and struck the primer of second chambered round before the action was securely locked up.
Fortunately he escaped without injury as well.

 

I can see how that can possibly happen to a firearm but in this instance, I was swatting a wounded Duck and I believe the bolt had fully returned to battery since there was about 5-7 second delay between my 2nd & 3rd shot. If it had fired again immediately after the 2nd shot and without me pulling the trigger, then perhaps that's what could've happened.

 

I can see how that can possibly happen to a firearm but in this instance, I was swatting a wounded Duck and I believe the bolt had fully returned to battery since there was about 5-7 second delay between my 2nd & 3rd shot. If it had fired again immediately after the 2nd shot and without me pulling the trigger, then perhaps that's what could've happened.

Fair enough. The delay eliminates my suspicions. Hopefully it gets resolved and everyone remains safe.

 

You shouldn't have gone prying anything out of the gun, now you've compromised the only evidence you had...

 

You shouldn't have gone prying anything out of the gun, now you've compromised the only evidence you had...

I have about a dozen pictures and I had my Shotkam mounted so I also have video. I don't think a picture of the lugs would've done anything additional to help the situation...