Houston we have a problem

[Smokin Joe]

We recently had 2 Kabooms while running our patrol rifle school this past week. Our #1 suspect right now is in sufficient crimps on our reloaded ammo... causing the bullet to fall deeper into the casing prior to being fired. However, you guys are the experts if you guys have any other opinions I'm all ears.

Special circumstances that were revealed after the 2 Kabooms. Prior to the 2 KABOOMS 3 different shooters through out the course of the class discovered 3 different rounds with the bullets seated too deep into the casing. None of these rounds were loaded into rifles. Only 1 individual brought it to an instructors attention. The other 2 figured it was a fluke and dismissed/discarded the rounds when they saw them.

Scenario #1:

Rifle: Personally owned Busmaster XM-15E2 with 14.5 inch barrel and permantely attached mini Y-comp flash suppressor.
- rifle condition: Close to new with less than 500 rounds through the weapon.

Shooter: Typical cop with about a year in patrol. Not a gun guy by any means.

Ammo: Was reloaded using a Dillon multi-stage 650 reloading press. I'm still working on the details as to the powder used. I was told by the guy who reloaded the ammo that the powder is by a reputable manufactor. Additionally that you could not pack enough powder into a casing in order to produce an over powered charge. .... Again I'm still trying to get all the details on it.

Conditions: The rifle had less than 50 rounds through it (on this day) prior to the course of fire that had the KABOOM. While shooting a course of fire using departmentally reloaded ammo. Magazine inserted, shooter was mid way through the course of fire, when KABOOM. The bottom of the magazine blew out and the shooter sustained mild powder burns to his hands (I'm not sure how he was holding the rifle at the time).

Results: Bolt and bolt carrier where stuck into battery, the bottom of the bolt carrier was blown out and hanging by a thread from the bolt carrier. After alot of work we were able to remove the barrel from the upper reciever and discovered the extrator was bent out of shape. Casing exploded rearwards (see photo's)