Thread: What happens when a 50 cal rifle blows up.

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

What actions are actually safe ? Are Martini style actions the safest ? Confirms to me that having a powerful cartridge loaded to starting loads is a lot better than trying to squeeze the last fps out of a lower powered round.

Greetings Moa Hunter and All,
All firearm actions are safe when loaded within the pressure limits of the action including a substantial safety margin. We just need to work within it. I note from Zimmer's post above that the proof pressure for the 50 is about the same as the maximum pressure of many of the latest crop of cartridges. There are two things to note. A cartridge producing the same pressure but with a larger dia case produces more thrust to the action. Thus the thrust in a AR type barrel fixture is a great deal less than that delivered to the cap in the BMG. I would have run like hell if I had seen anyone loading a contraption like the one in question.
Regards Grandpamac.