Exploding in an unenclosed space like that, the energy would have been quickly dispersed. I don’t think you were in mortal danger, but could have lost an eye or something.
What I used to do was pull out the bullets and then crimp the mouth of the case on .22s with pliers, then put them on streetcar tracks. Also tried to make a .22 zip gun but was not successful.
So……are you saying I was not the only dumb ass to do such things?