After the ‘hot round’ explanation, I was waiting to hear if the postmortem on the rifle showed a clear or obstructed barrel. Expanding gas always seeks the path of least resistance. He never said what the barrel condition was found to be afterward. Is he saying the powder in the round had chemically changed to where it was explosive vs fast burning, or did the cartridge/bullet block the barrel?
“After the ‘hot round’ explanation, I was waiting to hear if the postmortem on the rifle showed a clear or obstructed barrel.”
Hot round. Period.
Watch the video.
No barrel blockage found. Previous round hit the target. Was hitting all over the map. Had some odd things happen during the shooting that in retrospect were a sign of degraded powder.
Your getting close.... My theory is that some unscrupulous, or perhaps ignorant, reseller had some mil-surp SLAP rounds that were somewhat corroded, and he tumbled or vibratory finished them to polish them up for re-sale. Tumbleing or vibratory finishing can and will pulverize the gunpowder within a loaded cartridge causing it to burn much faster / detonate.
Never tumble / vibratory finish loaded ammo.