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Request National Broadcast
Per PPB training, please read and dissiminate the following national teletype:
*****SAFETY INFORMATION*****
Portland Police Bureau advises all law enforcement agencies of two incidents of catastrophic failure during firearms training. Both incidents involved Glock Model 21 (45) and Federal 230 Hi-Shok practice ammunition. The failure is described as follows:
Both officers stated no noticeable differences upon firing. Both handguns has casings expand and failed to extract. The gases escaped by blowing a hole through the side of the caseing (sic) tearing away the bottom half of the barrel at the locking lugs, bending them downward at approximately 30 degree angle. The gases continued throught (sic) the trigger housing and magazine well, destroying both components completely. Additionally the upper was separated from the lower, blowing each upper several feet forward of the firing position. Both officers suffered only minor injuries from shrapnel type debris. PPB is temporarily suspending all use of Federal 230 practice ammo pending investigation.
Any agencies with like incidents please contact Sgt. Mike Lee at Portland Police Bureau training 503-823-0820 or 793-9389.
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Prosser: >> The ammo in the two guns from Portland was Federal Classic Hi-Shok, 45D. Reportedly the ammo was from two different lots, but the numbers are available if you call the training division.
Today the Portland Chief issued a memo saying some remaining ammo was sent to a lab (can't remember which one) and tested and found to be within standards for safe operation. After hearing from other departments the training division determined it is the design of the Glock barrel that caused the failures.
Therefore, the Chief has agreed to recall and replace all Glock 21's and 30's carried by officers. After those have been replaced no officer will be allowed to carry a 21 or 30 while on duty. Portland officers will only be issued 9mm Glocks from now on.
In most cases I've heard, the so-called kabooms were not caused by the ammo. The cause of the KB was a dirty striker channel or weapon. This can happen in all semi-autos. The cause is this; when the weapon is fired some dirt or pieces of brass trap the striker/firing pin in a partially extended position. The slide cycles and picks up another round out of the magazine. The round slide up over the striker and under the extractor. As the round goes into the chamber and starts to encounter resistance, the striker/firing pin indents the primer and fires the round. The round is not fully chambered so the brass is not supported usually causing case failure and sometimes parts go flying. I've had it happen on a para-ordnance, so it's not just glocks.
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I wonder how often Glock owners clean the striker channel... or if they do, over oil it to help collect gunk.
So... guys... what think? (fwiw, I don't really have an allegiance to any particular brand, I shoot Glock in competition, I carry SIG.)