Good Bye to Sparky

[Pacn45]

With great regret I have to say Good Bye Sparky. Sparky was a PM4543 and just a month over 5 years old. He died a horrible death that was diagnosed by two local gunsmiths as extreme excessive over pressure. The culprit was a Winchester 45 cal. FMJ round of the White Box variety. I do have to thank Sparky and Kahr for his ability to take the blow and leave me with only a bruised hand and a broken heart. Others at the range were sure they would see a mangled hand and possibly multiple face and body injuries based on the roar of the explosion.
So minor was the bruising that after a few minutes of settling my nerves and looking for the pieces of my weapon I continued my range practice with my back up weapon.
The people at Karh have requested I ship the corpse to them for inspection and failure analysis. I may do so but first I want to talk with the people at Winchester and find out what they have to say in the matter.
So now I am without my favorite pistol and hoping those responsible will see fit to step up to the plate and replace my loss. If not then I'll just have to save up my pennies and buy one of Sparky's brothers.

[downtownv]

Call Rabinowitz, Rabinowitz and Rabinowitz, Archie Bunkers Lawyers!
RIP, Sparky

[downtownv]

This may help....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhjB...=RDQhjBlPucpd0

[b4uqzme]

Call Rabinowitz, Rabinowitz and Rabinowitz, Archie Bunkers Lawyers!
RIP, Sparky

...or Dewey, Cheatham and Howe. Our sympathies on your loss.

[Pacn45]

downtownv, by way of the video you posted, am I to assume you are implying Winchester should sue me for abusing their poor little cartridge?

[wyntrout]

So sorry to hear about your loss, but I'm very glad that you weren't injured.

Pictures would be nice and please keep us updated with anything you learn.

I've had some incidences but not injuries... haven't had a real kaboom like that, but the squib I had recently could have resulted in one if we hadn't discussed such things a lot on this forum. I knew what to do... or what NOT to do, but a lot of people benefit from the discussions and might actually learn something that saves them pain and injury.

http://www.kahrtalk.com/showthread.p...ighlight=Squib!

I'm awaiting information from Federal on the popular Federal Champion 230-grain FMJ in the 100-round Value Packs. They were sending the case for metallurgical testing.

Wynn

[GROTMAN]

Don't know if they can help you or not but these divorce lawyers come highly recommended

[CJB]

Be sure to save all remains, fired cases, box with lot number, etc. Get witness reports, and get 'em signed.

Winchester will be buying you a new Kahr if you dot your i's and cross your t's.

[kwh]

What do you name a Daschund with short legs and testicles of steel?? "Sparky"

[downtownv]

downtownv, by way of the video you posted, am I to assume you are implying Winchester should sue me for abusing their poor little cartridge?

"Sue Everbody"
Johnny Brennan was that voice, you may recognize him from the ZYPPAH Commercials.....

[b4uqzme]

What do you name a Daschund with short legs and testicles of steel?? "Sparky"

...the definition of "snowballs"? A Basset Hound in winter.

[Pacn45]

I really like the comment about the steel balls. Helped cheer me up. Anyway, the news from Kahr was that based on info I sent them they are convinced it was an "over pressure" fault on the part of the cartridge. I submitted a "Product Support Claim" through Winchester's Ammunition Web Site. After about 3 days I was contacted by their Customer Representative Sharon. Their site allows you to submit 4 images as part of your "support request" and I must say the site is not that user friendly. According to Sharon they cannot take any further action or make any determination till I ship the weapon to them for analysis. I'm reluctant to do that due to fear that it will vaporize into the seventh dimension of a parallel universe and told her that in not quite those terms. My offer was for them to select any two gun smiths or approved firearms dealers in my area and I would bring the weapon to them for evaluation. That just for some reason did not set well with Sharon. Her counter was they will pay shipping charges from me to them and back again via UPS and include shipping insurance payable to me if the weapon does disappear. She agrees that the insured value will be the equivalent of the current retail price of this model.
So now I'm thinking it over and debating doing as they request or finding a good legal shiester. I would love to post the pictures of the weapon but I don''t have one of those off site picture cloud storage thingies. By the forum rules I'm a long way from the required 30 post count to post directly from my photo folders so that's another techy thing I'm not up to date on. If one of you fellows want to send me a PM maybe I can attach the pics back to you and you could post for me. Not sure if that would work or not. Send me an email at didit_anyway@yahoo.com and I'll be happy to email them to you for viewing. Well that's pretty much where things stand for now. I'l likely go ahead and ship the weapon and hope for the best. At less than a $1,000 price and no injury to speak of it really is hard for me to justify getting a "mouth piece" involved. If I'm lucky UPS would loose the package and have to pay me on the shipping insurance.

[CJB]

Send it insured.
Make sure you get two analysis locally first....written up with pictures.
Then see what WW says.
My guess.... new gun...

[b4uqzme]

I guess I'm not surprised that Kahr assumes it was a problem with the round. I do too but just based on the information you can post here. Are you talking to Winchester? What do they have to say? My only hesitation at sending the gun to Kahr would be that Winchester will probably want you to send it to them also. And I think Winchester is probably the one at fault and most likely to compensate. I'd send it to Winchester first.

Thanks for putting up with our "witticisms" and best of luck to you. Keep us posted.

[cobrasjp]

I submitted a "Product Support Claim" through Winchester's Ammunition Web Site.

I believe he is talking to Winchester and was referring to sending the gun to them, not Kahr.