Question about firing a SKS without it's gas tube....

[Tbone13]

I would think it blew up (most probably) due to a bullet stuck in the bore.  The shooter might have ignored a dud and didn't check it.

[running-man]

Hard to say, likely a double load in the muzzleloader:

https://content.uplynk.com/ac75ce92bcf84973a3ffe16cd45af0d8.m3u8

https://www.fox13now.com/2017/09/19/sanpete-county-man-injured-when-rifle-barrel-explodes-during-target-practice/

As far as an unplugged gas port equaling improper headspace or plugged barrel, no that's not what I was insinuating at all.  I was just making the correlation that something is safe up until the point that it isn't.  It's not like you have much time between the moment you pull the trigger and the "oh sh*t" moment that could come next (like is seen in the little animated gif I attached).

Plugging the gas port is something that has been done quite successfully in the past.  The original port can be drilled out oversized and then tapped with a 1/16-27 NPT tap and plugged with a steel pipe plug.  The gas tube can even be reinstalled and nobody knows the wiser from the outside.  My understanding is that cycling the bolt is a bit of a PITA with lacquer cased rounds though I have no experience with this at all.  My Yugo in single shot mode with the gas system turned off is not fun to cycle, but doesn't require my small mallet (just in case I ever bought a Mosin!) to tap it open either. 

[Bacarnal]

RM, why do you think there was a Hammer with the Sickle in the symbol of the USSR?  Maybe they had Mosin's in mind .

[Larry D.]

Plugged barrel is my guess.
He admits that he had it "cleaned by a gunsmith" yet didn't bother to check the rifle when he got it back.

For all he knows, there was a cleaning rod in there.

[running-man]

GM sent me some screengrabs from the video I posted & we were talking about it.  It's interesting, the destroyed gun is clearly marked Remington 700 in one of his screengrabs.  News reporter says "Jerrod says his gun is a muzzle loader and he has to manually load the powder.".  At the 1:46 mark, it clearly shows a photo of a box half filled with brass, but they are stubby (look like pistol rounds actually) and the empty fired brass that is right side up is the same height as the inverted unfired ones (i.e no bullet in front), so the muzzle loader description may be accurate.  Is it a converted Rem 700? 

Edit: It appears Remington actually sells a model 700 muzzle loader in .50 cal. that uses pre-primed cases.  That's the one, so there you go....
https://www.remington.com/rifles/muzzleloading/model-700-ultimate/model-700-ultimate-muzzleloader

[Larry D.]

If that as a front stuffer, that's the least amount of smoke I've EVER seen one produce.

[Greasemonkey]

Why??? Lazy man black powder gun. So basically a centerfire black powder rifle.. reinvent the wheel Remington..  guess that's why your going belly up and bankrupt.  Geeze, I've done black powder with a 45-70 Govt. and get more than a paltry 300yd.

And who puts a muzzle brake on a black powder gun.. 

[Tbone13]

Why??? Lazy man black powder gun. So basically a centerfire black powder rifle.. reinvent the wheel Remington..  guess that's why your going belly up and bankrupt.  Geeze, I've done black powder with a 45-70 Govt. and get more than a paltry 300yd.

And who puts a muzzle brake on a black powder gun.. 

I never considered it might be black powder with that muzzle brake. I also saw very little smoke. The guy probably loaded it with smokeless in addition to all his other shenanigans.
Dangerous fellow.

[Greasemonkey]

Near as I found the rifle can handle 200gr black powder... 
https://www.muzzle-loaders.com/remington-ultimate-muzzleloader-brass-casings.html

Ok, that's fine, I've run 50gr black powder, that's max, once or twice in my Colt Dragoon, she's pretty stout at that load.. 
But, throw Triple 7 or Pyrodex in, that's a game changer... I wouldn't push that much in it, I run low 30ish gr or so with the smokeless, I was told to drop 20% with those powders. I mean, I ain't dying to shoot....   And if using preformed smokeless pellets.. Hodgdon does not condone the use of more than 100 grains of their Pyrodex or Triple Seven pellets in a .45 or .50 caliber muzzleloaders.  Now that is a 50 Cal muzzleloader...  And I sure hope that wasn't modern smokeless powder.

[Cupid]

A 1/2 "  wood dowel will work for about 20 rounds.   If you want a reusable one use a 1/2 " steel rod.  Tap it out with the piston rod to convert back to automatic.

[Larry D.]

Cupid - Have you actually done this?

[owenj492]

And here we go, the stupidity from the other forum has come here......

[Cupid]

Cupid - Have you actually done this?

Many times.

[Phosphorus32]

I don't see an issue with firing with a plug in the gas tube. It just keeps the gases from being expelled in any significant way through the gas port of the barrel while simultaneously blocking the path of the gasses back towards the shooter that would have resulted from firing with the handguard/gastube and piston simply removed.

[Greatguns]

I don't see an issue with firing with a plug in the gas tube. It just keeps the gases from being expelled in any significant way through the gas port of the barrel while simultaneously blocking the path of the gasses back towards the shooter that would have resulted from firing with the handguard/gastube and piston simply removed.

I agree, but I think I would prefer the metal rod over a piece of wood. Although, if it were a piece of hardwood as opposed to pine I would feel comfortable with it. And I would want a snug fit length-wise so I don't have to worry about damaging the back of the tube cavity where the piston goes. Just my opinion in being cautious.

[Phosphorus32]

I don't see an issue with firing with a plug in the gas tube. It just keeps the gases from being expelled in any significant way through the gas port of the barrel while simultaneously blocking the path of the gasses back towards the shooter that would have resulted from firing with the handguard/gastube and piston simply removed.

I agree, but I think I would prefer the metal rod over a piece of wood. Although, if it were a piece of hardwood as opposed to pine I would feel comfortable with it. And I would want a snug fit length-wise so I don't have to worry about damaging the back of the tube cavity where the piston goes. Just my opinion in being cautious.

Yup, good points.

[Cupid]

I don't see an issue with firing with a plug in the gas tube. It just keeps the gases from being expelled in any significant way through the gas port of the barrel while simultaneously blocking the path of the gasses back towards the shooter that would have resulted from firing with the handguard/gastube and piston simply removed.

I agree, but I think I would prefer the metal rod over a piece of wood. Although, if it were a piece of hardwood as opposed to pine I would feel comfortable with it. And I would want a snug fit length-wise so I don't have to worry about damaging the back of the tube cavity where the piston goes. Just my opinion in being cautious.

That's why I recommended a 1/2 " piece of steel rod for a reusable one.

[Bacarnal]

I thought the entire point of the original conversation was the ability/safety to fire WITHOUT the gas tube in place.  Plugging the gas tube just makes the rifle a modern Ross. Or Mannlicher.  Or Lee.  Or Swiss K....