Earlier this week, Fierce Firearms sales manager Courtney Crane posted a video and photos of an catastrophic event that occurred while his friend (unnamed) was shooting a Remington 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader bolt action rifle. The event caused the complete destruction of the rifle, splitting the barrel like a banana peel and destroying the rifle’s stock. The shooter, unfortunately, was seriously injured, with shrapnel tearing through his hand in multiple places, requiring stitches and – likely – major surgery to repair. As of the time of this writing, it is not yet know what caused the catastrophic event. It is possible that the weapon was double-loaded (two charges and projectiles stacked together), causing excessive pressure, but that is not confirmed.

Shooting guns can be lots of fun, but they are also high energy weapons capable of considerable damage, especially when things go wrong. When shooting, it’s important to take the correct precautions, including following the four rules, but also using safe targets at safe distances, and making sure the weapon is clear of obstructions and loaded with the proper ammunition. While we still do not yet know what caused the destruction of the rifle, this incident should serve as a sobering reminder to everyone.

Stay safe out there, folks.

The Firearm Blog has reached out to Courtney for comment, and, if we receive any, will relay them to our readers as soon as possible.

WARNING: GRAPHIC PHOTOS DEPICTING SERIOUS INJURY BELOW