Actual condition of the weapon and the object of examination

Actual condition of the weapon and subject of examination

Receipt of the rifle for examination
The BespokeGun Specter .33XC rifle arrived at the factory in a case in a damaged condition.
The following were recorded: a destroyed and jammed bolt, a destroyed bolt body, a broken cocking handle, and fragments of bolt group components.
Two cartridges were also provided by the shooter as samples.

Initial inspection and analysis prior to the longitudinal section of the rifle
Prior to performing the section, a full visual and instrumental analysis of the assemblies was conducted: bolt body, bolt head, trigger mechanism (TM), bolt stop, receiver. Brass traces were recorded in the area of the TM, bolt stop, inner surface of the receiver, and outer surface of the bolt body. No signs of propellant gas penetration into the internal cavities of the bolt were found.

Bolt body
Destruction of the bolt body, brittle in nature.
The destruction of the handle is associated with a loss of strength at the joint area, rather than a gas impact.

Bolt head
The bolt head is partially destroyed in the zone of maximum load (bolt face rim).
Locking lugs are not sheared, showing plastic deformation.
Receiver lug imprint of approximately 0.05 mm at a hardness of around 52 HRC.
Extractor plungers are depressed due to shearing of the retaining lips.

Trigger mechanism and bolt stop
Brass traces confirm gas movement along the outer contour of the bolt.
No gas breakthrough through the firing pin hole was detected.

Section of the bolt group and barrel
The section was performed after completion of the initial analysis.

Section results
The absence of propellant gas breakthrough into the internal cavities of the bolt was confirmed.
The integrity of the receiver geometry and locking assembly was confirmed.

Intermediate conclusion
The bolt destruction occurred as a result of critical pressure from propellant gases that broke through into the locking assembly due to case rupture.
The section results confirmed the conclusions drawn during the pre-section analysis stage.