Excess Presure test Video

To Our Valued Customers:

This letter is to inform our valued customers of some extremely important information concerning the DSA SA58 rifle and receiver line.

Recently, we received an early production standard model SA58 rifle back for repair. It had been accidentally blown up due to the use of either faulty or incorrectly loaded ammunition.

Upon examination of the rifle it was found that the brass shell casing had incurred sufficient pressure to cause the case head to start to flow as if in a plastic state. Experts in the firearm field have indicated that this occurs at between 130,000 to 135,000 pounds per square inch of pressure. In this instance the case head flowed back into and formed itself around the extractor and split at the ejector cut out in the bolt face. It then separated from the body of the shell, which remained solidly in the chamber. The extent of the damage was the top cover was blown skyward, the magazine and its components were blown downward, and the receiver was bowed outward at the magazine well and bent in the cocking handle slot. The barrel, bolt, carrier and remaining components were not damaged. The owner was not harmed.

After studying the physical damage from the accidental overload situation, the technical staff at DS Arms decided to test a current production SA58 rifle. The purpose of the test was to see how much pressure the rifle would tolerate.

The Ware Simulation Group at Rock Island Arsenal (The real U.S. Government Rock Island) was contracted to make hi-speed video tapes of one of the current production rifles being blown up. The Ware Simulation Group at Rock Island Arsenal does weapons testing of various types.

In the DSA rifle destruction test, the SA58 rifle was securely mounted in a solid rifle stand in the test range area. The cartridge used in the test was loaded with a case full of extremely fast burning pistol type powder, a 220 grain bullet and a magnum primer. The area was cleared and secured, the cameras started and the trigger was pulled with a mechanical lever.

The Rock Island staff said it was the loudest blast they could recall hearing in the range area. The cameras recorded the event in great detail, including slow motion so observers could see the cocking handle and magazine components exit the gun. The pressure in the explosion was not measured, but it was generally agreed that it had to greatly exceed the 135,000 pounds per square inch that makes the brass start to flow. The explosion vaporized the majority of the case head. A small portion was still attached to the extractor, which remained in the bolt and functional. The portion of the shroud that encompasses the lower portion of the bolt face was sheared off. A small crack was found in the extractor pocket in the bolt. The front of the shell casing welded itself to the chamber and could not be removed.

The follower, spring and floorplate were violently blown out the bottom of the magazine. The front magazine retaining tooth was sheared off and the portion of the magazine protruding below the well was blown into a round soup can shape. The magazine catch retained the body of the magazine in the receiver.

The receiver walls were bowed out from the chamber ring to the ejector block. The side rail that retains the cocking handle was bent upward to the extent that the handle was allowed to blow clear to the side. The force of the explosion cracked the locking shoulder. The gun remained in battery throughout the event.

Upon return to DSA the barrel and receiver were disassembled and measured in various areas. There were NO cracks in the receiver and the dimension of the receiver ring remained the same as before the explosion.

Other than the fact that the shell casing could not be removed from the chamber, there were no dimensional changes noted in this area either. The gas piston was also inspected and was found to be damage free and still perfectly straight.

DSA sincerely hopes this information clears up any misconceptions concerning the strength our SA58 receivers and rifles.

As always, we at DSA are proud to stand behind our products and continue to offer our lifetime warranty.

If you want the best in FAL type rifles, receivers and accessories, look no further. 

Sincerely,

David Selvaggio
President