LCR KB

Picture and theory over at the Firearm Blog.  The instructor believes it was neither user nor ammo induced, but possibly the cylinder misaligning and causing the bullet to strike the forcing cone off center and crack the barrel.

I don't know how much difference the construction of the LCR has to do with it, to that I mean if a traditional metal shroud over the barrel would have prevented the breach of the barrel.  I think any revolver would suffer damage if the timing was off that much.  It may not have blown out like it did in this case, but at the same time, a metal shroud could have failed the same way and sent metal shards spalling out across the range instead of lightweight plastic chunks.  Six of one, half dozen of the other I suppose.  Then again, I'm not all that versed in revolvers.  Either way, sounds like nobody was hurt other than the gun, and the student switched guns and finished the class just fine.

It will be interesting to see what Ruger has to say about it, especially with the .357 version on the horizon.  Just remember, it's not "revolvers never malfunction," it's more like "revolvers just malfunction differently."