At a shooting range in Archbald, Pennsylvania, a man was killed when his handgun exploded.  Robert Hamm, age 61, handed his pistol to someone else to fire. The other man fired, but the loading mechanism exploded and piece of shrapnel hit Hamm in the chest. Hamm later died at the hospital.

Officials believe that Hamm was utilizing reloaded ammunition.  Reloading is a process that involves refilling brass cases so that they can be reused to fire a new bullet. It is typically a complicated process that can create unsafe rounds that, among other potential problems, do not match the guns in which the shooter intends to use them.

Sources:

“One Dead after Gun Malfunction in Lackawanna County,” wnep.com (May 16, 2021).

Chris Hendrix, “Reloading 101” Guns and Ammo (May 11, 2020).