by Rick Chisholm - Guest Contributor

Blown barrels are rarely due to defect on the part of the barrel: the usual culprit would be an obstruction, although I would not rule out poorly crafted reloads in some cases. Obstructions come in a variety of forms, but commonly it is something left over from cleaning the gun, like a small patch, or piece of one.
Be sure to inspect your barrel after cleaning and before taking the gun to the range or blind. When afield, take special care to keep the muzzle off the ground, and if you drop the gun be sure to unload it and inspect the bore before carrying on with your hunt.
A little caution and due diligence goes a long way to keeping you safe while you spend time with your firearms. Happy and safe shooting.
Rick Chisholm is an IT Security Officer and guest contributor for the Beretta Blog. He can be reached on Twitter