I spoke to Maine Cartridge Company today. The owner is convinced he is not liable and denies any responsibility based on the fact that I do not have the original receipt and or packaging. While his original story was that his "gunsmith" has determined that the rifle had "fired out of battery", this was clearly ruled not to be the case by Bushmaster Firearms's gunsmith, Jim Eden.
When the owner of MCC recieved the letter and findings I mailed him, he called Bushmaster to discuss the isssue. His story is now that he doesn't believe the ammunition was his to start with since I cannot prove a lot #, powder type, or primer type. He stated something about the primer pockets being reamed differently then how he does them - but none of it made much sense. Especially his analysis of the ammunition fired when the cartridge casing is STILL in the gun.
He's convinced his ammunition is not to blame but was leery to blame Bushmaster since Bushmaster clearly is NOT to blame here - nor is any mechanical aspect of the rifle. I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I was firing Maine Cartridge Company SS109/M855 ammunition when my firearm blew up from a case head failure. MCC prefers to deny any responsibility based on my lack of receipts from 6-7 years ago.
I am consulting with a legal office at this time. I may not win this case - but I have my entire life left to expose a company which has lied to me by blowing smoke in my face.
I am NOT impressed. Looking into small claims but I may be SOL with this unscrupulous ammunition manufacturer. Moral of the story. If your firearm blows up from Maine Cartridge Company ammunition, expect to get screwed. If you currently have their ammunition now, I would NOT fire any of it unless you have ALL receipts, original packaging, and a digital camera nearby.
***Also, while there IS a round in the barrel it is only one round. Not a true squib round as the lack of power was attributed to the head casing failure with pressure blowing out the back of the casing. A squib round would have been simply underpowered - and there is no second projectile in the bore.