Montana Senator Tim Sheehy sued Freedom Munitions, saying .308 rifle ammunition he bought from the company exploded inside his rifle and hurt him.
Court records show the case was filed in Montana's Fourteenth Judicial District Court in Meagher County on January 14, 2026. The complaint later appeared in federal court records in February 2026.
The lawsuit said Sheehy bought 1,000 rounds from the Idaho-based ammunition company in June 2024. It claimed one round exploded inside the rifle chamber while he was target shooting instead of firing normally.
According to the complaint, the blast broke apart the rifle and sent pieces into Sheehy's hand and face. The filing said he suffered cuts and other injuries.
The complaint said Sheehy had a lot of experience with firearms and had not seen that kind of problem before. It also alleged another round from the same purchase malfunctioned in September 2025.
In the lawsuit, Sheehy argued Freedom Munitions sold defective ammunition and did not properly test or inspect it. He also claimed the company knew or should have known there was a problem.
The filing said the company later recalled the ammunition. But the lawsuit alleged Freedom Munitions did not directly contact buyers, posted the recall on its website without a clear warning and did not do enough to alert users to the risk.
Sheehy brought claims that included strict products liability, negligent manufacturing and other negligence claims tied to product defects and failure to warn.
He asked for medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life and replacement of two destroyed firearms. The lawsuit also sought compensation for canceled or rescheduled events, other financial losses, punitive damages, court costs, attorney fees where allowed and other relief the court considered proper.
The court documents only outline Sheehy's claims. The case has not been decided.