Abstract Modern particle size statistics uses many different statistical distributions, but these distributions are empirical approximations for theoretically unknown relationships. This also holds true for the famous RRSB (Rosin-Rammler-Sperling-Bennett) distribution. Based on the compound Poisson process, this paper introduces a simple stochastic model that leads to a general product form of particle mass distributions. The beauty of this product form is that its two factors characterize separately the two main components of samples of particles, namely, individual particle masses and total particle number. The RRSB distribution belongs to the class of distributions following the new model. Its simple product form can be a starting point for developing new particle mass distributions. The model is applied to the statistical analysis of samples of blast-produced fragments measured by hand, which enables a precise investigation of the mass-size relationship. This model-based analysis leads to plausible estimates of the mass and size factors and helps to understand the influence of blasting conditions on fragment-mass distributions.