Embarrassing Squib Load Incident

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rkulp89

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I'm not really sure what possessed me to make such stupid decisions but now I need some advise to prevent any more....

The story:
I bought a 686+ for my ol' lady to shoot who is very sensitive to recoil with the idea that 38 special wadcutters would be a decent round to practice with. Unfortunately I can't get my hands on any at the moment so after what I thought was fairly conclusive research was under the impression I could shoot 38 short colt from this gun...

Well I went to the range today to shoot the gun for the very first time... with 38 short colt. Brace yourself for the stupidity. I fired the first round and I could hear the primer go off but there was zero recoil, and in the moment I just really didn't believe that any of the actual charge lit off. I held the gun in place for a few second and then tried to open the cylinder but it was stuck closed... I really shouldn't have gotten this far but without a doubt I should have at least stopped here.

As I was messing with trying to open the cylinder it rotated and "click" into place. I thought maybe I just had an issue with it not being indexed correctly the first time and decided to try firing again. Same exact behavior, sounded as if only the primer went off with zero recoil. Luckily it didn't explode and I had half a brain to call is quits at this point. The range office took the gun back to the smith who was able to back the rounds out of the barrel and unload the gun.

I was told not to ever shoot 38 short in the gun again but to take it home, clean it and come back to shoot with 38 special/357 next time... well I'm so embarrassed I don't think I'll be able to show my face in there again but I'm now curious if the gun is safe to shoot again?

The only rounds fired through the gun were from the factory and the 2 discussed above. The barrel is not bulged or appears damaged in any other way but I did fire a 2nd round into the first squib. What would you do in this situation? Fire the gun again or send it to S&W?

Also... I've read tons of posts about shooting 38 short in 357/38special and aparently it is common practice in ICORE. What the real story on this?
 
I don't know about the ammo/gun combination you're referring to, but I'd be curious if the smith that removed the rounds from the barrel is a reputable smith? If so, and his recommendation was to only shoot the proper ammo, then he must feel the gun is safe to use...with the right ammo.

But, everything I've seen shows 38 SC to commonly and safely fired from 38spl/357mag
 
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Howdy, from Texas.

Good thing you were not injured. Suggestion should something like this "zero recoil moment" should happen again; look to see if the projectile impacted the target. If not or in doubt, stop and check the barrel for an obstruction before lighting off another round.

No need to be ashamed. Learn from the mistake, shake it off and get back on that horse.
 
Nothing is worse than pulling the trigger and hearing a POP rather than a BANG!!

Well, to be honest pulling the trigger again is worse because you're now treading on very thin "about to cause injury to myself or the gun" ice, but you get the idea.

Glad you're ok. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
Well I feel better now because I just took 4 of the rounds apart that I was trying to shoot today and 2 of them had no powder in it. I can’t imagine much damage could have been done shooting primer backed bullet into the barrel.

Obviously still a bone head move trying to fire after the first shot but I was think it was more of a misfire and no a squib.

I’ll know better next time!
 
1KPerDay said:
Who loaded the rounds? If it was you you need to drastically update your quality check process. If it was someone else you need to drastically update your standards for purchasing ammo.
Click to expand...

A very reputable store in the area is where I got them from. I’ll be visiting them tomorrow and will have them pull some apart and see for themselves.
 
Yuk! With the run on ammo going on I won’t be surprised if a lot of non reloaders end up going the remanufactured route. Hopefully that maker steps up their QC as 1Kperday noted earlier.

Again, glad you’re ok. Any time something doesn’t feel or sound right it’s a good time to set the gun down to see what just went on :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
Glad you're safe. I've had squibs where the bullet lodged in the barrel. The pfft sound and smoke coming out the cylinder gap was a dead give away.
I bet you well never get caught off guard again.
 
I doubt that your barrel suffered damage based on what you have stated.

To be sure a light shined "just right" along the barrel will pick up irregularities. Also shine the light inside the barrel this too will show irregularities.

Next take an oiled, tight fitting patch and run it inside the barrel slowly at first. The resistance should be the same along the inside front to rear. It there is a bulge the resistance will change.

I have a friend who likes extremely lite target loads and has stacked multiple rounds inside 2 M14 barrels! I have one of these barrels as a training aid when teaching reloading classes!

Smiles,
 
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Blue68f100 said:
You were very lucky the next round did not have a double charge, which is often the case when 1 has no powder. The out come would have been very different.

Chock this up as learning experience where you got very lucky.
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Good point.
 
You can get three .25" brass rods at Ebay for about $12. I carry one in each of my two range bags and one stays in my tool box. I once needed one of these rods when I first found out FMJ .357 bullets were harder to push down a long bore than lead bullets.
I have never again used one of these rods, but carry them in case some other shooter needs one.
ColtPythonElite said:
Things happen....I carry a solid brass rod in my range bag for such things.
Click to expand...
 
1/3" (0.333) brass rods fit 9mmx19 and .38/.357 bores nicely. The better fit to the bore for a squib rod the better it works.
Good to test beforehand so there are no surprises.
 
This happens. Go to store get a oak dowel rod of the correct diameter. Drive bullets out by walking dowel with hammer. They will come out easy.
 
I choose to never shoot reloads unless I did the reloading. I also do not sell, give, or let anyone else shoot my reloads either.

For that many to not have any powder in them is beyond dangerous! Out of thousands and thousands of loads myself, I didn't put powder in one! I found the error before going into the gun though.
 
So what is the word on shooting .38 short colt in a .357? Properly loaded .38 short colt? I too thought that would be okay?
 
sparkyv said:
look to see if the projectile impacted the target. If not or in doubt, stop and check the barrel for an obstruction before lighting off another round.

Yes, but wait at least 30 seconds before checking the barrel. Keep it pointed downrange. Treat it as a hangfire until you're sure that it's not going to go off. After waiting, it then becomes a misfire and safe to look. Don't pull the trigger a second time and never look down the barrel without waiting first.
Click to expand...
 
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