Dodged a bullet today. Literally.

[mljdeckard]

So I take my first set of handloads for the .30 carbine to the range. Crank through two magazines, no problem. the last two rounds won't chamber. I ask the old-timer RSO for a rod, and ran it down the barrel, and with a small tap, I was rewarded with a 110 grain bullet, theretofore lodged in the barrel. I asked him if it was a light charge. He told me it was a NO charge, only possible explanation.

I check them, I'll have to check them better. Could have been a LOT worse. My grandfather's heirloom still has a barrel, I still have a hand and a face.

 

[Cleftwynd]

Yikes! I am sure glad to hear nothing bad happened. It can happen to anyone handloading, and as we all know the SMALLEST distraction or oversight can have drastic and potentially fatal results.

I have been lucky in the last 30 years.....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What type of press are you using? If a progressive are you using some sort of mechanical powder monitoring?

I load handgun ammo on a Lee Turret press and rifle ammo most times on a Rockchucker. I have never double charged a case or loaded one without a powder charge. (and I hope I never do)

Thank goodness you realized you had a squib or like you said, your grandfather's heirloom might not have a barrel. Well, the barrel would still be there but there would be a big bump on it's side or maybe a split or two...

 

[Ehtereon11B]

I have never had a squib load but I am sure I will have one since I haven't been loading long. Not looking forward to when/if I ever get one. I try to be very detailed when I load and would much rather dump a load of powder to start over than risk a squib or overcharge. Glad to hear your rifle and you are fine.

 

[Sport45]

Crank through two magazines, no problem. the last two rounds won't chamber. I ask the old-timer RSO for a rod, and ran it down the barrel, and with a small tap, I was rewarded with a 110 grain bullet, theretofore lodged in the barrel.

What did the report sound like of the round you fired before the next one wouldn't chamber?

Any time the shot doesn't sound or feel right check everything out before you pull the trigger again. If the bullet didn't make it to the gas port the gun wouldn't have even tried to cycle by itself. You were saved by the bullet being stuck at the start of the rifling. Had it gone 1/2" further the outcome could have been much worse.

That said, I'm glad both you and the carbine survived intact.

 

[kingmt]

I was thinking the same thing. You had to have cycled it yourself.

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

I have had this happen a couple times. Progressive reloading before the powder check die.
Powder bridge in the drop.Led to a no charge bullet in the barrel.
Wont load with out positive powder checking any more.

I have also had the powder get contaminated from lube in the neck on a rifle load. At least thats what I think it was.
Primer poped but the powder did not burn. just sort of toasted.
It put the bullet 1 inch into the barrel.
I heard the pop no bang. Let it set for a minute.
Opened the chamber and a poof of gas came out.
Scared the poo out of me.
It was BLC-2 in a 7.62x54 load.
I suppose it could have been too light of a load. I do know BLC-2 does not like to be loaded light. It was at the start load of published loads.
World may never know. I just quit using BLC-2 in lighter loads and wash and dry my brass after resizing them to remove all traces of lube.

 

[mljdeckard]

Single-stage. The only possible explanation is I missed one when I was charging them. Now I use a lamp with a magnifier at the bench.

No, I didn't notice anything wrong when it fired. The range was noisy.

 

[david bachelder]

I had it happen to me. About three times within a month. Now I check and double check just to make sure.

After that run, it has not happened. You can not be too careful.

Lesson learned.

 

[mljdeckard]

On the bright side, I had it in a rest, I was shooting to sight it in, after replacing the rear peep sight. Never benched it to sight it in before. All through the center dot @ 25 yards.

 

[abq87120]

LnL AP with Powder Cop.

 

[forindooruseonly]

Lesson learned, right? And thankfully not the hard way!

It happens, double check your work but get used to actively looking and listening for a problem on the firing line. Too often that's the last thing that can save ya. As mentioned by Sport45 above, if something didn't sound, feel, or look right, you gotta stop and check. I've been lucky twice, once with a .45 semi-wadcutter squib that came out of my reloading press, and once with a Federal Hydroshock cartridge that had no powder. Both times it did the same thing as your gun, jut lodged in the lands and wouldn't let the next round chamber.

The SWC squib I caught cause it didn't feel right, the Hydra-Shok caught me off-guard cause I was practicing defensive shooting, and did the classic tap, rack drill. It seriously felt like a misfire, and I thought bad primer, and tried to jam another in behind it. Thankfully it wouldn't go into battery.

So, we all have it happen now and then, with reloads or factory stuff. Learn the signs.

 

[FROGO207]

No squibs with my reloads yet after 30+ years but I have had 8 or 9 with factory ammo in that time IIRC. And I am not adding in the older Remington Golden .22 crap squibs in the above total.:banghead: Mostly handgun rounds thankfully so easier to remove but one with older ammo in a 303 Brit.

 

[longdayjake]

It was BLC-2 in a 7.62x54 load.
I suppose it could have been too light of a load. I do know BLC-2 does not like to be loaded light. It was at the start load of published loads.
World may never know. I just quit using BLC-2 in lighter loads and wash and dry my brass after resizing them to remove all traces of lube.

It is not a lube issue. I have some .30-06 with tracers on top that I loaded very light with BLc2 about 5 years ago that I am now shooting up because they are almost all hang fires.