Embarrassing Squib Load Incident

[gspn]

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...

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?

What does your owners manual say? Thats the first and final word on what can be fired through your gun.

 

[BBBBill]

My outdoors blog…

Nice blog.

 

[jmorris]

What does your owners manual say? Thats the first and final word on what can be fired through your gun.

I wouldn't go quite that far. Lots of them will tell you to not use reloaded ammunition and I have shot more reloaded ammunition than factory in my life.

 

[Jim Watson]

Earlier days, there were more old guns being shot, fewer reloaders, and hardly anybody going out and banging away a case of ammo in a weekend. Colt listed everything that would fit, from .38 Short Colt on up and the ammo was available.
The OP's problem was not wrong ammo but defective ammo.

A shooter here yesterday was describing his stuck bullet experience. He shot it out and ring-bulged the barrel. I asked and he said it did not hurt the shooting, it remained as accurate as his undamaged spare gun. But just knowing it is there is gnawing at him and I expect him to have the barrel replaced. It is going to cost him, the gun was expensively black nitrided not too long ago and matching the finish won't be cheap.

 

[Steve51]

Over the years, I have had two squib load incidents. Both with .357 factory Winchester ammo in a revolver. Both times the bullet was still partially left in the cylinder effectively locking it. I assumed both of these rounds of ammo had no powder, just a primer. Always be alert - if you fire a shot and it does not sound right - STOP! Do not fire another round. Another reason I like revolvers best.

 

[gspn]

I wouldn't go quite that far. Lots of them will tell you to not use reloaded ammunition and I have shot more reloaded ammunition than factory in my life.

We're talking about a shooter who doesn't know what CALIBER can be used in his gun...the owners manual is the source for that, not a gun store and not internet forums.

 

[PWGUNNY]

This will be one more anecdote about why I only shoot MY reloads, and not some mystery loads. It seems the upside to this is the pistol is likely fine and simply bad reloads were the culprit. The OP should not be embarrassed to return to the range, stuff happens.

 

[Jim Watson]

We're talking about a shooter who doesn't know what CALIBER can be used in his gun...the owners manual is the source for that, not a gun store and not internet forums.

Actually, you can learn a lot from experienced gun dealers and Internet forums, stuff that is no longer printed in the owner's manual. Like the fact that .38 Short Colt is a usable subload in .38 Special and .357 Magnum. And also the fact that no-name reloads are not to be depended on, even if it is called "remanufactured."