First Squib Ever

[gpurp]

Had my first squib load this weekend in my SP101 3". I had a batch of hand loaded 38's using 125gr Berry's over 4.5gr Unique. Sure this is a starting load but I wasn't expecting a squib. I use a single stage press and shine a light on the loading block to verify charges before seating. So I'm 99% sure it was charged.

Before the squib round the Chrony was throwing some really extreme spreads 500 - 700 fps. I thought it was acting up. I've had problems in the past with the sky screen on vs off and shaded vs full sun. I should have believed it this time.

 

[gpurp]

 

[skidder]

That's too bad. I'm glad you caught it before the next round!

I've had squibs, but only with factory ammo.

 

[newfalguy101]

whoops!!

I actually stacked FIVE bullets in the barrel of an old breaktop .32 S&W one time. They were so downloaded in deference to the age of the guns, I actually underloaded them.

Lesson learned...

 

[gpurp]

My usual practice for starting loads is beginning close to the lower end. This encompases all the various pistol calibers I load for. Maybe it's just the powders I use but seems like the low end loads in Lyman's 49th are good just for sooting up my brass.

My final preferred loads usually end up near the top end loads listed in the book. Not because I'm wanting to hot rod but rather looking to match factory loads with maybe a tad extra oomph.

 

[Jim K]

That bullet is easily tapped back out using a cleaning rod. But the next step is to find out how the squib load occurred. With the variation in velocities, it would seem to me that your powder measure may be throwing erratic charges, but why that might be I don't know without examining it.

Just for fun, the oddest case of varying powder charges I ever encountered was when helping a friend check out why his were all over the place. Here is the situation. Loads done on one day were uniform and correct. Loads done on another day were erratic, while loads done at one time of a day were too heavy while ones done at another time of the same day were OK. All loads were weighed on the same scale; none were thrown with a measure. Prior to rearranging his loading room, he had had no trouble.

The solution? When he moved his loading bench, he put it over a floor register. There was enough gap between the bench and the wall that air could blow up between them, be deflected by boxes of loading supplies, and come out under the scale pan. If the heat or air conditioning was on, the air blowing under the pan raised it, so it took more powder to bring the scale pointer to zero. If the heat pump fan was off, things were fine. Of course, the errors occurred with rounds loaded on hot or cold days, when the fan ran almost continuously, or at times of the day when the unit was running.

Jim

 

[gpurp]

Yep that's exactly what I did. Tapped it out with a cleaning rod. I use a Redding 3BR powder measure. Its been fairly consistent with all my powders Unique, Bullseye, Power Pistol, and LongShot.

 

[RunninLate]

Years ago I used to carry a wooden dowel rod to the range about 8" long just in case I did have a squid round.

 

[Storm_Shadow]

I just had my first one too. I believe mine had no powder. I thought it was a hang fire.

 

[gamestalker]

I'm so glad this didn't end up being a painful, and or, an expensive lesson to learn. In reading numerous posts regarding squibs, I often get the impression that some simply don't view squibs as a serious problem. In fact, a squib has the potential to be just as serious as a double or triple charge.

Personally, I've never experienced a squib, and I've been reloading for 30+ years. But if I was experiencing extreme velocity variations such as the OP did, I would have stopped shooting those, take them home and pull the bullets, and then proceed with verifying the charges on a scale.

I would then devise a way to introduce multiple fail safe loading habits into process to prevent any mistakes.

There is obviously no problem with using powder measures, as long as you verify the charge on a scale every 10 or so rounds. If the measure is producing good reliable load weights, I'm sure, instead of every 10 or so rounds, increasing the number between scale verification's can be expanded. But that's something the OP will have to decide, based on the verification results.

Powders can do some weird things in the hopper, like jam or funnel, which results in inconsistent charges, and sometimes those variances can get extreme. Static is another issue that can cause problems with how the powder flows from the hopper.

But even when weighing every charge on a scale, still, things can happen that will result in the wrong charge being loaded. I've had registers, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, static, and various electronic devices, all of these can factor in, resulting in unusual and sporadic weights as well.

So the best advice I can offer is to verify, verify, and then verify again what weight charge is being loaded. And I certainly understand the desire for some to find the most comfortable load to shoot, but be cautious as to how far down you reduce a load in addition to positively verifying the resulting charge.

And again, I'm glad this didn't result in you getting injured, or worse.

GS

 

[MikeJackmin]

Is that a jacketed bullet? Low-end loads are less likely to get stuck in the bore if you use cast bullets.

 

[Jaymo]

This wouldn't be a case of Unique+low pressure loads=erratic/poor burning, would it?

 

[Storm_Shadow]

I'm so glad this didn't end up being a painful, and or, an expensive lesson to learn. In reading numerous posts regarding squibs, I often get the impression that some simply don't view squibs as a serious problem. In fact, a squib has the potential to be just as serious as a double or triple charge.

Personally, I've never experienced a squib, and I've been reloading for 30+ years. But if I was experiencing extreme velocity variations such as the OP did, I would have stopped shooting those, take them home and pull the bullets, and then proceed with verifying the charges on a scale.

I would then devise a way to introduce multiple fail safe loading habits into process to prevent any mistakes.

There is obviously no problem with using powder measures, as long as you verify the charge on a scale every 10 or so rounds. If the measure is producing good reliable load weights, I'm sure, instead of every 10 or so rounds, increasing the number between scale verification's can be expanded. But that's something the OP will have to decide, based on the verification results.

Powders can do some weird things in the hopper, like jam or funnel, which results in inconsistent charges, and sometimes those variances can get extreme. Static is another issue that can cause problems with how the powder flows from the hopper.

But even when weighing every charge on a scale, still, things can happen that will result in the wrong charge being loaded. I've had registers, ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, static, and various electronic devices, all of these can factor in, resulting in unusual and sporadic weights as well.

So the best advice I can offer is to verify, verify, and then verify again what weight charge is being loaded. And I certainly understand the desire for some to find the most comfortable load to shoot, but be cautious as to how far down you reduce a load in addition to positively verifying the resulting charge.

And again, I'm glad this didn't result in you getting injured, or worse.

GS

I can't speak for everyone but I understand the severity in squibs. I am thankful that I knew there was a problem right off the bat on that round and immediately checked it. Then again in my instance I was shooting Magnum loads.

 

[Salmoneye]

Current Alliant website lists max of 5.7gr Unique under a 125gr Jacketed (yes, I know yours are plated)...+P is 6gr...

The guy suggesting that your spread was erratic pressure due to too light a load is on to something I'd say...

 

[gpurp]

I think the low end load / erratic pressure theory is dead on. The huge swing in speeds as corroborated by the Chrony supports that idea.