First squib, ever.

[subierex]

Hey all. Been shooting and reloading for over 25 years now and experienced my first squib tonight. Shooting my LCP with my own reloads tonight and couldn't get the next round to load. Looked in the chamber and found the casing still there. Not sure what I was thinking, but...

Pulled out the casing and racked the slide, same thing, didn't fully seat in the chamber.

Finally took the gun apart and holy sheepdip, there was the bullet just barely out of the case mouth (I'd guess). :banghead:

Not sure why I didn't suspect the squib as I didn't really notice much different with the recoil. Scary.

Lucky night I guess.

 

[carbine85]

Funny I ran into this. I had two squibs today with my AR9. I just set up my progressive press for 9MM and 2 rounds got through without powder. I had to tap out the bullets with a rod.

 

[ReloaderFred]

It took me 49 years and over 750,000 rounds to get my first squib load, and it happened at the largest match in the world in my sport (End of Trail). I drove three days, spent well over $1,500.00 (not counting my wife's shopping) and did it in the World Championship Match.

It made me rethink my whole reloading process and I bought an RCBS Lockout Die for my press. Haven't had one since, and hope I never have another. That one cost me 9 rounds and 90 points........ I also bought the light strip for inside my press.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Eagle103]

Good thing you weren't shooting a revolver.

 

[Dudedog]

Opps dupe

 

[Dudedog]

Tens of thousands of rounds on my Lee turret one issue, had one shortly after I bought my LNL progressive.

Pop, not bang, oh
waited in case of a hangfire then ran a rod down the barrel, yep,

Mentally kicked myself, stopped and rethought the loading procedure on the new press. Ordered a powder cop in the next couple days.(Should have bought it to begin with) Put more lights in the reloading area. Kicked myself a few more times for good measure.

Surprising how far down a barrel a primer can drive a bullet.

Sorry for your squib, glad the next round didn't chamber.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I had two in my first 100 hand loads on a single stage. None since a few thousand rounds later. Both in a 686 glad I was paying close enough attention and shooting single action to stop and think "huh, something didn't feel / sound right...".

I don't let many other than I shoot my hand loads but those I do, I make sure they take their time, stop if anything feels off, and realize that an imperfect human being loaded the ammo they are about to shoot.

 

[gk3]

Ouch. I'm glad nothing catastrophic happened. So the squib had enough energy to cycle the action and feed the next round to an 'out of battery' condition? I've only been reloading a few months now, but wondered if primer alone is usually enough to cycle the action and how much that depends on the gun.

Thankfully the round didn't travel far enough down the barrel to allow for another one.

 

[RPegram]

My first squib was in 38 special using Unique. The gun was a S&W 642 airweight and was loading for a light load so was loading at the minimum. I was loading on a single stage and inspected every case for powder. 38 special is a big case with very little powder and one had too low a powder throw. It had almost enough to get the bullet out of the barrel, but not quite. I started measuring every powder drop until I used the rest of that pound of powder and haven't bought any since. The other squib was in the same gun using Autocomp. Again, looking for a light load and staying within published ranges, had a squib. The problem with this powder is that it is extremely case sensitive. First round out of five had a very light pop with lots of unburned powder all over my hands and face. Lets just say that was the only pound of that powder I ever bought, but it did work good in 9mm. I will add that as long as you point muzzle up, tap cylinder a couple of times, then lower muzzle just to level and shoot, it does okay.

 

[Shaq]

Never had one since I started handloading 40 years ago. The only squib I did have was from a friend's reloads. That, plus a range's bad reload is what convinced me to start reloading.

I only use powders that fill at least half the case & I check for powder charges before seating bullets.

 

[mdi]

Well, I had my first squib after mebbe 200 rounds, in 1969. It happened in my 3" 38 and luckily the bullet stuck into the forcing cone and locked up the cylinder. I had to stop shooting and go home to fix it, if it were any farther and the cylinder were free to turn, I may have found out what a KABOOM! is. Reason for the squib? I was reloading in my living room with a Lee Loader and just plain forgot to dump some powder in the case before seating a bullet. I have since move all my reloading out of the house, do not stop while reloading until the finished ammo is boxed up, and no interruptions, period...

 

[subierex]

Thanks all for the commiseration. Bullet popped right out of the barrel. It had barely engaged the rifling.

I've been loading on a Lee Turret for quite a while. I really need to rethink my reloading strategy. This has kind of spooked me a bit.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Don't let it spook you. Consider it a learning experience and use it to construct even better ammunition.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

Doing better than me. I've had a few.

I don't usually allow distractions when reloading and the importance of that cant be stressed enough.

Well after a few distractions and squibs i set the better half down and explained what could happen as a result of being distracted. Showed her a couple pics of others who had kabooms and such.

Not had one since...keeping fingers crossed and distractions away.


Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

 

[entropy]

Been loading pistol for 38 years-never had a squib. I use an RCBS Jr. and have developed a reloading regimen that borders on OCD and paranoia. I immediately seat the bullet after dumping the hand-weighed charge in the case, after verifying powder level. If at any time in the process I have doubts, I pull the bullet/dump the case, and start over. Yes, it's not as fast as putting some Metallica on the CD player, winding up a Dillon 550, and cranking out 1000 rounds a night, but I've never loaded a squib, and my rounds are very consistent, in velocity and accuracy.
I did experience a squib recently, because I broke my own self-imposed rule and fired someone else's handloads. (I do not know who's or how old; my son found them in a barn he was working in, and his boss said he could have them.)
Had to pound a wadcutter out of my snubby's barrel. At least it was a short trip!