First squib in a 9mm

[crashresidue]

Cheers guys,

I've only been reloading a couple of years - and today, I got my first "squib" in a hand-loaded" 9mm.

It was about 80 rounds into the batch, it "felt" and "sounded" normal - but it only put the slug into the rifleing - just enough to keep any other rounds from loading (THANK God!)!

What bothers me is that all around my shooting bench - was unlit powder. I use the same powder in .38s, ,45, and 9mms. It's the only failure with this batch.

Please don't tell me to ditch this batch - I've got about 7lbs of it left.

Bad primer - bad load - bad proceedure - what did I do wrong?

I use a Rockchucher witha Dillon powder "warner" - "too much, too little" - you know what I'm talking about. Something went wrong.

Oh yea - Titegroup, Federal primer, mixed brass, 95 gn lead slug in a S&W 59.

Gentle winds,
cr

 

[ReloaderFred]

It's possible that there was something in the case when it was loaded that contaminated the powder. Possibly some moisture, oil, spider, etc. It could have been a primer without sufficient priming compound. Stuff happens sometimes.

Just be sure to check the cases before they're loaded with powder to make sure they're dry and nothing has gotten inside. You might smell that powder and take a close look at it. If it smells normal, and there isn't what looks like red rust on it, then it's probably OK. I've only seen a couple of cans of powder go bad in all the years I've been loading, and that was powder someone hadn't stored properly.

Glad nothing more serious happened and that you saw what had happened.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Steve C]

Unless you are loading something stupid like H110 or W296 in the 9mm the most likely reason for the squib is contaminated powder like Fred suggeested (since powder was all over the shooting bench). You get the same effect with a load that wasn't charged at all since the primer will push the bullet into the barrel. You say the round sounded normal, Usually such a soft load wouldn't even cycle the gun.

 

[rg1]

Could also be inadequate bullet tension in the brass. The only squib I've seen was in a .38 special using slow powder for the .38 and the primer must have shoved the bullet from the case before the entire charge of powder ignited. Bullet stuck in the barrel, unburnt powder spilled, but not a normal sounding shot. Close examination of the remaining rounds showed that you could push the bullet deeper into the case with very light finger pressure. Also his .38 loads were too lightly crimped. Possibly an undersized lead bullet or your sizing die isn't squeezing the brass enough or your expander is a little too big for the lead bullets. IF your expander is doing nothing when you expand and you don't feel it going into the brass it could be a problem. Slow powder for the caliber and bullet weight, and inadequate bullet tension is a recipe for a squib. Just a possibility? Corncob media stuck in the flash hole could cause a squib or misfire too.

 

[sublimaze41]

Can a primer drive a bullet into the barrel? Suppose the round was missing a powder charge. I understand primers have some "zip" to 'em........how much?

 

[glockgod]

Yup-happened to me with a 38 once.

 

[evan price]

Yes, a primer has enough force to push the bullet out of the brass and into the rifling. Has happened to me when I forgot to pay attention to the powder measure.

I use Titegroup, it is a VERY easy to ignite powder especially in small volumes-high capacity cases. I assume you are using around 4 grains of it in your 9 mm?

 

[crashresidue]

Cheers guys,

Thanks for the replies. I think I've found my culprit - I lube about 10% of each batch of cases (carbide dies), and after what showed up when I "experimented" today. I think I've found the problem.

I apparently over lubed a case with "One Shot" spray and didn't let it dry long enough and some/most of the powder got contaminated with the lube.

Now, which cartoon caracter(sp?) had the "butt kicking machine" where you stood infront of it, pulled down on a cord and got a #10 boot in the a**?

I obviously need one.

Thanks for the advice. It's good to have a place to go and ask questions.

Gentle winds,
cr