WhippingBoy
Member
I had my first squib from my own loads today in my 1911.
Frankly, the gun would have exploded on the next round, but thank God, the stuck bullet was so close to the chamber that the following round wouldn't fit and the gun didn't go into battery. Not that I didn't try either, I hit the slide, cycled the gun, hit the chamber again, cycled again, but still the slide stopped 1/4 inch from closing. Only after complete unloading and looking into the barrel through the open breach did I see the obstruction.
I was doing rapid defensive shooting drills and I had absolutely zero sensation that the squib wasn't a regular ignition. Recoil seemed normal and the gun cycled normally. It just stopped running when the gun didn't go into battery and I did the stoppage exercises.
I've only been reloading for 5 months on a Lee Loadmaster and I thought I was being especially careful. I've shot 1500+ of my own ammo and this is the first round with no powder. I even have a 100watt light pointing right at the press, so I can see the powder level.
I've already gone to the gunshop and picked up a RCBS Powder Checker and I'm going to replace the crimp die with it (obviously after moving the bullet feeder/seater). That last crimp step seemed superfluous anyhow.
Is this all I can do then? Clearly I need to keep my eyes open longer. There's no TV, or radio, or other distraction in the loading room, but are there other tools, techniques to be suggested so this doesn't happen again? I really thought I was being careful, but something needs changing, clearly.
Frankly, the gun would have exploded on the next round, but thank God, the stuck bullet was so close to the chamber that the following round wouldn't fit and the gun didn't go into battery. Not that I didn't try either, I hit the slide, cycled the gun, hit the chamber again, cycled again, but still the slide stopped 1/4 inch from closing. Only after complete unloading and looking into the barrel through the open breach did I see the obstruction.
I was doing rapid defensive shooting drills and I had absolutely zero sensation that the squib wasn't a regular ignition. Recoil seemed normal and the gun cycled normally. It just stopped running when the gun didn't go into battery and I did the stoppage exercises.
I've only been reloading for 5 months on a Lee Loadmaster and I thought I was being especially careful. I've shot 1500+ of my own ammo and this is the first round with no powder. I even have a 100watt light pointing right at the press, so I can see the powder level.
I've already gone to the gunshop and picked up a RCBS Powder Checker and I'm going to replace the crimp die with it (obviously after moving the bullet feeder/seater). That last crimp step seemed superfluous anyhow.
Is this all I can do then? Clearly I need to keep my eyes open longer. There's no TV, or radio, or other distraction in the loading room, but are there other tools, techniques to be suggested so this doesn't happen again? I really thought I was being careful, but something needs changing, clearly.