Getting squib rounds and baffled

[wrench459]

We do care about the problem and we also care about you and your safety.

Squid rounds are very dangerous.

 

[Walkalong]

Can be.

 

[double bogey]

Lets see, Dillon 550. manual advance, progressive. Is it possible to advance the table twice, due to being distracted, or something, not dropping a powder charge? When reloading, we get on a roll, possible a step was missed, causing a single round to miss the powder charge?

When I was loading .44 mag on a lee classic turret, I would get a squib every 100 rounds or so. To me this was unacceptable. I found a Square Deal B in .44 on ebay, purchased it, and have not had a squib round since. This loader has auto advance, so I couldn't double charge, or do whatever I was doing on the lee classic. I got a Dillon 650xl, as a result of this "research" as I wanted the auto advance, and the powder check station. I load .45, 9mm, and .223 on the 650. I load .44mag, .38 and .357 on the SDB. Have not had a squib since doing the high volume loading on the Dillons with auto advance. Still do rifle rounds and load development on the classic turret, and single stage. I also pull and weigh every 10th charge or so while loading. Slows me down a bit, but prevents me from getting in trouble if the powder measure or powder check mechanism drifts. A little peace of mind.

I can still maintain an easy pace, watching each operation, keeping powder and primers going of about 350 rounds an hour on the 650. its capable of more, I just like to take my time. Would rather shoot and reload, than pull down 1k rounds. Be safe, and enjoy.

 

[johnandersonoutdoors]

It sounds like the OP will be more vigilante moving forward, and that is great news.

I do wonder if he truly looked in every case. I, like many others here, have visually checked every case. When you visually confirm a proper charge, you can seat a bullet. I have never had a squib since starting this 20,000 rounds ago.

As a side note, here is a thread where we previously discussed running the powder hopper very low. I have personally finished various batches on my 550b while letting the powder measure get very low. Using Unique I had only 17 grains of powder in the hopper and was getting consistent charges until the end. I am using Silhouette now, but have not tried it yet. Others in the thread below, have experienced this type of consistency even with very little powder in the measure.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...n-powder-measure-hopper.795814/#post-10139539

I am not sure if this is uncommon, because I see many people talking about not letting their powder hoppers get low, on all kinds of brands. So maybe I should say YMMV. I have run Unique very low in a Redding model 3 and my Dillon with no problems at all.

 

[jmorris]

Lets see, Dillon 550. manual advance, progressive. Is it possible to advance the table twice, due to being distracted, or something, not dropping a powder charge?

I’ll have to admit, not being a fan of a manual indexing press, why I owned more than one of all the other Dillon’s and a progressive from just about everyone that sells one today before I bought a 550. That said if you can walk and chew gum at the same time, it’s not a problem.

Can you advance the shell plate twice? Sure, you will have thrown a case into the bin with no crimp, advanced a case into the crimp station with no bullet, put a case into #3 without powder and have nothing in #1 or #2. Would likely be obvious to even a blind person that knows Braille.

Same thing for double charge, if you always have a bullet to be seated with your indexing had (left one) and grab a case with the right one between strokes, you can’t forget to index either or you will seat two bullets in #3 and somehow get two cases in the shell plate at #1.

After owning one, I figure it’s a “problem” that people that don’t own one bring up.

Now, I have read about all sorts of stuff causing powder charging problems. Folks running the old (non fail safe) linkages, June bugs, spiders and even one where a live primer jammed one up and subsequent beating apart sent the op to the hospital! And yeah, not having powder in the measure will cause problems too.

For the OP, the good old eyeball, looking inside the case at #2 right before or as you index should solve your problems.

If you PM me your address I’ll send you a KMS UFO light kit for a 550 that will make that a lot easier. Same as the kit on the 550 on the left.

 

[Dudedog]

If you PM me your address I’ll send you a KMS UFO light kit for a 550 that will make that a lot easier. Same as the kit on the 550 on the left.

Very kind of you to offer to help out the OP jmorris.

 

[jmorris]

Well, it’s the new year and I wanted to get my good deed out of the way so I can go back to being me...

 

[snuffy]

View attachment 772926
I can’t take credit for this because I got it from another THR member

I did not believe it when I read it, but after I did it I was amazed. Shaking a loaded case in the funnel as it is held close to the ear does let you hear powder flopping back-and-forth in the case.

No powder equals no mini-maraca sound

That Could have been me, BUT, I don't think it was my idea to start with. AND yes it does work,(especially with my hearing loss)! Also it won't work for compressed powder charges.

CFE powder is a ball powder, I just don't see how it could bridge in any powder measure. It would be like trying to stack ball bearings or BB'S.

I too carry a brass rod and small hammer to remove a stuck bullet. WARNING do not use a wood dowel. The wood can split, jamming along side a RN bullet, now you have a stuck bullet AND a tightly jammed stick to get out.

 

[LiveLife]

Good words of wisdom.

However, it is easier to modify reloading session checklist, workflow and have QC measures in place than removing tightly jammed bullet from the barrel (Ask me how I know ).

• DO NOT RELOAD DISTRACTED - If you are tired, sleepy, hot/cold, sick, hungry, upset/mad over something, etc., wait to reload until you are comfortable and can focus on reloading
• Make sure powder hopper has powder and flow valve is turned ON (If so equipped with flow valve)
• Drop several charges until weights of charges are consistent (and to allow powder to settle in the hopper)
• QC Check - For variable volume chamber measures like Dillon, weigh powder charge every 50-100 drops to ensure it is not drifting
• Visually inspect or use inspection mirror to ensure there is powder charge inside the case before setting each bullet
• If loading on progressive and have any doubt, clear all stations and start over

Add the above to your reloading session checklist/workflow and you should avoid future squibs. We are human. Many of us have been there and done that. And we have seen too many "Funny thing happened at the range today" threads ...

 

[hdbiker]

I through a couple grains light charge in the scale pan, trickle it up to desired weight. Charge case, seat bullet, one at a lime. Never had a squib. hdbiker