Squib rounds anyone?

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I was lucky...

(way back in the mid 80s...)

The very first firearm class that I had; the instructor told us about squib loads. I was using foreign factory 38 specials out of a S&W Model 10 with four inch barrel. It had to happen when we were being tested. I fired one time to hear the horrible "pap" of the primer. The bullet went 1/2 way up the barrel. I stopped and held up my hand. I felt like a dummy. The instructor couldn't believe it was a factory load. At least I saved the revolver and myself.
 
Not unbelievable to me.

I have personally re-barreled a S&W K-38 Masterpiece a guy brought into the AMU shop during a high-level pistol match.
Packed clear full of 148 grain wad-cutters.

Saw another one some years later at the local FOP range.
It was a Rossi, and the guy shot all six rounds after I heard the first one squib and started yelling cease fire at the top of my lungs!

rc
 
The first one that started the whole thing was.

After that, gas leakage out the cylinder gap kept them from blowing up on the following shots.

rc
 
After that, gas leakage out the cylinder gap kept them from blowing up on the following shots.
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I find it unbelievable that the shooter did not see or feel that much gas leakage out of the cylinder gap after the first shot!
I have never shot a squib load out of a revolver but I have to imagine that there is a little different feel to that. :)
 
It would be worth the experience...

to pull a bullet and dump the powder. Put your muffs on and pop the primer
(outside in a safe direction...) ;)
 
Had an underpowered or maybe Squib round yesterday at the Range...shooting up the last of some old re-loads I'd bought 25 years ago at an indoor range that used to sell them.

Anyway, old M&P Snubby, 3rd round goes 'Pink!' and I see the Bullet go arcing to the target, 10 yards away, and it boucnes off the paper, hitting 'low'...


If it'd been a four or six inch Barrel, who knows, might have not made it out...

Lol...

Funny me, I checked the Barrel anyway, to make darned sure it was clear, and, of course it was...


Better that than a double-charge I s'pose...


Only half a box of old Range-Bought re-loads left now...so, one more Range trip, and that'll be that...
 
I find it unbelievable
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Well, believe it or not, it happened.

There is a lot of noise going on while on the line with 200 or so other shooters at a national match.

rc
 
I have seen two in a barrel. The pressures were so low I guess the pressure just bled out of the gap. He beat them out with a rod, and as far as we could tell there was no damage. We were surprised when two came out though.

I find it unbelievable that the shooter did not see or feel that much gas leakage out of the cylinder gap after the first shot!
I have never shot a squib load out of a revolver but I have to imagine that there is a little different feel to that.
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I have played with light loads in .357 and testing them with the powder forward vs powder against the primer. I have stuck some bullets doing this. Not much difference between a 450 FPS shot that gets out and one that does not. I would check after each shot when shooting the powder forward shots to make sure it got out. I assure you it would be very easy to put more than one in the barrel.
 
squib.jpg

AMT AutoMag III in 9mm WinMag (9x29) squib. If you look close, you can see the bullet stuck right at the muzzle. :eek: My hand load. I obviously left a LOT or powder out of that one! Popped the round out with a cleaning rod and continued shooting! :cool:
 
Wooden dowels are not the best idea. If a piece of the dowel wedges between the bullet and the barrel you are going the make the situation worse. You are better off with a soft metal. I usually keep a cleaning rod handy.
 
I've never had a squib load in 45+ years of reloading either.

It just shouldn't happen if you are paying attention to business.

rc
 
I've had it happen twice. Once with one of my handloads in 45 Colt. Primer only was enough to push the projectile out far enough to lock up the cylinder on my SAA. Thankfully it was lead and I was able to cut through it with a very thin knife blade.

Second time was with some US surplus M1 Garand ammunition. Was fortunate to be doing a timed fire event and when I pulled the trigger, it didn't "feel" right. Opened the action, removed the clip and did a bore check to find out that the projectile was half way down the bore. Took a few wooden dowels and a rawhide mallet to drive it out.
 
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