Thank your RSO, pay attention - close call with a squib

[z7]

Middle of the final uspsa stage of the day I had a squib. RO stopped me, before I could attempt to fire again

Scary part was the next round chambered when I did a mag change and racked the slide

Bullet was stuck 2” down the barrel. There was no unburned powder in the barrel or casing, so either it was a very light charge that burned all the way or it was just a primer

They were my own reloads. BE-86 and a 180gn plated bullet, ~940fps for all except that one

Thank your RO, if you are running stages for folks, pay attention to those failure to fire events, electronic ear pro helps

Thank the RO, watch for squibs

Had a squib during a uspsa match. RO was on point and stopped me in the middle of the stageI shook his hand and thanked him a few minutes later for saving me...

youtu.be

 

[Gbro]

That was an amazing call!
I couldn't see/hear anything but a hammer fall on what I would have dismissed as an empty chamber.
Reason I didn't think Squib is I have seen lots of pistols that do not lock open on last round.
I believe this is an excellent eye-opener!!!
My son-in-law had a squib shooting an El president stage and I was in the gallery and watched him rack the slide and fire.
My eyes were on the target and I saw 2 strikes appear....
It was my 1911 and the slide was locked with a bulged barrel.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

 

[z7]

That was an amazing call!
I couldn't see/hear anything but a hammer fall on what I would have dismissed as an empty chamber.
Reason I didn't think Squib is I have seen lots of pistols that do not lock open on last round.
I believe this is an excellent eye-opener!!!
My son-in-law had a squib shooting an El president stage and I was in the gallery and watched him rack the slide and fire.
My eyes were on the target and I saw 2 strikes appear....
It was my 1911 and the slide was locked with a bulged barrel.

I’m not sure if it would have blown up or just damaged the pistol,

I’d like to see someone take a full sized Glock with some lower power loads and test this in a safe manner (gun in a rest, not hand held)

Either way, they RO saved me money, pain, and likely a pair of pants

 

[Starter52]

This is disturbing.
I've never heard of a squib load being able to cycle another round.

 

[z7]

This is disturbing.
I've never heard of a squib load being able to cycle another round.

That’s why I wanted to share the video

And the next round had zero setback, I had to put the barrel in the freezer to punch the bullet out. Turns out lead shrinks or expands more than steel through temperature changes

 

[MEHavey]

I've never heard of a squib load being able to cycle another round.

^^^ THIS ^^^ (me neither)


But... watching the video 0:15-0:20, it appeared not to actually cycle the next round.
Rather, the slide appeared to only go back far enough to cock the striker -- hence the
"click" when the trigger pulled -- and the empty case left in chamber upon pulling slide
back manually. (a good thing)

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've never heard of a squib load being able to cycle another round.

If you're referring to the linked video, it didn't. The case didn't eject as you can see him eject an empty case when he racks the slide. This squib had enough energy to move back enough to cock the striker, but not enough to pull the case out enough to contact the ejector.

I've seen squibs cycle the slide at matches on several occasions. It is not uncommon to see squibs...more likely from light powder charges than no powder...cycle enough to try to chamber another round. Fortunately the previous bullet usually hasn't be pushed far enough into the barrel to allow the following round to chamber

 

[z7]

^^^ THIS ^^^ (me neither)


But... watching ghe video 0:15-0:20, it appeared not to actually cycle the next round.
Rather, the slide appeared to only go back far enough to cock the striker -- hence the
"click" when the trigger pulled -- and the empty left in chamber upon pulling slide back manually.
(a good thing)

Correct sir, I edited the op. I meant to indicate that the squib was far enough down the barrel to fully chamber the next round, if I had tried to fire, I would have had a kaboom

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I have reacted to a squib not knowing that it was a squip at the time and couldn't figure out why the next round wasn't chambering. A huge awareness acme over me back then as to how lucky of a fellow that i was. Be aware of what happens when you experience a squib. It wouldn't hurt to learn what to expect during a squib and train yourself on how to handle one.

 

[MrBorland]

The case didn't eject as you can see him eject an empty case when he racks the slide

the empty left in chamber upon pulling slide back manually.

the squib was far enough down the barrel to fully chamber the next round, if I had tried to fire, I would have had a kaboom

@MEHavey and @9mmepiphany called it, methinks. Still, a squib in a match can be hair raising. BTDT. Good on the RSO.

 

[jmorris]

I have yelled STOP myself when the RO hasn't and the shooter looks like he's going to try and continue, when standing there waiting to tape.

Also, keep an eye on that shooter the rest of the day, often, its not just one.

It can make a mess of a pistol, if they set the next one off with an obstructed bore. Makes a powder check die seem cheep and thats if they don't get hurt themselves.

 

[9mmepiphany]

Makes a powder check die seem cheep and thats if they don't get hurt themselves.

I've never understood the mindset of folks saying they don't need a powder check die on a progressive...counting on their Mark 1 eyeball

If you're looking at the case station anyway, it is easier to look at the rising rod on the die than see inside a case...plus it give you a quantitative , as opposed to relative, indicator of powder level

 

[jmorris]

I've never understood the mindset of folks saying they don't need a powder check die on a progressive...counting on their Mark 1 eyeball

Sometimes it's simply not an option one has.

 

[z7]

I've never understood the mindset of folks saying they don't need a powder check die on a progressive...counting on their Mark 1 eyeball

If you're looking at the case station anyway, it is easier to look at the rising rod on the die than see inside a case...plus it give you a quantitative , as opposed to relative, indicator of powder level

I have loaded and fired 20k rds of 40/9mm/556/308 over the last 10 years and have not had issues with my ammo beyond a few primers that didn’t seat well in crimped 9mm brass

I will be reviewing my QC process for pistol ammo from now on, perhaps a powder check for is in my future. I have a decent amount of ammo already loaded so I will be paying attention more now after this squib.

 

[Riomouse911]

Yeesh! Glad all worked out.

Primers have a pretty good bit of oomph, enough to move slides a bit. (No B/C gap to vent the bit of generated pressure that’s gotta go somewhere.)

I stuck a wadcutter in my Colt 6” .38 Spl. last year. I replaced the wonky powder measure and I am still double checking powder weights (using two scales) numerous times as I load as a result of that experience.

Stay safe.

 

[kmw1954]

Thanks for sharing this. I too work at a very large outdoor range as a RO.

Our range because of the number of guests we have daily does not allow rapid fire or double taps. Specifically because of this reason and a few others. Because of this I believe this is partly the reason we have the safety rating we do. We just have too many inexperienced and new shooters to allow it. Many of our customers do not understand this aspect or respect our reasoning for it.