The lazy man's method for removing a squib?

[Justin]

Ok, I had my first squib yesterday.

I didn't have the foresight to take a hammer and dowel with me to the range, so that pretty much ended the shooting of that pistol right there.

So, I have a question, and it very well may be a stupid one.

Wouldn't it be a lot quicker to clear a squib by priming and powdering a case, and then seal it with wax. That way in the event of a squib, you could just put that bulletless round into the chamber of the pistol, and fire it?

Or would that be a really bad idea? If so, why?

 

[Just_a_dude_with_a_gun]

I wouldn't take the chance, personally, though someone else might elect to do that.

I always fear that such a situation is not just a squib that caused the projectile to become lodged..... misshaped bullet, other obstruction, etc...

 

[griz]

I wouldn't do it either. I worry that I would discover a new phenomanon (SP ) where the extra volume of the new combustion chamber would push the pressure curve to some unfortunate shape that results in a ringed barrel. It may work, but I will not try it.

 

[Tim Burke]

I'd say it was a bad idea, because the stuck bullet has more resistance to movement than the normal bullet starting in the case.

 

[snuffy]

EGG!

That's exactly how you would go about egging a barrel. Egg you say? Yeah, it looks like an egg is stuck inside the barrel AFTER doing what you suggest!

That stuck bullet is a bore obstruction. ANY bore obstruction would result in very high pressure behind the stuck bullet. The friction resulting from a stuck bullet is high. The pressure has nowhere to go until that bullet moves, so it expands the barrel, could even burst it!

 

[Justin]

Thanks for the responses, guys!

I assumed that this would probably be a bad idea, but I appreciate the explanations as to what, exactly, would transpire.

Thanks again!

 

[Jim Watson]

Gen Hatcher did some work years ago on the subject of blowing out barrel obstructions. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

I think you need to put more effort into getting powder into all your cartridges than in making up gimmicks to remove your blunders.

 

[Justin]

Jim, that absolutely goes without saying.

 

[DWARREN123]

NO. Not the same as firing a bullet out of a case!

 

[pedaldude]

both are not good ideas, a blank cartridge is prolly even worse than shooting another bullet to remove the stuck one.

combat would be different though amd if I remember correctly the procedure for the Suomi sub-gun was just that. Luckily though they used some pretty hot 9mm for the time they'd also have to shoot the guns till the barrels were red hot and even developed a special "nozzle" because the guys firing them were getting sick.

 

[Bullet]

Justin

Don’t use a wooden dowel to remove a stuck bullet. Use a brass rod and some penetrating oil. Most hardware stores sell threaded brass rods, which is what I now use after breaking a wooden dowel off in a barrel (a real mess).

 

[Starter52]

I had the same thing happen to me last weekend with a plated .38 wadcutter bullet and my S&W Model 27. The WC ended up about 2" from the muzzle.

I cleared it (back home) by spraying Rem Oil behind the stuck bullet and pounding it out with a stainless steel .250" rod. No big deal.

 

[redloki]

The first squid I had I just whipped out the pocket knife cut me off a piece of a hickory tree, disassembled my pistol, stuck the stick in the barrel and hammered it out on the bench. Easy and cheap. Heck even a pencil would probally work if you were at an indoor range and didn't have access to a tree.

Edit: I was up almost 18 hours and tired when I made the inital post. I know that I didn't really answer your question but to be honest I never would have even thought what you did in making a blank round. I am no expert on pressure curves but suggest that you do some reading on the subject and the subject of internal ballistics. There was a very good article in this months shooting times that included a lot of info on pressures and seating depth of a 30-06 round. I left the magazine at work but will forward the article to you if it is still there. Perhaps it will give you more insight as to why it can be so dangerous.

 

[Justin]

Redloki-

That'd be great. I'm just getting into reloading, so the more info the better.

FWIW, I knocked the bullet out with a hammer and dowel.

 

[sm]

Justin,

Don't forget the advise CRSam shared long ago. If one is having trouble, stop and re-evaluate.

Sticking the gun / barrel in the freezer does help with some of the more ornery cases. Not just squibs, also stuck cases in charge holes and chambers too.

Just reading some of Sam's old posts and these were part of what I was reading...

Follow me , I know a shortcut - CRSam

 

[highlander 5]

Get a BRASS hammer and a brass rod to drive out stuck pistol bullets. the brass rod won't hurt the bore and if you miss the brass hammer shouldn't leave a mark on the pistoll. 2nd best hammer 4 lb dead blow and brass rod

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I think the only safe way for a lazy man to get the bullet out is talk his buddy into removing it

I've been there myself with someone else's reloads.

I wouldn't try the wax/powder answer though. Afraid it could have bad results for the reasons already given. I think it could be made to work, but I wouldn't want to try it.

 

[Archie]

Orchard Supply (and probably some other hardware places as well) have threaded brass rod in various diameters.

They are great for knocking bullets out of barrels. As mentioned, they will not mar a steel barrel, and they don't break like wooden dowels. If you have to use a wood dowel, use a hardwood dowel, not anything soft.

I currently have two, one for .22 bores and one for .38 caliber. I'll probably get a third for .45 sized bores. The better the rod fits the bore, the better the blow delivered to move the bullet.

 

[SiG Lady]

It's easy...

I carry a brass rod suitable for anything from 9mm to .45ACP and have used it all of twice. The range folks usually have the hammer. A friend of mine came to the range one day long ago with a long brass rod and wanted to know if I wanted half of it for fashioning a squib-be-gone tool. We cut it in two on the spot. Shootin' buddies are so thoughtful sometimes...