Yikes -- bullet stuck

[nulfisin]

I fired a squib round, probably because I failed to charge a case. Now, I have a bullet lodged in my barrel. Fortunately, I noticed the squib before attempting to fire another round. Do any of you have a recommendation for removing the bullet? Is this something I need a gunsmith to do? Thanks.

 

[Birdmang]

Can I see a picture please?

 

[c919]

I'm no reloader or smithy, but I believe you can tap it out with a small wooden dowel and hammer. Maybe you could google more info on the dowel tap???

I'm no expert though so I might be wrong.

 

[bigeye]

Lots more information needed before anyone can give you an intelligent answer. Sit tight until the experts jump in here.

 

[ChristopherG]

You'll have to DOUBLE charge a round to shoot with enough force to propel both itself and the stuck bullet out.

KIDDING.

Really, you can tap it out with a wooden dowel without worrying about damaging the barrel. No gunsmith necessary. Only know because I've been there myself--a couple times, I fear.

 

[Birdmang]

hahahaha nice

 

[Avenger29]

I do recommend squirting some penetrating oil down the barrel before you begin tapping it out with a wooden dowel...

I'm assuming that you can take the handgun down, I'd tap from chamber forward.

 

[ChristopherG]

chamber forward

Right, if possible. What's the gun?

 

[nulfisin]

1911 -- was able to remove the barrel

The brass ejected nicely. Just the bullet lodged maybe an inch or so into the barrel. I'll try some tapping with awooden dowel. If that doesn't work (with s little oil thrown in for good measure), I'll take it to the smith.

Won't do anything, though, till tomorrow in case other experts weigh in. Funny thing is, I'm always paranoid about double charging a round and intend to stay that way. But that's not excuse to not load the round at all.

Thanks.

 

[Chuck Warner]

....Tap it out. If it only went about an inch and the bullet is still there, you didnt have enough pressure to do any harm. CW

 

[RonE]

With the barrel out and the fact that it is a .45 1911, just use a wooden dowell and a hammer. You can't hardly hurt a 1911 barrel no matter which end you tap or beat the stuck bullet out of the barrel. I would personally tap the bullet so that it exits the barrel from the shortest distance to where it is stuck. If at first it doesn't move with some kind of penetrating oil, get a larger hammer.

 

[Travlin]

There have been several threads on this subject. Most reccomend using a brass cleaning rod to tap it out. Wood can be a problem, especially if moving bullet backwards, as the wood can splinter and cause more problems.

 

[hotshotshoting]

cleaning rod + hammer = win

end of story...

 

[HisSoldier]

Turn a 1/2" diameter 6061 aluminum rod to .440, long enough to go through the barrel length, hang onto it as it will serve you for many years. I made the business end with a hollow so it won't upset the bullet and make things worse.

This was my answer to a stuck UHMW plastic bullet that was a bit oversize, which I was shooting (with primers only) indoors.

 

[Walkalong]

Use a brass rod over wood if you can. A wooden rod can splinter and get things more jammed up.

HisSoldier's suggestion is best, if you have the capability. Short of that a 3/8 brass rod would work well.

I keep a 5/16 brass rod in my range bag. It sure came in handy when testing powder "postion sensitivity" in "powder forward" testing with light loads. Stuck a couple of bullets that way. I have gotten a couple of bullets out of other folks guns at the range as well. Sure made their day.

Like HisSoldier suggested, a rod that just fits in the barrel would be best. The suggestion to have a hollow end as to not expand the bullet more is an excellent one.

 

[rcmodel]

Brass is best.

A 12" rod is heavy enough you usually don't even need a hammer.

Just the weight of the rod alone is usually enough to "tap" a handgun bullet out.

I would suggest you review your reloading procedures though.
If you have one round with no powder, how do you know you don't have another round with two charges in it??

Use loading blocks and look at every powder charge compared to the others before you seat the bullets.

rc

 

[tekarra]

I had exactly the same thing happen. I field stripped the pistol and tapped out the bullet with a dowel that I always carry in my range bag. It did not take much effort to remove the bullet.