Squib Load

[Guy Miner]

I've never photographed this before, but have seen it before. Today a friend was shooting his wonderful .44 mag Ruger Super Redhawk. What a revolver! Nicely tuned trigger and a custom ported barrel by WWG.

Shooter was using handloads from someone else... The big .44 mag went "pop" instead of BANG! Experienced shooter immediately stopped. Good. After a pause, in case it was a hangfire, we opened up the revolver and found:



The bullet was jammed into the barrel, purely from the power of the primer - there was no gunpowder!

We were of course able to cure this problem, but...

If you ever get a squib load PLEASE cease fire immediately, wait 30 seconds, with the firearm pointed downrange, in case it is a hangfire, and then, clear the gun. Clear the barrel! Clear it before firing another round!

That's the dangerous part... Slamming bullet at full power into the bullet lodged in the barrel. This CAN result in dangerous over-pressure. Sometimes there's no harm, but the potential for disaster is strong.

Squib load. If you weren't familiar with the term, well, now you are!

Regards, Guy

 

[gerry]

That could have ruined his day and a lot more! Good advice on being alert Guy.

 

[JD338]

good point Guy.
Glad the shooter was aware of what was going on.

JD338

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Good catch fellas.

Way to wait for the "hangfire." I saw a guy have the same thing happen and he was anxious to clear the snagged bullet. In the time it took him to set the pistol down (luckily pointed downrange) and turn around to grab his mallet and a wooden dowel, the pistol fired. It startled all of us but luckily it was pointed in the right direction. Those were loaded by "someone else" as well.

Thanks for sharing Guy. A nice reminder to pay attention when "Rolling your own."

Dale

 

[DrMike]

An excellent safety reminder, Guy. We're always in need of being reminded.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Well when I gave Chance his 35 Whelen we cleaned it all up and went to fire it using Rem factory rounds put one in click. He looked at me and I told him keep a hold of her. Waited about a minute jacked it out looked at it. Shook it put back in click. Waited pulled it. Tried another one same thing.

Found out later that the factory ammo wasn't sized properly too small to properly chamber so when the firing pin struck it pushed the cartridge forward but without enough force to light the primer since the case wasn't tight against the chamber.

Just another reminded it doesn't have to be someone's handloads!!

 

[nvbroncrider]

I've also seen factory Aguila 45ACP ammo so bad that one round hits target next is 6ft high and the following lands 10 ft in front of you. Just be aware that it can happen with any of them.

 

[1Shot]

First NO NO in my experience is trusting someone else s hand loads, and especially if you don't really know them and know that they REALLY know what they are doing.

Yep the squib load is really dangerous. I team teach a handgun carry permit classes and have a picture of a pistol with a bullet stuck about 1" before exiting the muzzle that is shown in class. It was from factory Winchester 38 Special ammo. It was from one of the other instructors for the class daughters pistol. When she was shooting she stopped and said "Dad that did not sound and feel right". She did as she was taught and kept the muzzle down range and counted to 30 before inspecting the pistol. No powder and just a primer pushed the bullet half way down the 2" barrel.

 

[MrMinks2]

First NO NO in my experience is trusting someone else s hand loads, and especially if you don't really know them and know that they REALLY know what they are doing.

Yep the squib load is really dangerous. I team teach a handgun carry permit classes and have a picture of a pistol with a bullet stuck about 1" before exiting the muzzle that is shown in class. It was from factory Winchester 38 Special ammo. It was from one of the other instructors for the class daughters pistol. When she was shooting she stopped and said "Dad that did not sound and feel right". She did as she was taught and kept the muzzle down range and counted to 30 before inspecting the pistol. No powder and just a primer pushed the bullet half way down the 2" barrel.

+1!

 

[FOTIS]

I have seen a ruger redhawk 44 mag given to a gunsmith here in town with 4 (four) 44 bullets stuck in the barrel!!!!

Tough tough Son of Bees!

 

[Vince]

First time I shot a handgun I had a squib.
Bang, Bang, pop.
I looked at Jimmy and said, "That don't feel right." He instructed me to keep it pointed down range, which I did. After waiting for what he determined was an appropriate amount of time I attempted to open the cylinder. The 158 grain LSW was lodged in the cylinder gap preventing the cylinder from being opened.
Using a vise, wooden dowel, and a mallet the bullet was driven back in to the case.
It is a lesson that has stayed with me since that I am very conscious of.
Great job on the shooter remaining aware.

Vince


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kraky1]

With over 20 years of handloading experience for myself I've never forgotten to put powder in a case but as I get older I fear my day is coming lol!!
I hate to admit to how many shells I put powder in and realized I never put the primers in!

 

[CMBTshooter]

When I first started loading for my .300 win mag, I didn't have the powder measure on the dillon screwed down into the tool head far enough. About 35 rounds into shooting I had a squib load. Small pop, no bang, no recoil.

After a few minutes I lifted the bolt handle and it shot back, catching my thumb in between the cooking piece and the stock. Apparently 215Ms can generate an awful lot of pressure. Tore up my thumb a little bit and scared the s $%& out of me. I fixed the powder measure issue and I inspect every case after it leaves the charging station. I sure don't want to repeat that experience ever again.

 

[cloverleaf]

Happened to me shooting a friends 45ACP. Cant remember if I knew what happened or not, but fortunately, he did. Made me more aware for sure. Did the same thing with a .40 cal ML. Pan was primed but he forgot to load powder in the barrel. Those are easy to notice. Great catch. Glad no one was hurt. Picture gives me goose bumps. CL