Squib stuck a bullet in my barrel

[Sevens]

Just wanted to point out that I'm far from perfect and had (for sure) my biggest foul-up in the last 20 years at the bench. Because I come here often and try to help with the basic stuff where I can, I almost feel like I'm trying to get away with something if I screw up and don't admit my mistake to the forum! :eek:

I stuck a 158 grain Berry's plated flat point bullet in my S&W 686 .357 mag revolver. The load I was using was 38 Special, 3.1 grains of Green Dot. It didn't stick in the forcing cone and tie up the cylinder, it stuck halfway down the 6-inch barrel.

I can't exactly figure out why I was using such a light load. Alliant shows a max of 3.5 grains for a LSWC. I always like to start light when I'm doing something new, but in retrospect, this is too conservative.

I was smart enough to notice the light bang, empty the revolver, then check for obstructions, so I get credit for that.

And my methods at the bench have me convinced that I didn't load one squib in a group of good loads-- what I did was to make a whole damn batch of squibs. I load single stage and I don't seat any bullets without a clear visual check across a large lot of charged cases.

I had shot a cylinderful of these before I stuck one-- this is either luck that a few went before this one wouldn't, or it could be that light charges of Green Dot don't meter well enough and this one was actually a tenth or two tenths lighter than the rest.

Either way, I'm not bothering with Green Dot anymore. This is a leftover powder for me, haven't bought this stuff in years. I have so many powders that I really don't need to goof with a powder that doesn't meter well or return any incredible performance.

In any case, I just posted this thread to admit my goof and make anyone who has done feel a little better!

Commence the flogging.

[ShootingNut]

I have also made my share of Squibs, and also stuck lead in my 686 barrel.
I also went to loading in batches, lighting the whole group visually before seating the lead, and walla no more squibs.
My Lee Pro Powder setup on my Classic Turret, just isn't dependable enough with the Titegroup or Accurate powders I use.
Loading 9mm, I have caught like 1 or 2 light loads in maybe 100-150 rounds.
Dropping only 1.3 grain rather than my receipe of 3.4 grain. Needless to say, that makes for a dandy Squib.:mad:
Regards,
SN

[kraigwy]

We all make goofs, we all try to be careful, but we all make goofs. Anyone who trys to tell us we havent screwed up some reloads hasn't been reloading very long.

The makers of reloading tools know this, thats why they sell Bullet Pullers.
Bullets pullers are like the erasiers we use with our pencils.

Its not just reloaders that goof. Manufactors goof also else there wouldnt be any ammo recalls.

Years ago, (When CMP was DCM) they use to furnish military ammo for EIC matches. We got a batch of '06 Match Ammo from DCM that didn't have the primer flash holes.

We just hope and pray that our goofs are small, reminding us we need to use a bit of care.

But to keep from getting harassed I'm not listing my goofs, I've been reloading for over 40 years, believe me I've had my share.

[jmorris]

Low powder is not a squib; you are guilty of being overly cautious. They call them minimum loads, go under them in a large capacity rifle case and you could wind up with something much more dangerous than just a stuck bullet.

[wingman]

My Lee Pro Powder setup on my Classic Turret, just isn't dependable enough with the Titegroup or Accurate powders I use.

Not trying to stray from original post but I find titegroup and accurate 5
to be super easy to get consistent drops using my lee auto disk with
the micrometer adjustment.


3.1 grains of Green Dot.

In my opinion this should have pushed bullet out the barrel may have
been a lower weight then you thought, I would pull a couple and check.

[Perajio]

Hey Sevens,

I make mistakes all day and every day in a variety of endeavors (Like my first marriage. :eek:) and as long as you learn from them without getting killed (Ask me how I know not to use a vaccuum cleaner to clean up spilled gun powder. :rolleyes:), it's a wash in the end.

Thanks for the confession, I absolve you of your reloading sins! :D

[CrustyFN]

Sevens your not alone. I'm just glad you caught it before it turned into a bad problem.
My Lee Pro Powder setup on my Classic Turret, just isn't dependable enough with the Titegroup or Accurate powders I use.
I haven't ever used Accurate powders but my pro auto disk will throw Titegroup all day long with no variation. I did have some problems with the adjustable charge bar but the disks have been right on.
Rusty

[Sevens]

Thanks gents, makes me feel a bit better.

I would also have to say that Titegroup, the fine flake powder that it is, meters quite well for me and I use a pretty good Hornady powder measure. But Green Dot has always given me metering fits when I throw 3 to 4 grain charges of it.

I agree that the offending round probably was lighter than 3.1 grains. And for damn sure, the 12 or so rounds left in that batch are scheduled to be pulled.

[PCJim]

Honestly and thankfully, I have yet to have a squib load. Knock on wood! The thought has always scared me that I might have one and not realize it in time. Or if my son, a young man who loves to empty a clip - having one go dud with another chasing behind it.

Thank God that you realized it and caught it in time.

[Scope Bite]

I'm glad you caught it in time.

I'm sure everyone has their preference for powder checking, due to experience. Mine, however, has reverted to the 'one cartridge at a time' method.
I throw every charge onto my scale, when loading on a single-stage. (I rarelly use the Dillon progressive available.)
After I throw the powder charge, I seat the bullet according to whatever specs I have determined. Voila! Completed round. (besides a crimp, if needed) For me, this has completely eliminated any chance for a screw up. If I get distracted some where in the process... any powder goes back in the hopper, and the charge is re-thrown.

When I was using the 'throw a charge for every case in a tray' method, I found myself making too many mistakes. Luckily, none of them made it past my spot checks. Between catching my mistakes, and seeing multiple catastrophic failures that could have been prevented; I found a safe method that worked for me. It may be slower, but has yielded no problems so far.

[wpcexpert]

My first squib happened a couple weeks ago. It was for the .223. I had brought my AR over for dad to shoot. We had run about 5 mags thru it. On the last one of the day, POP, no bolt cycle, no bullet. I opened the bolt and there it was. Still in the case. It had come out a little, but not to much. No powder.

It was when I was having primer problems with my LNL. I was having to put primed shells into the rotation. I must have put it in the wrong station. I feel I was very lucky.

[1911_freak]

no one's perfect... i get one every once in a while. just run a cleaning rod down the barrel and tap it out. no big deal!:D

[Oberg]

Just today I ruined 4 .223 loads.. bullets powder the whole nine yards just trying to figure out a lee seating die... damn

[KC5TPA]

I've been loading .40S&W and .38 SPL with Bullseye and CCI 500s on my Dillon XL650 and haven't had a 'squib' load yet. At what quanity of reloads can I stop calling myself a newbie?

[RGS]

Sevens, (sorry about that)

Save the bullet. If you ever cast your own it is nice to slug your barrel and measure to know exactly what diameter to size your bullets.

So put the bullet in a labeled baggie for future reference.

Rick

[Sevens]

Besides the fact that I'm already a damn pack rat, I always keep a screw-up close at hand, right where I can see it. Visual reminder of what not to do! ;)

[RGS]

When I had a dedicated reloading bench I had a few ornaments of past blunders on display too. Thank goodness no broken guns... yet. :)

[fourdogs]

In over 35 years of hand loading, I have never had a squib, a hang fire or a screw up. My secret ? I pay very close attention. I check each flash hole, ream the pocket even on new brass, and measure case length also looking for defects. I use good lighting, and most importantly I hand measure each powder charge. It may take a little longer to hand measure, but I feel it's worth it for accuracy and safety. From 357 to the 50 BMG, never a problem.

[btefft]

Once upon a time I had a squib. I went to Lowe's and bought me a C-clamp that is adjustable for the length of the clamp. I then ground off the end so I could fight it into a auto's breech with the slide back. After inserting a short, but longer than the barrel, length of brass rod I use the C-clamp the shove the bullet back into the chamber.

I can use it in anything from my short LCP to my long barreled 7.5 in. Super Blackhawk.

Works like a charm.

Hack

[aerod1]

There are two catagories of reloaders, those of us who have had a squib and those who haven't reloaded much.:D

[Zombie Steve]

Way to be head's up while shooting! It's not fun getting a squib, but it's better than what happens if you pull the trigger again!

[Jacks]

I had a squib with a S&W 9mm...bullet stuck in the barrel, didn't sound different and the next bullet slammed into the squib forcing both bullets out the barrel but expanding the barrel where the slide wouldn't budge.

I can't tell you how much that alarmed me...and made me swear to carry a wheelgun in any possible bad situation...at least as back up, cause you never know.

I must have underloaded that round and failed to pick it up on inspection...using a lee single press at the time. I don't know if a primer alone would budge a 124 gr bullet. I still have close to 100 rounds from back then that I haven't shot. Thinking of doing so...to get rid of them...but hate to pull apart ammo just because and don't want to throw it away. (Probably it was a one time over sight...but... :(

I guess I could just do a pencil down the barrel after each shot.

Going back into reloading to save money, brings back that fear of what could have been.

I stopped reloading for 223 because of the difficulty setting primers in straight...not sure how to correct that.

[Sevens]

Just to clarify, I didn't make up a round with no powder in it. (I don't know if a primer-only round will stick a bullet) I made up 25 rounds with a light charge of a powder that meters erratically and one of them must have dumped light or just didn't get a good burn and THAT'S how the bullet got stuck.

For sure, I pulled the rest. Grab your handy kinetic puller and go to work and get rid of any suspect ammo that you are unsure about. The bullet and the brass are worth the work. Toss the powder and pop the old primers. 100 rounds of ammo? Easy, do that in a half hour.

Difficulty in setting primers straight-- not sure how you can have that problem. I suppose it starts with what tool you are using to prime your cases. Any of the popular case priming tools will seat primers just fine for 99.9% of the handloaders out there... not quite sure what tool you are using and why it's given you fits.

I use the Lee Auto Prime II, uses standard shell holders and primes on the upstroke of the press ram for good feel of primer seating.

[Jacks]

The crooked primers, not every one, but every 3rd or 4th with the 223, was using a Ram Prime extension that sets on the bullet holder...or maybe not, but is an add-on extension of the Lee basic ram/press. Been awhile since I used it.

Today I bought a used Pacific press (talk about a stout press) that is still a single press but has a prime loading device that, spring loaded, leans into the ram and angles up into the primer seat. I will see how this works out.

I am disappointed too to see my old powder, still good, no longer is listed among the various new powders...how did that happen and in just ten years?

Don't let a squib scare anyone away from reloading for ten years...other reasons too, but it scared the day lights out of me at the time and I am sure it would again.

Mr Extra Vigilant here.:eek:

[Sevens]

Oh yeah, powders will come and go, but the data you HAD at the time is still good data with that powder. If you are having trouble finding load data now, ask the forum. Many of us have older powder guides and load manuals and we can give some suggestions.

Of all the powder I have on hand (I must have at least a dozen different), only one of them is no longer produced-- Win473AA, used it for loading 20 gauge skeet loads in Win AA and Rem Premier hulls.

This powder is supposedly good for some .45 acp loads, but I haven't been able to find any clear data to use it for that.

I do have some old Hercules powders that have likely changed a bit since Alliant took over.

[zippy13]

I've been loading shot-shells for 40 years and metallics for 20. Mostly skeet (4 individual loaders) and bulls-eye (a quick-change turret loader) so I'm familiar with mid-range and reduced loads. I've never had a bullet stuck in a barrel; but, I've had a wad, or two, fail to clear the tube. It's not that uncommon, many ranges have a wooden dowel at each field for clearing stuck wads. As with metallics, the real problems arise when you fail to clear obstructions...
Pay attention during all phases of your shooting activities.
Either way, I'm not bothering with Green Dot anymore.
Don't dump that Green Dot, use it in your 12 and 20 gauge loads.

[Win1892]

Years ago, I loaded about 2500 9mm right after I bought my Dillon 650. Not having used the machine very much I had not developed the habits I have now. I have fired 5 squibs from that batch. After my first squib I segregated the remainder of the batch and only fired it myself, no giveaways to friends, and I only shot it with my 9mm M16.

I have about 300 rounds left and will be done with it shortly. I have since used my 650 on 20 other calibers and around 25,000 rounds.

Not a single squib.

I'm guessing I was short stroking. Something that cannot happen now. I have a routine that I do not deviate from and I have a powder checker.

[Sevens]

Don't dump that Green Dot, use it in your 12 and 20 gauge loads.
I haven't had the MEC loader running since the summer of '90. When I moved I no longer had a place to shoot skeet. I could find a place these days, I just haven't found the time. Would likely need a new bushing in the powder charge bar, I suppose, but mostly, I couldn't bring myself to purchasing a bag of lead shot. That stuff was $9 for a 25 lb. bag when I was last loading shotshells. Now it's like, what, $45 a bag?