Squib - any first hand experiences, what are the symptoms

TXAZ · February 19, 2011, 10:37 PM

I've read a couple of threads in the past regarding someone 'had a squib' that resulted in the barrel cracking / pooching out / exploding / otherwise having a bad day.

For a relative newby compared to some of you guys, how do you know the bullet you just shot only made it half way down the barrel? Is it obvious?

If you've experienced this first hand, I'd really like to hear about symptoms and avoiding the second shot into the first bullet.

Thanks.

highvel · February 19, 2011, 10:41 PM

My first inclination is that there is no bullet hole where there should be one!
I have had it happen once to me; the target told me I had a short round.

egor20 · February 19, 2011, 10:47 PM

I had it once with a .357 revolver, I can't really describe it other than it....Just felt wrong. I know that's a lousy description, but it did just did feel wrong, No muzzle flash and very little wrist kick back....just felt wrong.

**JohnKSa** · February 19, 2011, 10:48 PM

Reduced recoil, reduced or absent report, reduced flash in a revolver (you may still get some flash around the cylinder/barrel gap), no flash in an autopistol. If the gun is an autopistol it's fairly common for the gun to fail to cycle properly.

Just to be perfectly clear, the squib itself is harmless. The problem comes when the shooter doesn't realize what's happened and shoots another round down the plugged barrel.

TXAZ · February 19, 2011, 10:51 PM

John, understand the squib just sets up for the real problem with the following round. I was thinking of getting into reloading but I've got a neighbor who indicate these may be more common when you reload, hence the question.
Thanks.

**JohnKSa** · February 19, 2011, 11:38 PM

I figured as much, but sometimes things that go without saying shouldn't so I went for maximum clarity.

orionengnr · February 19, 2011, 11:45 PM

As a fairly new reloader, I will admit to having had one. Mine was the result of no powder in one case. How that happened...I can only speculate. But I have a fair idea.

The primer ignited, a "pop" instead of a "bang", the empty case was ejected, the bullet moved forward but not very far. The next round did not fully chamber due to the bullet stuck in the barrel. That was enough of a clue to get me to investigate further. All worked out well.

It has certainly not deterrred me from handloading, but has inspired me to be more vigilant. Anything that causes an interruption in the sequence...and I mean anything...mandates a full stop, a review and confirmation of where each cartridge is in the process, and a careful, considered resumption of the process.

If you are loading single-stage, this will probably never happen to you. Which is a fairly powerful recommendation for new loaders to start on a single stage press. However, I was given a (non-auto-indexing) progressive, and jumped right in. Good idea or bad, what is done is done.

Don't let a few isolated instances scare you off. While it is certainly possible to hurt yourself, you can minimize the risk by starting with low-pressure cartridges such as .38 Spl or .45 acp.

At the risk of incurring universal abuse, it is my opinion/experience that these cartridges are more forgiving of common new loader erreors (not that one should be complacent). That is to say, they have a larger evelope.

Sport45 · February 19, 2011, 11:49 PM

I have had several. Some from when the nylon bushing fell out of the powder measure on my Dillon 550b and some when a standard primer didn't light a charge of magnum powder.

Sometimes the report is so low you are tempted to think it was a "dud". Always eject a "dud" and verify the bullet is still in the case. If it's not, check the bore before shooting again. In one instance I cited above the bullet did clear the barrel. But it looked like there was over 10gr of unburt powder in the barrel.

T. O'Heir · February 20, 2011, 04:51 AM

Had one with light, cast bullet, target loads in my 1911. Shooting outside. Didn't notice anything until the pistol didn't fire. Looked and found a bulged barrel. The primer had enough power to push the bullet into the barrel, eject and chamber the next shot. The second shot pushed both bullets out, but caused the bulge. Result was a new barrel. Reloader operator failure caused the squib.
Likely would have heard just the primer if I had been inside. Would have been a whole lot worse with non-target loads or a jacketed bullet.

bravo124 · February 20, 2011, 10:13 AM

Had a squib while training with my MP-5. Was on full auto when it happened. Needless to say the MP-5 needed some new parts.

goodspeed(TPF) · February 20, 2011, 10:24 AM

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! pfffft...

langenc · February 21, 2011, 02:58 PM

Son in law was shooting 45 w/ 8 round mag. All of a sudden it wouldnt go into battery by less than 1/4". I was finished and he would have been with the end of that mag.

We called it a day, went home and sometime later I prepared to clean the gun and discovered a bullet in the tube.

He didnt note any difference in the poof-not a real experienced shooter. I was standing behind him kind looking down the sights to the target and I didnt note anything different in the poof, either.

LUCKY..

February 19, 2011, 10:37 PM	#1
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	Squib - any first hand experiences, what are the symptoms I've read a couple of threads in the past regarding someone 'had a squib' that resulted in the barrel cracking / pooching out / exploding / otherwise having a bad day. For a relative newby compared to some of you guys, how do you know the bullet you just shot only made it half way down the barrel? Is it obvious? If you've experienced this first hand, I'd really like to hear about symptoms and avoiding the second shot into the first bullet. Thanks. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

February 19, 2011, 10:41 PM	#2
highvel Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2010 Location: Powhatan VA Posts: 633	My first inclination is that there is no bullet hole where there should be one! I have had it happen once to me; the target told me I had a short round. __________________ Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.--Mark Twain "I have opinions of my own 'strong opinions' but I don't always agree with them."--George Bush

February 19, 2011, 10:47 PM	#3
egor20 Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2010 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 1,824	I had it once with a .357 revolver, I can't really describe it other than it....Just felt wrong. I know that's a lousy description, but it did just did feel wrong, No muzzle flash and very little wrist kick back....just felt wrong. __________________ Chief stall mucker and grain chef Country don't mean dumb. Steven King. The Stand

February 19, 2011, 10:48 PM	#4
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,990	Reduced recoil, reduced or absent report, reduced flash in a revolver (you may still get some flash around the cylinder/barrel gap), no flash in an autopistol. If the gun is an autopistol it's fairly common for the gun to fail to cycle properly. Just to be perfectly clear, the squib itself is harmless. The problem comes when the shooter doesn't realize what's happened and shoots another round down the plugged barrel. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

February 19, 2011, 10:51 PM	#5
TXAZ Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Location: McMurdo Sound Texas Posts: 4,322	John, understand the squib just sets up for the real problem with the following round. I was thinking of getting into reloading but I've got a neighbor who indicate these may be more common when you reload, hence the question. Thanks. __________________ Cave illos in guns et backhoes

February 19, 2011, 11:38 PM	#6
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,990	I figured as much, but sometimes things that go without saying shouldn't so I went for maximum clarity. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

February 19, 2011, 11:45 PM	#7
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,177	As a fairly new reloader, I will admit to having had one. Mine was the result of no powder in one case. How that happened...I can only speculate. But I have a fair idea. The primer ignited, a "pop" instead of a "bang", the empty case was ejected, the bullet moved forward but not very far. The next round did not fully chamber due to the bullet stuck in the barrel. That was enough of a clue to get me to investigate further. All worked out well. It has certainly not deterrred me from handloading, but has inspired me to be more vigilant. Anything that causes an interruption in the sequence...and I mean anything...mandates a full stop, a review and confirmation of where each cartridge is in the process, and a careful, considered resumption of the process. If you are loading single-stage, this will probably never happen to you. Which is a fairly powerful recommendation for new loaders to start on a single stage press. However, I was given a (non-auto-indexing) progressive, and jumped right in. Good idea or bad, what is done is done. Don't let a few isolated instances scare you off. While it is certainly possible to hurt yourself, you can minimize the risk by starting with low-pressure cartridges such as .38 Spl or .45 acp. At the risk of incurring universal abuse, it is my opinion/experience that these cartridges are more forgiving of common new loader erreors (not that one should be complacent). That is to say, they have a larger evelope. Last edited by orionengnr; February 19, 2011 at 11:56 PM.

February 19, 2011, 11:49 PM	#8
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	I have had several. Some from when the nylon bushing fell out of the powder measure on my Dillon 550b and some when a standard primer didn't light a charge of magnum powder. Sometimes the report is so low you are tempted to think it was a "dud". Always eject a "dud" and verify the bullet is still in the case. If it's not, check the bore before shooting again. In one instance I cited above the bullet did clear the barrel. But it looked like there was over 10gr of unburt powder in the barrel. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

February 20, 2011, 04:51 AM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Had one with light, cast bullet, target loads in my 1911. Shooting outside. Didn't notice anything until the pistol didn't fire. Looked and found a bulged barrel. The primer had enough power to push the bullet into the barrel, eject and chamber the next shot. The second shot pushed both bullets out, but caused the bulge. Result was a new barrel. Reloader operator failure caused the squib. Likely would have heard just the primer if I had been inside. Would have been a whole lot worse with non-target loads or a jacketed bullet. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 20, 2011, 10:13 AM	#10
bravo124 Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Posts: 120	Had a squib while training with my MP-5. Was on full auto when it happened. Needless to say the MP-5 needed some new parts.

February 20, 2011, 10:24 AM	#11
goodspeed(TPF) Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: WI Posts: 1,162	BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! pfffft... __________________ It's a trick. Get an axe. http://www.thepiratefleet.com/index.shtml

February 21, 2011, 02:58 PM	#12
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,551	Son in law was shooting 45 w/ 8 round mag. All of a sudden it wouldnt go into battery by less than 1/4". I was finished and he would have been with the end of that mag. We called it a day, went home and sometime later I prepared to clean the gun and discovered a bullet in the tube. He didnt note any difference in the poof-not a real experienced shooter. I was standing behind him kind looking down the sights to the target and I didnt note anything different in the poof, either. LUCKY..