Had my first squib load today

TruthTellers · September 21, 2017, 07:03 PM

I've had this idea of a .32 round ball load and I made some loads last month and shot them today. THe first three left the barrel and they had less recoil than a .22 Short, but the fourth one...

It went about 2 inches down the bore and got stuck.

I don't know what grain charge I was using, but I know I was using Bullseye powder.

I think going forward I'm going to use either black powder and load the case to nearly full or Trail Boss and load the case about half full. The fast Bullseye power didn't do me much good today.

All my other .32 reloads shot fine.

Dufus · September 21, 2017, 07:52 PM

I'd bet if you upped the charge of Bullseye some they would shoot fine.

I mostly use Red Dot for round balls and for fire lapping with low velocity rounds in rifles (cast lead bullets only).

Geezerbiker · September 22, 2017, 12:48 AM

There's a great U-Tube video on how to clear a bullet stuck in the bore. I think the guy is OKhick45 or something like that. The fellow that told me about it used it to clear his rifle...

I agree, you need more powder. I used to make loads like that for my .30-30 and 06 but I used 5 grains of Red Dot...

Tony

Salmoneye · September 22, 2017, 06:28 AM

.32" round ball fired in what cartridge?

For .30 Cal guns, I use a .310" ball...

I use Red Dot for my round ball loads...As it is not a published load, I am unwilling to state what my smallest charge in .30-30 is, but suffice it to say it is really, really small...

I have never stuck a ball in my 26" Marlin 1893...

With a peep sight, I can keep my shots on a 9" skillet all day at 60 yards...

smee78 · September 22, 2017, 07:14 AM

Good thing you caught it before firing the next round. Were you just guessing on the amount of powder to use or did you use load data?

hounddawg · September 22, 2017, 07:48 AM

Quote:

There's a great U-Tube video on how to clear a bullet stuck in the bore. I think the guy is OKhick45 or something like that

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esfHFW-opGI

I love that guys YouTube channel

roashooter · September 22, 2017, 09:54 AM

Quote:

I don't know what grain charge I was using,

not a good habit when reloading.....attention to detail....or in this case lack of it....will surely bring a bad day....worse than a simple round ball stuck/squib...

mikld · September 22, 2017, 01:26 PM

Quote:

I don't know what grain charge I was using, but I know I was using Bullseye powder.

Please tell us you just left your notes with your manual...

FWIW I have a good "gallery load" for my .44 Magnum; a 123 gr. ball over 3.5 gr. Bullseye...

hdwhit · September 22, 2017, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Truther Tellers wrote:
It went about 2 inches down the bore and got stuck.

First, good job recognizing something went wrong and investigating it.

Second, the description sounds like the case had no powder at all and the force of the primer launched the projectile out of the case and into the barrel.

reddog81 · September 22, 2017, 02:52 PM

Bullseye will work, but Trail Boss will probably be better. Why would you load the trail boss load half full? I thought Trail Boss was always loaded at 75% capacity or more.

Did you load the Bullseye rounds? How can you not know the load?

TruthTellers · September 22, 2017, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdwhit

First, good job recognizing something went wrong and investigating it.

Second, the description sounds like the case had no powder at all and the force of the primer launched the projectile out of the case and into the barrel.

There was powder in the case, I single loaded and inspected each case before putting a ball in.

Of note, I seated the ball in the case halfway and crimped it just past the hemisphere and I made a few other loads where I pushed the ball deeper into the case down to where no part of the ball was sticking out past the case mouth.

I didn't get to shoot any of the deeper set ball loads, squib load came from the loads where the ball was crimped just past the hemisphere.

Again, I can't remember how much powder was in the squid load as I made some 1.0 and 2.0 grain loads.

I'm figuring in the future, if I decide to bother with round ball loads again, I"ll use 3 grains of Bullseye or more or just put a generous amount of Trail Boss in it.

And the only reason I knew there was a squib was because I thought that was my last shot and I took the cylinder out to check the bore for leading. The sound between a shot that left the bore and one that didn't were identical.

TruthTellers · September 22, 2017, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddog81

Bullseye will work, but Trail Boss will probably be better. Why would you load the trail boss load half full? I thought Trail Boss was always loaded at 75% capacity or more.

Did you load the Bullseye rounds? How can you not know the load?

If 75% is standard, I don't have a problem loading it to that capacity.

reddog81 · September 22, 2017, 05:21 PM

1 grain of bullseye would be real light even in plain old 32 S&W. I believe 1.3 or 1.5 grains of BE would be used behind a 85 grain bullet.

Metal god · September 22, 2017, 11:51 PM

You might want to consider keeping better track of what your loads are while you're at the range , here's something to consider .

Sorry about that first picture size . That was the first time I ever did it from my phone and could not size it down . I got home and checked the thread on my computer . Only to find out the picture was so big I had to run to the other side of the house to view it all

Quote:

I think going forward I'm going to use either black powder and load the case to nearly full or Trail Boss and load the case about half full.

Yeah that sounds like a sound way to do that . I like to fill the case with powder then blow a little powder out so the bullet can be seated . That way I don't need one of those fandangled levelering things

DaleA · September 23, 2017, 01:34 AM

Quote:

And the only reason I knew there was a squib was because I thought that was my last shot and I took the cylinder out to check the bore for leading. The sound between a shot that left the bore and one that didn't were identical.

I've managed to reload a squib. It was a .357 magnum case for a mid-sized .357 magnum revolver when I was playing 'how low can you go'...I found out.

In my case the bullet (fmj 158 grain) didn't exit the barrel and all the gases behind it seemed to come out of the barrel/cylinder gap. The result was quite noticeable at the indoor range where I was shooting.

No damage to the revolver or me (except for my pride) but the sound was definitely odd and like I said the cloud of gun smoke enveloping me was a clear indication something had gone wrong.

I'm guessing your loads were so light you didn't get the tell tale cloud.

FrankenMauser · September 23, 2017, 03:34 AM

As I mentioned in your previous thread on the subject...
I've been down this road before.

If you want super-light loads with a round ball, use a rifle primer, ONLY. Light charges of powder, with the small bearing surface and low friction of a round ball result in very poor powder burn. The powder is effectively acting as a 'buffer' and absorbing the impulse of the primer, without igniting much.

A rifle primer, alone, was better than a very light powder charge in my testing (3" and 5.5" barrels with all of the .32 cases short of .327 Federal).

I haven't tried TB in the 'pop gun' loads, from what I can remember.
But I don't think it would be much better.

Either ignore conventional wisdom and go powderless, or bump the powder charge closer to 3 gr.

TruthTellers · September 24, 2017, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleA

I've managed to reload a squib. It was a .357 magnum case for a mid-sized .357 magnum revolver when I was playing 'how low can you go'...I found out.

In my case the bullet (fmj 158 grain) didn't exit the barrel and all the gases behind it seemed to come out of the barrel/cylinder gap. The result was quite noticeable at the indoor range where I was shooting.

No damage to the revolver or me (except for my pride) but the sound was definitely odd and like I said the cloud of gun smoke enveloping me was a clear indication something had gone wrong.

I'm guessing your loads were so light you didn't get the tell tale cloud.

Now that u mention it, no, there was little to no iconic Bullseye smoke from those ball loads. Standard .32 H&R Mag loads sure did have that cloud.

Which is something I'm not fond of. I think after I blow through the pound of BE I have, I'm running to Titegroup.

TruthTellers · September 24, 2017, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankenMauser

As I mentioned in your previous thread on the subject...
I've been down this road before.

If you want super-light loads with a round ball, use a rifle primer, ONLY. Light charges of powder, with the small bearing surface and low friction of a round ball result in very poor powder burn. The powder is effectively acting as a 'buffer' and absorbing the impulse of the primer, without igniting much.

A rifle primer, alone, was better than a very light powder charge in my testing (3" and 5.5" barrels with all of the .32 cases short of .327 Federal).

I haven't tried TB in the 'pop gun' loads, from what I can remember.
But I don't think it would be much better.

Either ignore conventional wisdom and go powderless, or bump the powder charge closer to 3 gr.

3 grains it is. Also, I'm going to put a heavier crimp on the ball.

And for the record, I'm looking at using this ball load more in a rifle and not a revolver. So, the extra 12 to 16 inches of barrel in mind, should I use even more powder than 3 grains?

TruthTellers · September 25, 2017, 05:02 PM

I went back to the range today and brought my H&R top break .32 S&W Long with me. I decided I'd shoot through the rest of my round ball handloads until I got another squib and... I didn't get another squib.

I noticed though that the reloads I made where I crimped just past the equator of the ball didn't feel as powerful and they were sooty, so they didn't seal against the chambers.

But the loads where I pushed the ball deep into the case, to where no part of the ball was past the case mouth, they felt stronger and didn't soot up the cases as much.

They mostly hit about 2 inches low at 7 yards.

So, going forward, I think I'm going to use 3 grains of Bullseye, seat the ball fully in the case, and use them as my go to plinking load in my top break. The extra powder should help seal the chamber and up velocity and bring the POI closer to POA.

They were a lot of fun to shoot today too.

Geezerbiker · September 25, 2017, 11:27 PM

If you're casting your own. Take a look at the Lee mold for .32 caliber revolvers. I cast those for use in my .300 blackout and squirrel loads for my hunting rifles.

Sometime back in the American Rifleman there was a wilderness survival article and one of the things they talked about was low powered cast bullet loads for small game. The idea was if you got lost and needed to shoot small game, you'd have a load that wouldn't destroy it...

Tony

TruthTellers · September 26, 2017, 09:42 AM

This is the first I'm hearing about articles in magazines talking about a low power small game load for survival and I tell you what, that's exactly the reason I got into the .32 caliber handguns and soon the .327 Henry Big Boy.

I find .22 LR guns to be too picky with ammo while even with the .32 top break H&R that has horrible sights and a heavy trigger and a pitted bore, it was outshooting my .22 pistol at the range yesterday.

The .32 and .327 has all but killed any interest I have in .22 LR. I can load .327 guns with .32 Long as light as .22 for small game and load the .327 to max and it's nearly as powerful as .357, has little less recoil, and flatter trajectory.

Roland Thunder · October 18, 2017, 09:55 AM

I recently bought a Kel-Tec P32, I am thinking about getting some dies for .32acp. Where can you buy brass for .32acp

F. Guffey · October 18, 2017, 10:19 AM

Quote:

I'd bet if you upped the charge of Bullseye some they would shoot fine.

I mostly use Red Dot for round balls and for fire lapping with low velocity rounds in rifles (cast lead bullets only).

The first tool I have available is the feeler gage and then it becomes one of those 'and then' moments; and then I get the scales out and or dippers, I have three sets of dippers, one set is red, another is yellow and the other set is black.

F. Guffey

Tsquared · October 18, 2017, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roland Thunder
I recently bought a Kel-Tec P32, I am thinking about getting some dies for .32acp. Where can you buy brass for .32acp

There are plenty of places on-line but you can also get 32ACP brass from Bull's Eye on Crogan St in Lawrenceville. Brass is going to be the easy part. Finding bullets is going to be the hard part.

5whiskey · October 19, 2017, 10:33 PM

At least your squib was from tinkering with a unique load. All THREE

of mine were from no powder. Projectile didn't exit the chamber far enough to load another round and I had NO blast or smoke. I literally heard nothing but "click." I have instituted a number of QC checks in my reloading process.

September 21, 2017, 07:03 PM	#1
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,887	Had my first squib load today I've had this idea of a .32 round ball load and I made some loads last month and shot them today. THe first three left the barrel and they had less recoil than a .22 Short, but the fourth one... It went about 2 inches down the bore and got stuck. I don't know what grain charge I was using, but I know I was using Bullseye powder. I think going forward I'm going to use either black powder and load the case to nearly full or Trail Boss and load the case about half full. The fast Bullseye power didn't do me much good today. All my other .32 reloads shot fine. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

September 22, 2017, 07:14 AM	#5
smee78 Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,918	Good thing you caught it before firing the next round. Were you just guessing on the amount of powder to use or did you use load data? __________________ We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are

September 23, 2017, 03:34 AM	#16
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	As I mentioned in your previous thread on the subject... I've been down this road before. If you want super-light loads with a round ball, use a rifle primer, ONLY. Light charges of powder, with the small bearing surface and low friction of a round ball result in very poor powder burn. The powder is effectively acting as a 'buffer' and absorbing the impulse of the primer, without igniting much. A rifle primer, alone, was better than a very light powder charge in my testing (3" and 5.5" barrels with all of the .32 cases short of .327 Federal). I haven't tried TB in the 'pop gun' loads, from what I can remember. But I don't think it would be much better. Either ignore conventional wisdom and go powderless, or bump the powder charge closer to 3 gr. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

September 25, 2017, 05:02 PM	#19
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,887	I went back to the range today and brought my H&R top break .32 S&W Long with me. I decided I'd shoot through the rest of my round ball handloads until I got another squib and... I didn't get another squib. I noticed though that the reloads I made where I crimped just past the equator of the ball didn't feel as powerful and they were sooty, so they didn't seal against the chambers. But the loads where I pushed the ball deep into the case, to where no part of the ball was past the case mouth, they felt stronger and didn't soot up the cases as much. They mostly hit about 2 inches low at 7 yards. So, going forward, I think I'm going to use 3 grains of Bullseye, seat the ball fully in the case, and use them as my go to plinking load in my top break. The extra powder should help seal the chamber and up velocity and bring the POI closer to POA. They were a lot of fun to shoot today too. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

September 26, 2017, 09:42 AM	#21
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,887	This is the first I'm hearing about articles in magazines talking about a low power small game load for survival and I tell you what, that's exactly the reason I got into the .32 caliber handguns and soon the .327 Henry Big Boy. I find .22 LR guns to be too picky with ammo while even with the .32 top break H&R that has horrible sights and a heavy trigger and a pitted bore, it was outshooting my .22 pistol at the range yesterday. The .32 and .327 has all but killed any interest I have in .22 LR. I can load .327 guns with .32 Long as light as .22 for small game and load the .327 to max and it's nearly as powerful as .357, has little less recoil, and flatter trajectory. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

September 21, 2017, 07:52 PM	#2
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	I'd bet if you upped the charge of Bullseye some they would shoot fine. I mostly use Red Dot for round balls and for fire lapping with low velocity rounds in rifles (cast lead bullets only).

September 22, 2017, 12:48 AM	#3
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	There's a great U-Tube video on how to clear a bullet stuck in the bore. I think the guy is OKhick45 or something like that. The fellow that told me about it used it to clear his rifle... I agree, you need more powder. I used to make loads like that for my .30-30 and 06 but I used 5 grains of Red Dot... Tony

September 22, 2017, 06:28 AM	#4
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	.32" round ball fired in what cartridge? For .30 Cal guns, I use a .310" ball... I use Red Dot for my round ball loads...As it is not a published load, I am unwilling to state what my smallest charge in .30-30 is, but suffice it to say it is really, really small... I have never stuck a ball in my 26" Marlin 1893... With a peep sight, I can keep my shots on a 9" skillet all day at 60 yards...

September 22, 2017, 02:52 PM	#10
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Bullseye will work, but Trail Boss will probably be better. Why would you load the trail boss load half full? I thought Trail Boss was always loaded at 75% capacity or more. Did you load the Bullseye rounds? How can you not know the load?

September 22, 2017, 05:21 PM	#13
reddog81 Senior Member Join Date: October 16, 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	1 grain of bullseye would be real light even in plain old 32 S&W. I believe 1.3 or 1.5 grains of BE would be used behind a 85 grain bullet.

September 25, 2017, 11:27 PM	#20
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	If you're casting your own. Take a look at the Lee mold for .32 caliber revolvers. I cast those for use in my .300 blackout and squirrel loads for my hunting rifles. Sometime back in the American Rifleman there was a wilderness survival article and one of the things they talked about was low powered cast bullet loads for small game. The idea was if you got lost and needed to shoot small game, you'd have a load that wouldn't destroy it... Tony

October 18, 2017, 09:55 AM	#22
Roland Thunder Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2010 Location: Gwinnett County Georgia Posts: 1,136	I recently bought a Kel-Tec P32, I am thinking about getting some dies for .32acp. Where can you buy brass for .32acp __________________ Do not follow where the path may lead, go, instead where there is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson

October 19, 2017, 10:33 PM	#25
5whiskey Senior Member Join Date: October 23, 2005 Location: US Posts: 3,657	At least your squib was from tinkering with a unique load. All THREE of mine were from no powder. Projectile didn't exit the chamber far enough to load another round and I had NO blast or smoke. I literally heard nothing but "click." I have instituted a number of QC checks in my reloading process.