Squib Loads

[J E Custom]

Most all of us reload ammo and from time to time I see something that reminds me that no matter how long we have been reloading, we can still mess up. I try not to have any distractions while reloading and to use the safest method I can to assure that a mishap like this will not happen.

There are many forms of Squib loads and most can be avoided if you pay attention to each step of the reloading process. A squib load can consist of a short (Less that the recommended load),powder charge, less than 70 or 80% of the case capacity, and most of the time no powder, just the primer.

Squib loads can cause over pressure and damage the weapon. or if it doesn't have enough pressure to force the bullet down and out of the barrel it gets stuck in the barrel and the next shot will normally blow up the weapon.

It is easy to look in the cartridge case for a consistent powder charge/level and if anything doesn't look right just dump it and recharge. The next preventive measure is if a weapon doesn't sound right, stop and check the bore for any obstructions. So you don't do what this fellow did.

This was just a pistol with much lower pressures that most rifles and if this happens to one of us it is much worse.



Just a reminder that reloading can be very dangerous.

J E CUSTOM

 

[Trnelson]

A strong reminder of how serious a simple mistake of omission can be for a reloader.

 

[ShtrRdy]

Many years ago I did something very similar. It was during a USPSA match and I had a stovepipe malfunction. I went through a tap-rack-bang sequence and instead of a "bang" I got a "kaboom"!

This was on a limited division gun shooting .40 S&W. At the time, I was loading ammo on a Hornady Auto Progressive like this guy has. I determined that the problem was twofold. One - I did not have the powder dispenser adjusted so that it was fully in the dump position. It was like 98% position but that may not have been enough. Two - there was a very small burr on the powder measure powder cylinder which was catching part of the powder charge. So, what basically happened is I had a cartridge with a little powder in it but not enough to push a bullet completely through the barrel. When I fired the next round it blew up the gun.

I ended up buying a Dillon 650 with powder check station and have not had a problem since. I've loaded over 100,000 rounds on the 650 since then. I sold the Hornady press to a co-worker and explained exactly what happened. He found some sort of powder check interlock die and hasn't ruined anything.

My Limited division gun needed the slide and barrel replaced to the tune of $600. Ah, the cost of a higher education.

 

[bob4]

I've been guilty of no powder in rifles myself. Both times I had the presence of mind to stop and look. Tap the bullet out and move on. If I do it to myself is one thing. If I reload for a friend and happens to them will they have that same presence of mind? I only reload a few for 1 friend for reasons like this.

 

[Mustang72]

When I was a kid I found a bunch of old 44 reloads that I shot out of my superblackhawk. I had to drive several out of the barrel. At least I had enough sense back then to check when one didn't sound or feel right. Pretty sure it was due to bad powder. A buddy of mine has an old s&w framed on his wall that blew up on him from somebody else's double charged load.

 

[LoneTraveler]

Been there done that too,
Loading on a Dillon 550, Stopped to weigh a charge of powder, Something happened and I did not advance the shell plate. Got a double charge in the case. When it went through a S&W 4046 it broke the extractor and egg shaped the chamber. The load was a cast lead/tin mix bullet. The gun held together and I came out with no damage.
It was my duty pistol, Turned it in, got fussed at, And got a New Issue Pistol.
Since then, I only remove a case from the press in the seating die position, To check powder weight. It is harder to do but safer.

The other was a road crippled deer humane kill. Pulled the trigger on my 243 Win. It went Capoop. Opened the bolt and out came the case with the bullet still in the case.
Loaded another cartridge and pulled trigger, The deer went to the Big Alfalfa Patch in the sky. Complaint Solved. Since then I do not charge and put the shell in press and seat bullet. I charge the cases and set the in a loading block and use a flashlight to make sure all cases are charged then seat bullets.
Been loading since 1958.