It finally happened, Squib load

[DustinB]

Well after almost a year of reloading I finally had my first squib.

I was at PSC with my g/f today making use of my membership I got last night. I was standing there practicing weak hand firing and on the first shot I heard nothing but a click. No recoil, no bang, no slide movement.

After looking at the loaded round indicator and seeing it was up I had a good suspicion of what it was. I racked the slide back and out pops an empty case. Wouldn't chamber the next round. Took the gun apart and right there at the start of the rifling was the back of my projectile.

I couldn't believe it had just happened, especially as careful as I am when reloading. I stopped and thanked the good lord that nothing more than a stuck bullet happened.

I sat there for a few minutes trying to think of how it might have happened. I think it may have been when I let my g/f try a few rounds on the 550. I should have checked the powder level more carefully. From now on I plan to double and probably triple check the powder level beore placing a bullet.

Moral of the story, be very careful and always check powder levels visually. Even after loading more than 15k rounds you can make a mistake. I'm sure people who have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds still have mistakes.

If you notice the gun does go bang or recoil, STOP immediately and check the barrel for obstructions. In my case a spent case came out when racking the slide. I've heard other cases where the case actually ejected.

If it doesn't sound right, it's more than likely not.

Dustin

[txinvestigator]

Sound to me like you are a conscientious shooter. Many won't notice a squib. Good work.

[flintknapper]

You had the best kind of squib possible (one that doesn't force the bullet far enough down the barrel to allow another round to chamber).

If you had been unfortunate enough to have run another round behind it, it might not have been a pretty sight.

When practice shooting, you are more apt to catch it than during competition. Both of mine occurred in IDPA matches, I didn't feel the first one, the second one I was aware of, but was pulling the trigger anyway.

I have never loaded a squib (yet), but was unfortunate to experience these from a batch of ammo loaded by a friend. I still have a bunch of that ammo, but use it only in my "time to first shot" drills (one shot only).

Glad you didn't have any damage.

[cxm]

A good trick to remember with the Dillon 550b is this: Don't advance the shell plate to the next state if the bullet in the seating position is not seated in the case... AND don't fail to advance the shell plate before pulling the main lever if the bullet IS seated.

Following this will not only ensure you don't fail to charge a case, but it will also prevent your double charging as well.

FWIW

Chuck

Well after almost a year of reloading I finally had my first squib.

I was at PSC with my g/f today making use of my membership I got last night. I was standing there practicing weak hand firing and on the first shot I heard nothing but a click. No recoil, no bang, no slide movement.

After looking at the loaded round indicator and seeing it was up I had a good suspicion of what it was. I racked the slide back and out pops an empty case. Wouldn't chamber the next round. Took the gun apart and right there at the start of the rifling was the back of my projectile.

I couldn't believe it had just happened, especially as careful as I am when reloading. I stopped and thanked the good lord that nothing more than a stuck bullet happened.

I sat there for a few minutes trying to think of how it might have happened. I think it may have been when I let my g/f try a few rounds on the 550. I should have checked the powder level more carefully. From now on I plan to double and probably triple check the powder level beore placing a bullet.

Moral of the story, be very careful and always check powder levels visually. Even after loading more than 15k rounds you can make a mistake. I'm sure people who have loaded hundreds of thousands of rounds still have mistakes.

If you notice the gun does go bang or recoil, STOP immediately and check the barrel for obstructions. In my case a spent case came out when racking the slide. I've heard other cases where the case actually ejected.

If it doesn't sound right, it's more than likely not.

Dustin