Had my first squib load today

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Lennyjoe

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I recently decided to move over to a Lee Loadmaster press and have developed a 9mm load using Both 115 gr FMJ and JHP from RMR over Longshot. Have shot over 300 rounds and today I had a complete primer strike with no ignition on 1 FMJ load and a squib load on 1 JHP load. The past 300 rounds fired flawlessly.

In regards to the FMJ load, the powder charge was still present when I pulled the bullet so I’m chalking that up to a bad primer. That primer was part of the 1,000 box I used on the 300 fired, and ~700 remaining rounds in the ammo can.

As for the JHP load, I had 2 groups with different OAL’s since My G19 fails the plunk test at 1.09”. The first string at 1.07” fired good with impressive groups and the 1.08” fired well with the exception of the squib. What’s interesting is the round ignited and cycled the slide to feed a new round but the slide didn’t go to full battery. The bullet from the previous round was stuck in the rifling, barely engaging the rifling. I cleared the gun (Taurus PT111 G2) and headed home. Had to knock out the bullet with a dowel rod. Glad the bullet didn’t go further down and the next round bound up in the feed.

So, my first thought is that perhaps I didn’t return the case mouth to spec with the Lee FCD properly and the longer OAL (1.08”) may have allowed the bullet to move forward and engage the rifling when it fed into the chamber. There was some unburnt powder in the chamber as well.

Never had a squib load in over 18 years of reloading so it was a shock to experience it. Glad I looked at the pistol when the recoil was off and slide was out of battery. I’m guessing the new equipment and process change may have played a part in the experience.

Thoughts?
 
I know nothing about Loadmaster presses but I would examine primer seating and powder charging settings. Suddenly getting squibs would bother me till I tracked down the problem.
 
Powder charge is via Lee auto disc that I’ve used for years.

Primer seating isn’t the easiest on the Loadmaster. I’ll definitely evaluate that.
 
As to the FMJ, I agree that was a bad primer. I get those with factory ammo once in a great while. No harm, no foul. Just keep the firearm pointed down range for a while to make sure it is not a slow fire, and eject it to the ground.

As to the JHP, you are darn lucky the first projectile didn't have just a little more energy for the next round to chamber behind the barrel obstruction, otherwise boom. The JHP could have been a 1/2 charge. Or it could have been a full charge, but only half of powder ignited. (This could happen with a small drop of water making some of the powder inert.) It was not a zero charge, because you had enough energy to cycle the slide. You also had some unburnt powder.

You didn't say what powder drop you are using. But someone with that powder drop can tell you what to look for. If you have an open slot in the tool head, you may want to try a powder cop or lockout die.
 
I've had one in my career and that was right after I started wet tumbling my brass. Pulled apart the remaining in that group and for 2 more with wet powder. Was getting FTF in a 9mm and deduced that to the gun and light primer strikes when using CCI primers.

The FTF you had may have been a high primer due to the press and the way the priming is set up on it. The squib would be more concerning to me. As you have been using the powder measure all along I would doubt that is the issue.
 
The Loadmaster seats to a set depth, as long as you make a full stroke.

If you had a powder charge and the primer sent the bullet into the barrel, there are only two cases I have seen than happen. The charge didn’t ignite or was insufficient. The only time I haven’t seen them ignite is from ammunition loaded decades in the past or improperly stored.
 
if you didn't take a second strike on the dud fmj cartridge, I agree with kmw1954 on the not-fully-seated primer. a second strike would have probably ignited the round.

I don't have a clue on the squib since you found unburned powder in the chamber. maybe wet powder, but I would expect more than one squib in that case.

luck,

murf
 
The problem may have been a bad primer bnut they are few and far between.

When moving to new equipment and a new process, it is easy to get your operation out of sync particularly if you had a hiccup in the process.

There are lots going on with a progressive press.
 
Murf, the one thing I like with the Taurus is the second strike capability. Since I ejected the round and inspected I reinstalled and attempted to fire again which also failed to fire. The primer had a nice firing pin indentation from first attempt so it was definitely a bad primer.
 
Murf, the one thing I like with the Taurus is the second strike capability. Since I ejected the round and inspected I reinstalled and attempted to fire again which also failed to fire. The primer had a nice firing pin indentation from first attempt so it was definitely a bad primer.
The primer might have had an indent if it was "high" and even on the second attempt was not fully seated. I've never run across a "bad" primer after loading 10K+ rounds, however I know they do exist. I'm just saying that a bad primer is an exceedingly rare cause.
 
So, my first thought is that perhaps I didn’t return the case mouth to spec with the Lee FCD properly and the longer OAL (1.08”) may have allowed the bullet to move forward and engage the rifling when it fed into the chamber.
That is very unlikely and even if it had occurred, it wouldn't have caused a squib

If you had a powder charge and the primer sent the bullet into the barrel, there are only two cases I have seen than happen. The charge didn’t ignite or was insufficient. The only time I haven’t seen them ignite is from ammunition loaded decades in the past or improperly stored.
This has been my experience also. It is much more likely that you didn't get a full drop from your Auto-disc.

I'd recommend that you consider upgrading to the Lee Auto Drum
 
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