First(and hopefully last) squib

[119er]

I'm not really too new to reloading, well maybe to some of you that have been doing it for 30+ years. It is something that I spend a considerable amount of time doing and I have loaded and fired thousands of rounds of pistol and rifle ammunition.

The squib occured in 38 Special and was loaded on a Hornady LNL AP with properly calibrated and function tested RCBS lockout die. The gun is an unmodified S&W 686 SSR.

The load specs: RP case, Berry's 125gr plated flat nose, WSP, 4.4gr HP-38, 1.450 COAL

Luckily I noticed the lack of report and recoil instantly and knew that there was likely a squib. I have also witnessed one in a 9mm and noticed it there too.

In the photos there is some chaff or burned and unburned powder stuck in the bore. When I opened the cylinder some of it blew away with the breeze. On the back of the bullet it is very rough and seems particles are imbedded in the base. The bullet travelled 1.420" from the face of the barrel to the base of the bullet. The damage to the bullet is from being driven out using an aluminum shotgun rod wrapped in masking tape.

I am doubtful that there was no powder in the case as I saw the evidence of it in the bore and falling out of the cylinder. There is also a kind of sticky green sustance on the barrel face where the cylinder gap is. It's not from gun oil and I don't lube my cases. Maybe a low charge? Weak primer?

I am not really rattled because I pay attention to what I'm doing and try to constantly improve my practices and procedures. I believe this to be a freak occurance, but one that I feel the need to understand so I can prevent this from happening again if possible.

Ideas?

 

[GaryL]

I had a squib a couple weekends back. All I knew was it wasn't one of my reloads. Actually, no idea where it came from. I was cleaning up the man-cave over the holidays, and found a mixed handful of 9mm, Russian, Chinese, Egyptian, and one or two others - enough for about 2 mags worth of plinking. Figured I'd just dispose of it at the range, and wouldn't you know it, the very first one was the squib. Cleared the gun, and sure enough, one stuck in the barrel. The rest were fine.

The moral of the story: when in doubt, check it out.

 

[ljnowell]

I have had a single instance like this before, using 700x. It was an old, old, old, old 200 gr Ranier bullet that I had loaded over 700x. I figured i would shoot them up for the brass, they werent good for much else. On the fourth or fifth shot it was a little fizzle, lots of smoke out of the back of the slide of my 1911. Opened it up and the action was covered in half burned 700x. It turned a sickly green, yellowish color of halfburned powder, bullet about 1" in the barrel. All of the other rounds went off just fine.

 

[119er]

That's the same story about the 9mm that I saw squib. It was a buddy of mine that had cleaned out his father-in-law's old ammo bin.

Unfortunately this was my reload and came from the last of a 500 batch that I did back in October. I am so lucky that it was me shooting the round that squibbed. I was alone, but occasionally my girlfriend will shoot the ammo that I loaded. She has been warned about the possibilities and dangers of reloaded ammunition. We had a discussion about it again today. I am thinking about creating an intentional squib (strictly controlled of course and uniquely marked plus quarantined) for a 9mm because it would be easier to remove. I would like for her to identify exactly what a squib is under controlled conditions. The particular 9mm has tool marks from hell in the barrel anyway and I think the lesson is well worth any insignificant damage that could be induced in the process.

 

[119er]

It turned a sickly green, yellowish color of halfburned powder, bullet about 1" in the barrel. All of the other rounds went off just fine.

That's what happened here. I picked up my other 686 and slowly and CAREFULLY fired all the rest of them and they were fine. I wonder what caused this malfunction. Thinking powder issue? This is the same 8# HP-38 that I use for most of my pistol caliber plinking ammo.

 

[ljnowell]

That's what happened here. I picked up my other 686 and slowly and CAREFULLY fired all the rest of them and they were fine. I wonder what caused this malfunction. Thinking powder issue? This is the same 8# HP-38 that I use for most of my pistol caliber plinking ammo.

What do you use to clean your cases? I use nu-finish in corn cob. I think that I had some Nu-Finish in that case. I got lazy that day and added the nufinish after I had the brass in it. Let it tumble a few hours. Every other round in that batch fired, except the one that didnt in my case. And, I know that powder real well, what was in my action was withing .5-1gr of a full charge. I know from experience thats enough to clear the barrel easy, and .5gr would have even ejected ok. I think it was that polish in my case.