Just a reminder: Check the damn barrel.

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

This has now happened to me twice in the last two or so years.

My brother left his guns with my dad when he went to Iraq. He said one of them had a problem and needed to go back to S&W. Well, Dad and I decided to take it out to the range to find out what the problem so we could tell them what to fix. We thought it would be a nice gesture to have it fixed when he got back. Loaded up a magazine, racked the slide, noticed it wouldn't go into battery. Tried a different round, same problem. Field stripped it, looked down the barrel and there was the problem. Squib. Apparently in the rush to go to Iraq, my brother neglected to pass along this information to anyone and we didn't bother to ask. As they say, complacency kills. Or at least might blow up your gun.

Today after Thanksgiving dinner, I end up with my aunt's rather old AR-15 to clean and lube since it had been sitting in a closet for several years. PWA lower with a serial number in the 0028xx range, unidentified A1 style upper with CAR length hand guards. She had suggested I take it out and shoot it before cleaning it up because it was "really fun to shoot." When I got home, I popped decided to take it down quickly and see how what kind of damage had occured while sitting in a foam case for years with little to no oil on it. Fortunately, I didn't see anything on the outside of the gun, the lower receiver, the bolt carrier, or the bolt. I shined a light down the bore, only to notice something was in there. I couldn't quite make out what it was, since it didn't seem to have the smooth bottom of a bullet. Grabbing a trusty one piece cleaning rod, I placed the butt of the rifle between my feet, dropped the rod down the muzzle and gave it a nice smack. Out pops what appears to be an unburned tracer round.

I called my aunt and asked her when was the last time she shot the rifle. She didn't recall, but said it had been years. I asked if she had any problems with it the last time. She said no. I asked if she knew there was a bullet stuck in the barrel. She had no idea.

The moral of the story: Always check the damn barrel.

A quick lesson in, "Woah, this can happen to me!" from Jorg. Happy Thanksgiving.

 

[boredelmo]

Funny Jorg, I just got home and am in the process of cleaning my fathers guns he's neglected since the early 80's.

I found dead cockroaches in the action of two shotguns.

The attic hasn't been very nice to these 11 rifles and 3 shotguns.

 

[Dr. Dickie]

I recently had my first squib while reloading. I had a heck of a problem with a shell plate (operator caused problem) and in the frustration and consternation, I loaded a .38 spl squib (first squib in my life). With a .45 you can just see the powder in the shell before placing a bullet on top, but not .38 spl.
At the range, I was shooting a revolver, and hit what I thought was a dud. Did not hear anything, did not feel anything, just a dud primer (was shooting my reloads with store bought re-loads, but am confident this one was mine--due to all the problems I had). It was a revolver, so what do you do? Pull the trigger and hit the next one!
Fortunately, the primer was just enough to push the bullet into the force cone, but not enough to enter the barrel. When I pulled the trigger, it would not spin the cylinder (thankfully!!). Of course, I no what to do, pull harder! Still wouldn't spin. Forced me to investigate and find the squib. Had it gone into the barrel, at the least the gun would have been toast, I will NOT pull the trigger if I get another dud.

 

[ceetee]

I wish MY aunt had a spare AR 15 just sitting in the closet not being used...

 

[armoredman]

Ditto, where the heck do I trade in family members? My aunt had a .410 shotgun they used to shoot at crows...and I think she sold that!

 

[Jdude]

My family won't share either, ceetee.

 

[tarkio]

Squibs

I was attending a handgun course and after a 5 or 7 yard shooting relay, the instructor was coming down the line evaluating targets. He got to the last guy on the end and stopped. Looked at the target, looked at the guy and then the target again. He called everyone over to look at the target. The thing looked like it had been shot with a shotgun.

Turns out the guy was shooting handloads and had a squib. The next shot cleared the barrel and the squib round disintegrated peppering the target. The guy was shooting a glock.

Amazing to see. The instructor discussed this and talked about the inherent strength of modern weapons.

I'll never forget seeing that target.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Dr. Dickie-- great reminder. In fact, this whole thread is a great reminder.

 

[Packman]

I THOUGHT I had a whole box of squibs sunday. Sure was messing with my head. I took my old .22 rimfires down to the range, which is an oddity. they almost never go to the range, they're just plinkers. soda cans beware. So, I'm not used to shooting them with hearing protection on. (I know, I know. Bad Packman.)

First round of the day comes out of a 1928 Remington model 12CS. Last time it was fired was over 30 years ago, by my dad. I'd just gotten through restoring it, so this was the big day. I load one round into the chamber, pull the trigger, and my oh my did that thing sound and feel funny...

So, I run a cleaning rod down the barrel, because I'm thinking that I've got a squib. Nope, nothing there. I try a few more, with the same thing occuring every time. suddenly, it dawns on me what's going on. I'm used to shooting a 12 gauge, so that's why it feels funny, and I've got earplugs in, thats why it sounds funny!

Messed with my head all day, every shot I took.

Lessons learned? soda cans are more fun, and I hate the range.

And check the barrel!