need help

[faithfulsinner]

so im a brand new reloader, and I took my first batch to the range today, and I had a couple squib loads..one that stuck just past the cylinder and one that stuck in the cylinder and barrel. The load data is current and accurate, and it seems the powder burned off and the primer ignited...on one squib my gun was covered in burnt powder. Had to be the crimp? My thought is the crimp was not good enough and the primer pushed the bullet and then the powder had no pressure? I inspected some from that batch and the crimp looked weak. Could this be my problem, and what, if anything else, could cause this?

 

[Lost Sheep]

More information, please.

What powder, how much, what primer, what bullet? What chambering?

How did you prep your brass? Was it cleaned by vibratory tumbler? Dry media or wet? Do you lube your brass?

Help us help you.

Lost Sheep

 

[Grumulkin]

Your results would be typical of a very light load.

What gun by the way?

 

[Blue68f100]

Crimp has nothing to do with squibs. Normally this happens with NO Powder if it's stuck just past the chamber. Now sticking one mid way is not enough powder.

You did not mention what your loads are at. But you need to tighten up your QC and loading process. Good that you caught the squibs before you fired your next shot. Other wise you may have blow apart your gun and/or someone gets hurt.

Now some powders will not dispense accurately in some dispensers, normally Large Flake like Unique. Which could attribute to a bullet getting stuck mid way.

 

[faithfulsinner]

In a 38 special 2.7 grains trail boss under a 158 grain lswc. Gun is taurus 605.

 

[faithfulsinner]

new brass and primer was #500 small pistol by cci. Individual weighed powder on calibrated hornaday digital scale.

 

[rcmodel]

In a 38 special 2.7 grains trail boss under a 158 grain lswc.

Not enough powder. Plain & Simple.

You are using the Hodgdon starting load, and it just isn't enough in your gun.

Were I you, and using Trail Boss?

I'd use the MAX load of 4.2 grains.
Or at least 4.0.
Even then it is a fairly light load as .38 Spl loads go.

You can't get enough Trail Boss in the case to hurt anything.
But you can sure not get enough!

rc

 

[faithfulsinner]

k that must be it. i didnt have any problems with the loads using N350, just never imagined that a minimum listed load wouldnt leave the cylinder.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Trail Boss is a very "light load" powder to begin with. It was developed to mimic Black Powder loads for Cowboy Action ammo. It will generally fill the big Black Powder cases of ammo that was originally loaded with Black Powder. Like said above, you can't overload but you surely can under load that powder. Up the charge and you should be fine...

 

[rfwobbly]

Trail Boss is one of those "specialty" powders. Although it's very safe for beginners because it's impossible to overload, it can also be also be a PIA since it can be severely under-loaded. It's intended for those who shoot replica cowboy guns which won't stand the high pressures modern powders can generate.

A better novice powder might be Win 231 (aka HP-38) or Unique.

 

[benzuncle]

Faithful, the upside? Your firearm didn't blow up!
My first 45ACP loads were loaded at the minimum charge of HP-38. I could almost swear that they skipped off the floor before punching the target. And my SIG Sauer P220 Compact wouldn't go into battery on a couple rounds. As already stated, a little more ooomph will cure that. I also loaded 2 squib rounds in the first year of loading. A 45acp and a 380acp. Both had no charge in them. I now keep a wooden dowel in my range bag to clear the barrel just in case. As I use a Lee Classic Turret Press I now visually inspect each casing to make they are charged. I haven't had a squib since. I also learned quickly (although it will probably test your patience to load only a few rounds) that I load no more than 2 mags of each charge when working up a load. Even so, I've become rather adept at using my kinetic bullet puller. Using different color Sharpies, I color the primers on each different charge and keep a record of how they perform. Good luck to you and your new hobby.