Anyone Ever Intentionally Made A Squib?

[otisrush]

On another board someone posted how they had their first squib. The uber-scary part from my perspective: The primer cycled the (Glock) action. The guy didn't have the chance to pull the trigger on the follow-on round - because the bullet didn't make it past the chamber and so it didn't go into battery.

The primer cycling the action is my nightmare scenario. If I was in a slow fire scenario (which is 99.9% of the pistol shooting I do) I know I would hold up and not just pull the trigger. But if I was practicing rapid fire - that's where I'm more unsure. If one is focused on staying on target and laying out 6 fast shots - would you have the presence of mind to stop that fast?)

I have 2 semis - a Walther PPQ and a Browning Hi Power. Given this story I'm considering making a couple of squibs on purpose - and seeing how the guns handle them. Has anyone done this? I know I'd have to pound out a bullet each time. But as far as I can tell the only "damage" would be dealing with a PITA event - as long as the bullet removal goes well. (I've heard do NOT use a wood dowel - because it splinters and the splinters get wedged between the bullet and barrel....making bullet removal even tougher.

Thoughts? Experiences?

Thanks.

OR

 

[Ceapea]

Why would someone do that? To practice removing stuck projectiles?

I don't believe that a primer only load would cycle the slide on a properly working SA pistol, unless there was a very weak recoil spring. Or an intentionally reduced recoil spring.

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

YES I HAVE. I DID IT TO MEASURE THE CORRECT BORE DIAMETER FOR CORRECT BULLET SIZING. IMPORTANT FOR 50YD PISTOL SHOOTING. IF YOU WANT TO WIN THAT IS. JP

 

[much ado]

Intentional squib

I`ve been reloading since around 1978 and soon after starting I decided to try a squib in a 5" Colt 1911. It was a lead bullet...I think 200 grain with a CCI primer. Aimed it a pine tree at a range of about 5 feet. The bullet exited the barrel and plunked into the pine about 2 1/2 feet below my point of aim. Did not cycle the slide at all and had a little hassle retracting the slide as the lack of recoil did not flatten the primer which wants to back out of the case. Tried it on a Model 28 revolver with same thought (158 SWC and CCI primer) and had to tap the bullet back out as it lodged at the barrel/cylinder gap. Too much time on my hands I guess John

 

[Steve912]

Why would someone do that? To practice removing stuck projectiles?

I just did, a couple of days ago

A friend was given some under-powered/powdered reloads, and long story short, came home with a bore-stuck slug about 1/2" from muzzle of the 19-5.

I checked the bore and determined there was only a single stuck slug. Pulled a bullet from a round of .38 Special, halved the powder charge and tamped it down with a wad of bread. That pushed the slug about half-way out of the muzzle, and a second ' half-fast bread squib' pooped it all the way out.

 

[mtgianni]

I have shot several of Earl Squibs loads if you mean a slow rifle bullet barely above 700 fps. If you mean intentionally sticking one in the bbl then no.

 

[otisrush]

To clarify in case there is confusion: I meant intentionally seating a bullet on a primed case with no powder. None.

My objective would be to see if a primer alone would cycle the actions of my guns. If they do not cycle the actions then I feel more comfortable if I'm rapid firing then I would be automatically stopped. I know I would not just rack and go.

As I've thought about this possible test I would put in the mag below the squib (the round following the sqjib) would be a no-primer round dummy with a bullet.....to have a dummy to see if the gun would then go into battery following a squib.

My objective is not to take away digence in my loading process. I just want to see if if I do happen to let a squib get by how it will behave.

 

[robertrwalsh]

At one time I prepared a small batch of increasingly smaller charges for a revolver just to see how low I could take it. Since I KNEW there might be problems I was loading one at a time. I got to the point where I could actually see the projectile going down range. The last one I fired left the bullet protruding partially out the muzzle of the gun. It was interesting.

 

[fredj338]

On another board someone posted how they had their first squib. The uber-scary part from my perspective: The primer cycled the (Glock) action. The guy didn't have the chance to pull the trigger on the follow-on round - because the bullet didn't make it past the chamber and so it didn't go into battery.

The primer cycling the action is my nightmare scenario. If I was in a slow fire scenario (which is 99.9% of the pistol shooting I do) I know I would hold up and not just pull the trigger. But if I was practicing rapid fire - that's where I'm more unsure. If one is focused on staying on target and laying out 6 fast shots - would you have the presence of mind to stop that fast?)
OR

Sorry, I have seen enough squibs at the range as SO to call BS on a squib cycling any action, just with primer force, not happening. More than likely the shooter did a tap rack on auto pilot & didn't even think about it. Again, seen this many times. I get save some shooters azz about once a month calling a stop as they tap/rack a squib.
If you wear elec hearing protection, you can easily hear any squib, totally diff sound than even a powder puff load. A cheap investment IMO & many training facilities now require elec hearing so people can follow range commands. I double up, plugs & elec muffs, still easily hear a squib as SO.

 

[otisrush]

Thanks very much for the perspective Fred! Very helpful.

OR

 

[Kiwi cop]

I had a powder valve issue on my Lee powder dropper a few months ago when I accidentally turned the hopper, almost closing off the powder flow. I discovered it after about 50 rounds and tossed these aside to pull the bullets and reload later but in a "senior moment" I forgot about the rounds on the shell plate.

I was shooting a local level 2 IPSC course when I had one of the light loads go off. Although I didn't notice it at the time there was enough powder to send the bullet out of the barrel and downrange but not enough to cycle the action on my Springfield .45.

I immediately stopped shooting without waiting for the RO to tell me to stop as I thought the barrel may have been obstructed. (As a result I zeroed the stage as I still had 7 out of 11 targets to shoot. The R/O later told me he had seen the muzzle blast as the bullet left the barrel and knew it wasn't stuck so didn't call "stop" so I wouldn't get the reshoot. *******!). The light load was not enough to recycle the action.

The second squib load occurred a few stages later. This time I too saw the muzzle blast as the bullet left the barrel and after racking the slide fired again. This time it was at paper and there were only 2 holes (the light load had been my second round) so the undercharged load went who know where (probably into the ground?)

Interestingly I had my first ever hang fire recently too in practice. I pulled the trigger and the gun went 'pop' instead of 'bang'. I immediately took my finger out of the trigger guard and was reaching for the mag release to unload when the powder ignited, sending the bullet downrange and cycling the action. There would have been a delay of at least a second and a half between the 'pop' and the 'bang' so the old advice of waiting 30 seconds when only the primer goes off before unloading in case of a hang fire now makes sense.

Regardless, all three times were in the middle of a string of fire. All three times I realised something was not right and, except for the second light load when I deliberately fired again, I was able to stop shooting.

My point is, I think you will know if/when something goes wrong and stop from firing the second round yourself. May be different if it happens in a self defence shooting where all your attention will be on your opponent, but then conventional wisdom for self defence is to use factory ammo not reloads so......

 

[Ed Fowler]

When I am teaching someone new to shoot we have a long talk first and then practice. I make squibs for what we are shooting and let them shoot one without telling them it is coming. Sometimes it is just a primer, sometimes a little powder.

It makes for a great lesson, for once they experience one they will never forget it. Just telling them is not nearly as impressive. They also get to remove the bullet from the barrel so they will know what they are doing if this knowledge is needed in the future.

 

[otisrush]

When I am teaching someone new to shoot we have a long talk first and then practice. I make squibs for what we are shooting and let them shoot one without telling them it is coming. Sometimes it is just a primer, sometimes a little powder.

It makes for a great lesson, for once they experience one they will never forget it. Just tellirng them is not nearly as impressive. They also get to remove the bullet from the barrel so they will know what they are doing if this knowledge is needed in the future.

Most excellent!

 

[Clovishound]

Heck, I have had start loads of powder that would not cycle the slide.

 

[otisrush]

Heck, I have had start loads of powder that would not cycle the slide.

Geez....that's a really good point. I forgot that as part of working up a load is checking for reliable cycling. If a slide won't cycle with an "approved" (min) charge it certainly won't do so with a primer only.

 

[Mikeinkaty]

I did that on purpose with my 686 and a 125 grain coated lead bullet with a CCI 500 primer. No noise, no smoke, and it did not uncrimp the bullet. I had to pull the bullet to prove the primer had fired. It had. To be ready though, I carry a 1/4" brass rod in my gun bag.

 

[fredj338]

I did that on purpose with my 686 and a 125 grain coated lead bullet with a CCI 500 primer. No noise, no smoke, and it did not uncrimp the bullet. I had to pull the bullet to prove the primer had fired. It had. To be ready though, I carry a 1/4" brass rod in my gun bag.

If the primer fires, there is noise. How much depends on your hearing loss.

 

[BB57]

I did this with a couple of pistols and revolvers to see how much variation occurred.

Most of the bullets stopped an inch or so into the bore. One revolver however had the 158 gr RN bullet just poking out the end of the 3" barrel.

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I agree with the comment above about the report of a Glock cycling with a primer only squib load being pure BS. It's just not happening without the shooter manually racking the slide. Light loads won't cycle a semi-auto pistol unless you're using a lighter than standard recoil spring.

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Firing a primer only load also makes noise, regardless of whether you're using a pistol or a revolver.

I suppose it's possible a shooter with some hearing loss and good ear protection might not hear it, especially with a high level of back ground noise.

 

[29aholic]

A squib we had one time in a 1911 left the bullet protruding from the end of the barrel. It cycled the slide just enough to partially eject the case giving it the chance to turn around and rechamber backwards. We don't know if it was a low or a no powder squib.


That being said, when fire lapping a barrel it is common to load the rounds with just enough powder to get the bullet out of the barrel.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

No.
Eddie