Anyone Ever Intentionally Made A Squib?

[macdab]

Yes, I have created squibs for training purposes.

As stated above by some: The slide isn't cycling if there is no powder in the case.

 

[fredj338]

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.

Not a squib with primer only though. Likely a small charge of powder. A primer only will not cycle a slide, even with a really light slide & spring.

 

[cgt4570]

.22 subsonic CB or BB Caps are essentially a squib load. I shoot them in my antiques or single shot top breaks. They will NOT cycle a semi-auto! Centerfires are the same.

 

[hdwhit]

Anyone Ever Intentionally Made A Squib?

Good Lord, no!

What you suggest, sir, is against reason.

Everything I have done over the last 38 years, including written reloading procedures that require three separate checks for a uniform powder load in the cases and a written checklist that accompanies each batch of cartridges, is directed AGAINST the creation of a squib load.

The only place I could see such loads being intentionally created is a training facility where identification of and proper response to a squib is taught as part of the curriculum. But since I have no involvement with such a training program, the whole idea is anathema to me.

 

[otisrush]

Good Lord, no!

What you suggest, sir, is against reason.

Everything I have done over the last 38 years, including written reloading procedures that require three separate checks for a uniform powder load in the cases and a written checklist that accompanies each batch of cartridges, is directed AGAINST the creation of a squib load.

The only place I could see such loads being intentionally created is a training facility where identification of and proper response to a squib is taught as part of the curriculum. But since I have no involvement with such a training program, the whole idea is anathema to me.

Why would anyone intentionally produce a squib load?

In reality, a squib is not a problem. The problem occurs when incorrect steps are taken AFTER the squib.

Obviously my thought process is to better understand how a squib feels and sounds. Doing so in a controlled and known environment is a potential learning experience.

Why do we go to an empty, snowy parking lot and intentionally put our car into a skid? So we can get a better understanding of how it feels - so when it happens on the road unexpectedly - we have some experience on what to do.

This thread is based on the exact same concept. My initial objective was to see if it would cycle my action. I'm now convinced it won't. Therefore I'm not going to go through this test. Not because I think it's unsafe - but because I think, through the great responses above, I've gotten an answer to my question.

Thanks all!

OR

 

[NJM15]

Tried it once

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

Just an experiment tried an empty case primered in my M&P 40
just to see how much oomph it had then tried it primer and lead , no powder, no mag, bullet went about 1 inch in the barrel, bullet easily removed with a brass punch. just wanted to see what would happen

 

[NJM15]

A real squib !

Here's a picture of my .40 caliber Hi Point carbine after
a bullet entered the chamber shell ejected, next round cycled into the chamber fired causing this bulge, the bolt locked up scared the ---- out of me. I am not blaming Hi Point maybe I was weak on the load. physically check each round by sight since then

 

[SLT223]

I see no harm in trying it. I think you're safe to satisfy you're curiosity.

 

[sodacan]

I am fascinated that this topic generated so much discussion. I wonder if the scientists and engineers on the Manhattan Project did the same thing????

 

[SLT223]

I am fascinated that this topic generated so much discussion. I wonder if the scientists and engineers on the Manhattan Project did the same thing????

Read the book "Command and Control" by Eric Schlosser. The dangerous things they did accidentally are nothing compared to the dangerous things they did deliberately and carelessly.

Or just look up "criticality test", or "Demon Core"

 

[Abflyboy]

I have had a number of squibs happen when shooting questionable ammunition.

All were in autoloaders, mostly Glock. None cycled the slide. Only one squib that I experienced pushed the bullet far enough to clear the chamber. Also, most starting to mid range loads will not fully cycle the slide on a Glock.

I agree that experiencing a squib in a controlled environment is a valuable training exercise.

 

[Ben_hutcherson]

Squibs are one reason why I rarely reload 32 S&W Long.

It's the only caliber where I've ever had a squib. In my case, I shot the gun, thought something didn't sound right, and looked down to see a bullet sticking out the end of the barrel. The scary thing, though, is that even a "proper" load is quiet and has very little recoil. I ended up pulling the entire lot.

I will only reload 32 S&W if I need something I can't buy, and if I do I weigh every charge. Working from memory, Lyman gives a range of 2.0 to 2.2gr Bullseye for a 100gr cast bullet. I've gone through and calibrated my Lee Auto-Disk for the common powders I use, and know that I get about a 50% relative standard at loads that small-or in other words the difference between a squib and a kaboom.

 

[Lee's Landing Billy]

Once many years ago several of us decided to try to see just how light we could load some 38s. I had lotsa 9mm bullets and too many 38 cases so we went to work. Seating 9 mils in 38 cases with just a primer would not get them out of the barrel of a Chief. We finally settled on 1 grain of bullseye. They would not reliably penetrate a cardboard IPSC target and occasionally one would JUST stick it's nose out the muzzle to see the sunshine. At 1.2 we had our winner! 7 yards great fun. People would get really funny looks on their faces when handed a gun with a cylinder full to shoot. Our squibs were part of the learning process and could be hateful to clear.

 

[ChiefStealth]

I've read this whole thread. I've read all of the reasons why people have internationally created squibs. I've never created any. I've never had any of those reasons to create any. Never been curious about what happens with a squib. I have no itch to find out. YMMV.

 

[454PB]

I've never done it intentionally, but have done it accidentally several times. The first time was in a Ruger SBH .44 magnum. It happened during an Elk hunting trip back in about 1971. The primer fired, but the powder charge didn't. I opened the loading gate and removed the empty case, along with a thimble full of unburned H-110. I then closed the loading gate and fired another round. It was quite obvious what had happened when the gun fired, tremendous recoil and it cut my shooting hand at the web of my thumb and index finger. Surprisingly it did no harm to the gun, in fact I owned and shot it (a lot) over the next 15 years. I even wrote up a short article for The American Rifleman about the incident that was published. This was back before most handloaders knew of the dangers of downloading slow burning ball powders.

The most recent "incident" involved my Ruger SRH .454 Casull. I had the exact same symptoms and this time did everything correctly. The load managed to drive the cast bullet about half way through the 7 1/2" barrel, which I remove with a brass rod and hammer. I posted details and pictures of that incident on the castboolits forum.

 

[Mikeinkaty]

Yeah, I did. S&W 686 revolver, 125 grain MBC coated bullet and a CCI 500 primer. I saw no smoke and heard nothing but the hammer strike. I pulled the bullet to verify the primer had fired. It had. It did not even break the light crimp on the bullet. I had a brass rod ready to punch out the bullet if necessary. Was not necessary!