blanks to blow out a squib?
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Iowa Fox
Member
Hammer & Brass rod is the only safe way. Soak the barrel & Bullet in kroil over night.
Ben_hutcherson
Member
If you have a copy of Hatcher's Notebook, he deals with this very topic(not just squibs, but any other barrel obstruction such as a stuck cleaning patch).
Blank powder is very fast and intended to be fired in a relatively unobstructed barrel. Putting a blank behind a squib turns the gun into a pipe bomb.
Hatcher did conclude that a normal cartridge with the bullet pulled could be safely fired behind a sqib or other obstruction, although he was primarily experimenting with '03 Springfield rifles. I'm not sure if this would work in a revolver with the cylinder gap.
I agree that a rod and hammer is a far better and safer option.
Blank powder is very fast and intended to be fired in a relatively unobstructed barrel. Putting a blank behind a squib turns the gun into a pipe bomb.
Hatcher did conclude that a normal cartridge with the bullet pulled could be safely fired behind a sqib or other obstruction, although he was primarily experimenting with '03 Springfield rifles. I'm not sure if this would work in a revolver with the cylinder gap.
I agree that a rod and hammer is a far better and safer option.
one eye joe
US Veteran
NOT ONLY HAVE I NEVER TRIED IT, I HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF IT BEING DONE IN OVER 50 YEARS OF SHOOTING, AND READING GUN LITERATURE. I WOULD GUESS THAT THERE IS SOME GOOD REASON FOR THAT. PERHAPS WE WILL LEARN WHAT IT IS, FURTHER ON IN THIS THREAD. IN ANY EVENT, I WOULD TAKE THE TIME PROVEN APPROACH OF TAPPING IT OUT WITH A BRASS ROD, TO AVOID POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO YOUR GUN, OR HARM TO YOURSELF…….
(OBVIOUSLY, SOME INFORMATIVE RESPONSES CAME IN, AS I WAS SLOWLY PECKING OUT THIS RESPONSE WITH ONE FINGER, lol….)
(OBVIOUSLY, SOME INFORMATIVE RESPONSES CAME IN, AS I WAS SLOWLY PECKING OUT THIS RESPONSE WITH ONE FINGER, lol….)
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NO, NO WAY
As stated in an earlier post, the powder used in blanks is extremely fast. It has to be to get the desired report without a bullet. You will run a substantial risk of damaging your gun if you try it. There is always the chance of it dislodging the squib without damage, but why take the risk? Be safe and use the brass rod and mallet to clear the squib.
venomballistics
Member
I also read the Hatcher account.
While he did do development work with this method, it never made it to even last ditch emergency measure.
While he did do development work with this method, it never made it to even last ditch emergency measure.
Lodged projectile
I concur.....As a professional instructor of over 4 decades....30 of those as a LE instructor ( and armorer).....I have seen my share of lodged projectiles, particularly from handloads.....have carried a brass range rod and mallet in my range kit since the 70's.....had a young lady pound four lead bullets up the pipe of a Ruger Sp 101 during a citizen NRA pistol class once....the 4th bullet lodged in between the cylinder and barrel...tied up the cylinder....which was fortuitous, since the 5th round had a full powder charge in it.....took a trip to the machine shop to solve that conundrum.
I concur.....As a professional instructor of over 4 decades....30 of those as a LE instructor ( and armorer).....I have seen my share of lodged projectiles, particularly from handloads.....have carried a brass range rod and mallet in my range kit since the 70's.....had a young lady pound four lead bullets up the pipe of a Ruger Sp 101 during a citizen NRA pistol class once....the 4th bullet lodged in between the cylinder and barrel...tied up the cylinder....which was fortuitous, since the 5th round had a full powder charge in it.....took a trip to the machine shop to solve that conundrum.
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Cal44
Member
I've only had one squib in my life -- on a FA 454.
I used a piece of 3/8 wooden dowel to push it out.
Didn't have a brass rod and would have had to figure out where to get one.
Dave
I used a piece of 3/8 wooden dowel to push it out.
Didn't have a brass rod and would have had to figure out where to get one.
Dave
Bkreutz
US Veteran
If a person has so many squib rounds that he has to think of a faster way to clear them needs to find another hobby before he harms himself and those in his immediate vicinity. 
fredj338
Member
This would go under the really bad idea. A simple brass rod or tape wrapped steel rod is all that is needed. No oil either for shorter handgun bbls.
Amen !!! ..........If a person has so many squib rounds that he has to think of a faster way to clear them needs to find another hobby before he harms himself and those in his immediate vicinity.
David R
Member
I agree, use a rod.
I disagree, it has been done with black powder. This is a whole different thing.
David
I disagree, it has been done with black powder. This is a whole different thing.
David
varmint243
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If I recall correctly from Hatcher's notebook;
GI's (I believe in bootcamp) used to clean their '03 rifles with a bootlace and patch
Occasionally an overzealous GI would get one stuck
Col. Hatcher would pull the bullet from a standard round and dump about half the powder.
He would then blow out the patch + bootlace with no harm done to the shooter or firearm.
If you want an exact quote I can pick the book up and get it, it's about six feet from me.
GI's (I believe in bootcamp) used to clean their '03 rifles with a bootlace and patch
Occasionally an overzealous GI would get one stuck
Col. Hatcher would pull the bullet from a standard round and dump about half the powder.
He would then blow out the patch + bootlace with no harm done to the shooter or firearm.
If you want an exact quote I can pick the book up and get it, it's about six feet from me.
ironhead7544
Member
No. Blanks are quite powerful, contrary to popular belief. A number of people have killed themselves by putting a handgun to their heads and firing a blank. There is enough pressure there to put a hole in a skull and turn the brain to mush.
Best is a brass rod about bore diameter. Or a steel rod with a brass tip about bore diameter.
Best is a brass rod about bore diameter. Or a steel rod with a brass tip about bore diameter.
Range rods
Brownells carries range rods. for various calibers...search under "brass range rods" on their site, if you feel the need.
Brownells carries range rods. for various calibers...search under "brass range rods" on their site, if you feel the need.
Exactly. I'm not suggesting the use of blank powder in the blanks. That would be reckless because of the flashpoint of the blank powder. However, I'm suggesting using the same powder with the same amount of grains or less than what you are presently shooting. Some of you guys get the picture.
For example, let's say you were shooting 357 Magnum, 158 gr XTP bullet, 13.3 gr of 2400 powder from your M27 revolver. For some unknown reason, you got a squib while shooting. (well OK, we all know the reason...) What would happen if you get another round and pop off the bullet and replace it with a .357 wax bullet and fire it through the M27? I don't see how the pressure would cause any damage to you or the M27. However, I don't know if the squib would get cleared being that it's lodged further down the barrel. I'm suggesting employing the use of a wax bullet to hold back the powder and also for lubrication purposes.
I reload my own rounds. What if I kept a waxed bullet round in my bag just for this purpose? I could always melt wax in a mold to get the wax bullets.
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