I stopped using Unique in my Hornady LnL measure because every once in a great while it would bridge and I'd get a very short load, as you experienced above. YMMV.
Stu
Stu
First squib
- Thread starter Boogsawaste
- Start date
Coastie762
US Veteran
I've seen the same issue using CFE-P and 125 grain plated bullets. I believe the cause is due to low "bullet pull" which causes inconsistent ignition. The plating is slippery in comparison to a jacketed bullet of the same weight. Also the shorter bearing surface of the lighter bullet and possible reduction in diameter of the swaged bullet during seating will adversely affect the bullets resistance to movement when fired. A heavier crimp may help, but not always.
If you have an inertia type puller, place one of your loaded rounds in it and see how many whacks it takes to dislodge the bullet. I will wager most if not all will pop out in only one strike. I would also take a micrometer to the pulled bullet to see if the diameter was reduced during the seating process.
I had better luck with these bullets using a faster powder such as Bullseye or Titegroup. These seem to be less affected by the lower bullet pull than the slower CFE-P. Both also meter more consistently than Unique through my measures.
If you have an inertia type puller, place one of your loaded rounds in it and see how many whacks it takes to dislodge the bullet. I will wager most if not all will pop out in only one strike. I would also take a micrometer to the pulled bullet to see if the diameter was reduced during the seating process.
I had better luck with these bullets using a faster powder such as Bullseye or Titegroup. These seem to be less affected by the lower bullet pull than the slower CFE-P. Both also meter more consistently than Unique through my measures.
As Stu mentioned, Unique will bridge occasionally in the drop tube resulting ia a short load, but then you normally have an excessive charge the next round. If your overall load is light target load, the subsequent load most likely won't hurt anything, but I haven't trusted Unique for 30 years in a progressive loader. Only when I load one at a time in a loading block the old fashioned way, and weigh every charge.
One reason I like my single stage loader.
I get to "Eyeball" the cases for powder amount,before bullet seating.
As mentioned , primer, powder drop, difference of load OAL etc.
can all cause a squib if not done right.
One of my loading manuals has a 125 gr JHP with Unique starting at 6.0 grs......................
but a Lyman manual going to 4.0 grs as a starting load.
Just glad that you caught it !!
I get to "Eyeball" the cases for powder amount,before bullet seating.
As mentioned , primer, powder drop, difference of load OAL etc.
can all cause a squib if not done right.
One of my loading manuals has a 125 gr JHP with Unique starting at 6.0 grs......................
but a Lyman manual going to 4.0 grs as a starting load.
Just glad that you caught it !!
Dieseltech56
Member
I loaded a .357 mag with no powder in it one time. Thankfully the crimp was good and it pushed the primer out of the case and tied up the gun. I didn't know what happened until I got home and pulled the bullet, no powder.
I'm much more conscientious dumping powder charges now
I'm much more conscientious dumping powder charges now
Not wishing to throw mud in the stream, but could it possibly have been due to:
1. Powder contamination caused by oil bullet lube or moisture.
2. Seating the primer too firmly, fracturing the priming pellet.
4. Some sort of blockage, either tumbling media in the primer hole or in the case itself.
4. A combination of #1 or 4?
In my limited experience with squibs (1) 2.3 gr. Unique in 357 brass, standard primer will stick a 158 gr lead bullet ~1 1/2 inches into a 4" barrel, but 4 gr. will move it out in fine fashion. YMMV!
1. Powder contamination caused by oil bullet lube or moisture.
2. Seating the primer too firmly, fracturing the priming pellet.
4. Some sort of blockage, either tumbling media in the primer hole or in the case itself.
4. A combination of #1 or 4?
In my limited experience with squibs (1) 2.3 gr. Unique in 357 brass, standard primer will stick a 158 gr lead bullet ~1 1/2 inches into a 4" barrel, but 4 gr. will move it out in fine fashion. YMMV!
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I haven't had a squib since 1970 but I still keep a range rod in my range bag (1/4"x12" brass rod). I learned my lesson and now look in every case I charge with powder before I seat a bullet...
OP
Boogsawaste
Member
I practice the same before placing the bullets also. Even so, I have a powder lock out die. I don't rely on it and instead I like to "forget" it's there so I can make myself look into the cases. This way I have several checks to prevent such a thing.
This time I'm sure there was powder and I'm starting to suspect that I crushed a primer. Some of the brass I used for this batch I was changing over from my trusty old lee auto prime 2 (press mounted) to an rcbs bench unit. I know I leaned on it pretty hard a few ones setting the depth screw and perhaps I cracked the compound or something else. I broke down the remaining 50 rounds and all were on the money +/- .1. Nothing out of the ordinary with neck tension for a 125 grain bullet. Since this was the first fired from that cylinder it wouldn't have been bullet pull either.
If anything I can take from this it's a reminder to be as mindful of what's going on when loading.
Be safe out there everyone!
I would have to disagree on the pfftt sound. 
It's more of a ... pop ... sound.
The pfftt sound is is more of how a pizza delivery hitman's pistol sounds.... from a movie I watched.
Seriously.... at the range last week I heard a .... pfftt.... looked over to the next lane and a suppressed rifle was in use.
Excess lube can cause no ignition, fun with a big bore rifle and a swooshing sound, kinda silenced, and sent the 45ACP 230g leads downrange..... no tax stamp necessary.
We've never loaded other than an accurate scoop onto a 505 and into each case since forever.
Cases are kept stored and ready for powder, bullets and crimp as necessary for completion.
If I were to run the Blue one as intended I might install a camera to verify powder and hire a secretary to maintain and clean the powdering tools.
In the Kaboom Hall O Fame.... progressives reign supreme...... it's not the machine .... but the user!
It's more of a ... pop ... sound.
The pfftt sound is is more of how a pizza delivery hitman's pistol sounds.... from a movie I watched.
Seriously.... at the range last week I heard a .... pfftt.... looked over to the next lane and a suppressed rifle was in use.
Excess lube can cause no ignition, fun with a big bore rifle and a swooshing sound, kinda silenced, and sent the 45ACP 230g leads downrange..... no tax stamp necessary.
We've never loaded other than an accurate scoop onto a 505 and into each case since forever.
Cases are kept stored and ready for powder, bullets and crimp as necessary for completion.
If I were to run the Blue one as intended I might install a camera to verify powder and hire a secretary to maintain and clean the powdering tools.
In the Kaboom Hall O Fame.... progressives reign supreme...... it's not the machine .... but the user!
A few years back I was doing some 9mm X-Lite practice loads
with the large 147 gr plated bullet.
Even with my headset ear muffs on, the load was so slow that I
could hear the slide working on the pistol, but all six loads cleared the barrel.
I thought that sort of spooky!! Squib speed.......?
I put in my notes to add .2 grs of powder, for this pistol !!
with the large 147 gr plated bullet.
Even with my headset ear muffs on, the load was so slow that I
could hear the slide working on the pistol, but all six loads cleared the barrel.
I thought that sort of spooky!! Squib speed.......?
I put in my notes to add .2 grs of powder, for this pistol !!
OP
Boogsawaste
Member
Yikes! Too bad you didn't have a chronograph set up. Would have been interesting to see the speed.
Unless you were using a mag primer, a "no powder" squib wouldn't go half-way down the barrel (unless it was a very short barrel or there's no rifling left).
