PSA: Three types of cartridge failures

[Sgt Neutron]

Several years ago I had some surplus Pakistani .303 British ammo that was about 50% misfire(dud), 40% hangfire (click, 1,2,3,4, fire), and 10% good. After 20-30 rounds, I decided to pull the rest down for the bullets, deciding that the Berdan primers and powder was shot. After pulling the bullets, discovered that the ammo didn't have powder, had cordite. Burned a little bit at a time. Cordite has a very unique smell. IIRC, the 200 rounds that I had cost around $10, so was worth it just for the bullets.

 

[eveled]

The .303 military surplus I had, was loaded with spaghetti powder. Turns out it was cordite filaments. Everyonce in a while one would spit out confetti, but I don't remember any misfires.

It was in huge sardine cans in canvas bandoliers with stripper clips.

 

[Rastoff]

Wow....10 seconds.

Brings a question....after what length of time would most consider it safe to remove the round from the chamber?

Don

As I said in the OP, I recommend 15-30 seconds. The NRA does say at least 30 seconds. It's hard to get someone to wait that long though. The 10 second hang fire described above is the longest I've ever heard a hang fire take to ignite.

A squib is an intentionally underpowered load.

I've never heard it said that way before. I've always been taught that a squib is an UNINTENTIONALLY under-powered load. Also, it doesn't mean a round is stuck in the barrel, but there is a high likelihood of that.

You see people all over the web explain how a revolver is so much better than an auto, because if you pull the trigger and it goes CLICK you simply pull the trigger again - no TAP, RACK, BANG foolishness.

But with my several decades of "give a missfire time to go off", I'd probably (if I tried to shoot someone and it just CLICKED) keep the gun pointed at 'em while I counted ten.

If you tap racked after a click-no-bang situation, you're probably safe. Because the round has been ejected, if it goes off later it will have no energy behind it. Without the chamber to contain the rapidly expanding gas, the brass will rupture and the round will likely not have enough power to penetrate much.

I'm not saying it's harmless, just that it's extremely reduced.

 

[sar4937]

On that last point, I shoot rifle matches where the guy next to me extracts a no-fire and throws it on the ground between us. Timed rapid fire/ home reloads = big pucker factor.

 

[Rastoff]

Yes, a certain pucker factor, but hang fires are extremely rare. Remember, a cartridge outside of the chamber is not directed energy. Unless you're holding it in your hand, it's fairly benign.

Check out this video:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SlOXowwC4c[/ame]

 

[TomkinsSP]

That's what I was taught - to count to ten to give it time to fire if it was a HANGfire instead of a MISSfire.

You see people all over the web explain how a revolver is so much better than an auto, because if you pull the trigger and it goes CLICK you simply pull the trigger again - no TAP, RACK, BANG foolishness.

But with my several decades of "give a missfire time to go off", I'd probably (if I tried to shoot someone and it just CLICKED) keep the gun pointed at 'em while I counted ten.

I'd be like them poor cops that got shot with a handful of brass - looking for the coffee can to dump their empty brass in, because that's how they did it at the range, and "as ye rehearse, so shall ye perform" (I learned that in high school band).

I don't shoot junk in my revolvers. In 40 years I have never had a hangfire using quality factory ammo or my handloads. Duds, yes (not many) but never hangfires. If I was in a SD situation I would totally be pulling that trigger again and again, and then dropping it (the dud) on the ground as I reload.

 

[00Buck2]

Our old farm house burnt down in 1982 it went up like kindelin and every shotgun shell we owned ignited 16g and 20g. Seemed like they exploded one at a time over the period of about an hour. Other than making a lot of noise I think the only thing harmed was the nerves of the volunteer firefighter who was standing near the front door with the water nozzle.

In 40 years of shooting this is the only squib I have encountered and believe it or not I caught it on camera. I immediately noticed the off sound cleared the model 15 and commenced to drive the 158g lead out with a dow rod.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIvN-5oyC3E[/ame]