Squib load---millisecond from disaster!

[Kodakjack]

About 2 years ago I got a Model 13, 3 inch...an FBI gun from my 78 year old Bro-in-law. The gun had no wear and no ring. It came with an original cross back shoulder holster and the S&W handcuffs and both keys.
All looked new and unused. He was a well liked Probation and Parole officer in Dade county and did some horse trading and got the gun from one of his FBI buddies in the mid 80's.. He fell in love with the gun and thought my 5'4" Sister-in-law would like it. No, she didn't and it became the nightstand gun for about 30 years.
After George died I bought it from her and dumped the 6 original rounds she still had in it. The action was VERY stiff but smooth and had a weight lifter size trigger pull.
After I pulled the side plate I did a detailed clean and trigger and action job. de-burred all contact surfaces and replaced the rebound and hammer spring with Wolff gun springs. The gun is now the fastest (and smoothest) running 3 inch I have ever had. Saturday I was racing my shooting buddy to see who could put 6 rounds on target first. A M&P 9L long slide vs my M13 3 inch. First race was Tim, Race two was me, but on the 3rd race on third round something felt wrong and I let off the trigger with it half squeezed!!!
Winchester white box 130 gr. target loads.

This is what I saw.

 

[ROK]

That is my worst fear. 99.9% of what I shoot from my handguns are my reloads.

Always in the back of my little mind. Let alone for factory ammo!

Well done, Kodakjack.
I don't know how I would have fared in your situation.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

Wow indeed, nice save. How did your squib feel? When I got my first and so far only squib on my 38 super 627 it felt and sounded exactly like a light strike. But thankfully mine stopped between the cylinder and forcing cone locking it up otherwise I would have thought light strike (I tuned my action for federal only so nothing unusual) and pulled the trigger again if I could have.

 

[kbm6893]

I look for the dirt kicking up behind the target every time I fire. Of course a squib should feel much lighter, but I've never felt a squib go off.

 

[Kodakjack]

Got the round cleared will post pictures shortly.

 

[DWalt]

Based upon many years of experience, If any report sounds the least bit light, I instinctively cease fire immediately and check. I have had a number of squib loads over the years which have left bullets in the barrel, but never had an in-bore collision - yet. I always carry a 6" steel rod in my shooting case for such occasions.

 

[kbuckey]

I've had two squib loads. The first was about 40 years with a .45 Colt, but that one didn't completely leave the cylinder so a follow up wasn't possible. The other was a .32-20 but it felt light and I wasn't shooting it fast.

My real experience with squib loads has been as an IDPA safety officer. I've had 5 shooters have squib loads, only one recognized it before I did. 4 were with semi-autos so there was a failure to chamber the next round and in the 3 cases where the shooter didn't recognize it they had started their malfunction drills when I yelled "STOP!"

In the case of the revolver shooter, he didn't have a clue why I called "stop" until I showed him the bullet lodged in the bore. Good he wasn't a real fast shooter or I could not have made the call in time.

 

[gmikesell]

Hi Folks, long time lurker, first time poster here. I personally witnessed my first squib fire yesterday at our local club IDPA practice shoot. A shooter was using .45 ACP in a Kimber CDP 3". We all heard "BANG" "BANG" "BANG" "POP". Looked like the bullet went about an inch in but was successfully extracted and he went on to finish the string. Very concerning none the less. I always assumed factory rounds was the safest way to go. Now I'm not so convinced. With companies all looking for ways to cut cost, I hope they aren't trying to skimp on powder. Was a surprisingly interesting experience for me.

 

[19ontheslide]

My one and only (so far) factory squib was very similar to the OP's. I was introducing a coworker to shooting, and after some plinking with a myriad of .22s we moved onto my old 10-6. Bang, bang, pfussst. I was standing right next to him and watching closely anyway given his relative inexperience with firearms, and of course he had no idea that anything out of the ordinary had happened, but he was thankfully shooting nice and slowly. I called for him to stop, took the gun back, and opened it. Round #3 had made it to within about an inch of the muzzle before coming to a stop.

We were also shooting Winchester White Box 130 grain FMJ plinking loads, by the way. I was not overly happy with the company so I wrote to them. To their credit they did send me a check for the approximate value of two boxes of replacement ammo, but I have not bought their product since.

 

[loc n load]

Poof rounds

Was a police instructor/armorer/shooting competitor for over 30 years.....I have seen a lot of squibs/poof's over the years, from both commercial and handloaded ammo....always carry two brass "range rods" in my kit, one a 38 dia and the other a 44 dia....I have cleared many an obstructed bore with them over the years.

 

[scooter123]

I've had two near squibs with Remington UMC 45 ACP. First time the recoil felt like a 22 LR and the bullet impacted the target about 6 inches low and sideways. After about 40 rounds I had another that didn't hit the target at all. However when I looked carefully downrange I saw a bullet spinning slowly on the range floor about 3 feet past the target. Both time due to the failure to extract and the extremely light recoil I field stripped the 1911 I was shooting so I could take a good look down the barrel. Learned a lesson from that experience and now make sure to have my Streamlight Stylus Pro in my pocket before heading to the range. That way I can simply lock the slide open and shine a light down the barrel to confirm it's clear.

Now that I load my own ammunition I make sure to use that penlight to check up every case in my loading tray before putting the bullets on top. I also repeat this check 3 times because 3 is more certain than just once. While I've thought about getting a progressive press one thing that keeps me from going in that direction is that I wouldn't be able to do my triple powder peek.