Squibs anyone ?

[Empe]

I'm pretty new to reloading having just reloaded about a 1000 rounds of .45 ACP and .38 Special so far.
My question is this ...out of about 750 .45 ACP reloads I have had two squibs .The round sounded normal when I pulled the trigger and the only way I knew I had a squib is that the following round would not fully chamber...fortunately ! The bullet had traveled about an inch down the bore and thankfully no further or I could have had at best a bulged barrel at worst a damaged gun and possibly hand .
I am using a Lee Turret Press and have been carefully measuring and loading the powder by hand in each cartridge so I'm pretty certain that they had the correct amount of powder.
I'm a little leery of doing any more reloads until I figure out what happened . The two separate squibs were weeks and several hundred rounds apart . Any thoughts or suggestions from experienced reloaders would be greatly appreciated.

 

[glenwolde]

Sorry but I think you left the powder out...unless you found a bunch of unburned powder fouling the weapon.

 

[Empe]

Sorry but I think you left the powder out...unless you found a bunch of unburned powder fouling the weapon.

I had thought that but the round sounded normal when it ignited . I am assuming there would be quite a difference in sound between a round with powder in it and one with just a primer .

 

[cracker57]

one inch down the barrel=no powder. you state the round sounded the same, was the recoil the same?

 

[Nevada Ed]

If you were wearing ear protection.................

a squib vs a starting load is almost, undetectable.

I have had loads so slow, that I could hear my pistol slide, working !!

More powder !

 

[CH4]

I’ve only had one squib. It was due to a weak crimp on my first lot of 500 S&W. Bullet got stuck halfway out of the cylinder, halfway in the barrel. About 40 grains of unburned lil’ gun powder all over the bench.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

A squib is usually from no powder, functional primer. I had one early on, then another. My cure was that I now load only using a loading block. I charge all rounds with powder, usually fifty at a time, occasionally forty or twenty with rifle cartridges. I then go up one row and down the next with a flashlight, to be sure that I have charged all cases. I then manually place all bullets in the the case mouths, and proceed to seating. If the bullets or cartridges are not stable with bullets placed thus, I simply seat all bullets after inspection of all cases, with no interruption.

Those two squibs were 67 years ago. None since. My method probably slows down handgun reloading a little. That's OK.

 

[cmj8591]

The squibs that I have experienced left no doubt when they fired. Both the report and the recoil were way outside normal. What were you firing that 45acp in? In a semi auto the gun will not function if the round had no powder.

 

[Miracle Man]

I had thought that but the round sounded normal when it ignited . I am assuming there would be quite a difference in sound between a round with powder in it and one with just a primer .

There would be quite a bit of difference in feel/recoil. Did that seem right?

I would guess there was no or very, very little powder in rounds.

 

[Dave Haynes]

I use a lot of Bullseye so using a loading board is an essential step. Same as 56 Fan, I use a flashlight and look into each case. When I'm sure that all cases are correctly charged then I move on to placing the projectile. If you are going to make a serious attempt, the this is the most important step. You can put the primer in backwards, same with the bullet neither will harm a thing. A double of Bullseye can take the backstrap off the weapon.

 

[ReloadforFun]

Iff you still have the bullets, inspect the bases. A primer only situation will have the base of te bullet blackened. If there was powder, the base of the bullet will be clean.

 

[4barrel]

If the bullet was in the barrel the primers were ok. The slide should not go back enough to pick up another round. The gun wouldn't recoil unless there was a flinch. <Weak recoil spring?>Maybe the next round hit the bullet in the barrel and saved the day? I've done it. No powder. I have seen it happen with low charges of 4227 in a revolver not using a mag primer. What brand of powder/?

 

[stansdds]

Squibs are usually the result of insufficient or no powder in the case. I recommend you examine your reloading technique. When I reload, on an RCBS progressive press, I can see the powder drop through the clear plastic powder measure drop tube. I also sit so I can see the powder in the case as I place the bullet. No squibs and I have been doing this for over 3 decades now.

 

[SMSgt]

I fired a .223 and heard only a "click." No bang, no pop. Pulled the round, and except for a solidly struck primer, the case looked completely normal. My thought was a dud primer. After four more, I knew something was wrong (Slow learner). Broke the round down at home and not a granule of powder was in them. Each primer had fired, although I heard nothing except the hammer fall. Thousands of rounds loaded with only a couple dud primers. Nary a problem until those five. Something broke my procedure the day I loaded them. It happens.

 

[Empe]

The squibs that I have experienced left no doubt when they fired. Both the report and the recoil were way outside normal. What were you firing that 45acp in? In a semi auto the gun will not function if the round had no powder.

Fired from a Colt 1911 and yes the slide operated ...ejected the empty casing and picked up a new one which did not seat because of the squib in the bore.

 

[raljr1]

I use a turret press as a single stage press. I put powder in cases one at a time...immediately after putting powder in, I seat the bullet. Have not had a squib so far....yes this is a little slower, but it works for me.

Robert

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

Just got through reloading 240 45acp [40 moon clips] small primer cases for my 625. I had to use my lee autoprime as I have a large primer tube on the Dillon. Somehow I had a flipped primer and a missing primer. Found them when I ran the loads through my case checker and lee bulge buster. Used an inertia puller to tear them down, redid the primers and loaded them again. I always look in each case after the powder dump on my 550. Things happen, gotta stay frosty.

 

[pantannojack]

I had a non ignition (of powder) with Blue Dot in a 44 mg years ago. don't recall the charge wt or if std or mg primer. The bullet left the cylinder but logged in the forcing cone of the bbl. Powder did not fire. Low pressure loads need fast powders like Bullseye thru Unique (many more names newly added ). Slow powders need high charges of weight. Do not scrimp when loading magnum powders. Read and obey printed load manuals ( hard cover books ). Minimum loads mean just that. don't charge lower than minimum loads.

 

[rickflst]

On the turret press make sure you look in the case before placing the bullet. Check the charge drop every ten rounds to verify. Avoid any distractions in the loading room.

 

[twodog max]

I used to have a progressive press but sold it because i could never learn to trust the thing. Long ago I read about visually inspecting each charged case is the loading block before bullet seating. In over 50 years of reloading I have had exactly one squib in a 257 WM. The bullet barely moved and as you might expect no powder.
I guess I messed up on that one.
Loading block inspection also helps spot potential double charges with lighter loads. Of course I am not a competitive shooter requiring huge quantities of ammo so I can afford the time for inspection.