Two Squibs in about the same number of weeks

[todbiker]

As the title states, I've had two squibs in the last two weeks.
This would be the first, second and hopefully last time this has occurred for me personally.

 

[Sundazes]

If they are from the same batch, I would weight them all.

 

[todbiker]

If they are from the same batch, I would weight them all.

Thanks for the tip, but I don't reload, so can't think of what I have on hand to measure something that light?

Two different pistols shooting
Wolf Polyformance 9mm Luger 115 Gr. FMJ Steel Case

I picked up a couple thousand rounds of this cheap and have made it through 850 rounds as of today with 2 squibs. The rounds were from different 50 rd boxes and possibly different packages of 500.

Shot plenty of Wolf steel case in the past without issues. It is very dirty, but it's for practice.

My range bag now contains a 10" length of 1/4" brass rod for just such an emergency (This was per someones suggestion in another squib thread and it works well, thanks)

 

[Doctor_M]

I've only ever had one, but it was in a machine gun and could have been very bad if I hadn't noticed something was wrong and cleared the barrel. I keep that projectile around as a reminder to never take anything for granted... if something doesn't feel, sound, or look right... check it out.

It was factory 9mm ammo, BTW, not a reload.

 

[kenpo333]

We had two in my squad at our IDPA shoot on Wednesday. Two different shooters. Happens a lot with reloaders. Never had them with new ammo though.

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Never had a squib in any commercial ammo.

Loaded up fifty squibs at the reloading bench one day though.

 

[ironpony]

~6 in three years, then 8 in one day ... still can't figure out the hateful eight. I think I can honestly say zero in the last year of reloading, the eight were old stock (my reloads).

Wait, the eight did leave the barrel but no slide movement ...

 

[steves1911]

I've only ever had one back when I just started reloading.

 

[todbiker]

~6 in three years, then 8 in one day ... still can't figure out the hateful eight. I think I can honestly say zero in the last year of reloading, the eight were old stock (my reloads).

Wait, the eight did leave the barrel but no slide movement ...

I got rid of all my revolvers because they were safe queens. That was actually fortunate with regards to squibs. It's also fortunate if the round clears the barrel, which I would think means there was light powder versus just a primer. Enough powder to operate the slide and not clear the barrel and it would be very easy to blow up the barrel and worse

 

[W2D]

Thanks for the tip, but I don't reload, so can't think of what I have on hand to measure something that light?

The geek in me is imagining a balance beam. Put two good rounds on either side and adjust the fulcrum so the "test round" just barely pushes the beam down. Anything lighter, wouldn't. A stop block would make placement exact -even a pair of ammo box inserts. You could measure several at a time?!


It's early and I'm already overthinking things...

 

[todbiker]

The geek in me is imagining a balance beam. Put two good rounds on either side and adjust the fulcrum so the "test round" just barely pushes the beam down. Anything lighter, wouldn't. A stop block would make placement exact -even a pair of ammo box inserts. You could measure several at a time?!


It's early and I'm already overthinking things...

"You just keep thinking Butch, that's what you're good at"... lol

 

[Jmorrismetal]

I have had duds, squibs and hang fires with factory ammunition in the past. Age and improper storage seem to be a common theme.

A good rule of thumb is where there is one, others will follow. Cease to use ammunition from the batch/source and your problems should go too.

 

[todbiker]

3rd squib

My 1/4" brass rod got used again today. Shot 100 rds with one squib. I got 500-1000 rds of this stuff to go, bought 3 or 4 500 rd boxes on sale.

 

[AlanInSilverSpring]

Isn't this an extremely rare occurrence with factory ammo ?

And, as someone else said, if it appears you got a bad batch, wouldn't you be better off not shooting any more from it ?
Or is it obvious when it happens, like bang isn't what it should be, so you just deal with it ?

 

[todbiker]

Isn't this an extremely rare occurrence with factory ammo ?

And, as someone else said, if it appears you got a bad batch, wouldn't you be better off not shooting any more from it ?
Or is it obvious when it happens, like bang isn't what it should be, so you just deal with it ?

In my experience, there's no real bang, it just makes a fizzle sound and no recoil. It's much more dangerous with a revolver because you could pull the trigger again and blow up the barrel sending another round into the stuck one. You would have to cycle the slide and ignore the no bang/no recoil to duplicate that with a semi-auto pistol.

I'm not throwing away practice ammo, just keep the brass rod in my range bag and deal with it.

I will reconsider buying more Wolf Polyformance pistol ammo in the future. It's really dirty and this is the first time in 25 years of shooting I've had any squibs.

 

[AlanInSilverSpring]

thx

 

[Minuteman]

Me personally, none. Only one I can ever remember anyone else having in my presence. Was a guy next to me in a competition at BRGC, he was shooting a .45, and I think they were reloads. I wasn't paying attention to him, till I noticed he was struggling with his 1911. Thankfully the squib was close enough in the chamber that he couldn't seat another cartridge, or I'm sure he would have fired it and didn't realize what had happened.

I created a thread sometime ago about squibs, this is a good reminder, thanks OP!

If it doesn't go bang, stop and see what's gone wrong, you likely have a bullet stuck in the barrel. Very, very rare thing, but does happen and can be catastrophic.

 

[Chasbo00]

I had a squib while shooting a steel match about four years ago. I was shooting factory ammo - American Eagle 9mm 147 grain FMJ that was purchased about two years prior. Apparently, this round never received a powder charge during its manufacture. It took a fair amount of force to knock the bullet out of the barrel with a short, fat brass rod (nearly 9mm in diameter).

Here is a video (not my squib) that shows what my squib looked like from my perspective. Note the smoke coming out of the breach area as well as the mild report.

 

[Minuteman]

I had a squib while shooting a steel match about four years ago. I was shooting factory ammo - American Eagle 9mm 147 grain FMJ that was purchased about two years prior. Apparently, this round never received a powder charge during its manufacture. It took a fair amount of force to knock the bullet out of the barrel with a short, fat brass rod (nearly 9mm in diameter).

Here is a video (not my squib) that shows what my squib looked like from my perspective. Note the smoke coming out of the breach area as well as the mild report.

Great video and explanation, thx for posting.

A Koran war vet told us in a class to always carry a solid metal rod to clear any obstructions from a barrel. He related that a hollow cleaning rod was usually insufficient and a major obstruction (like a lodged bullet) would likely damage the cleaning rod. I occasionally carry a long screwdriver in my range bag, my thought is it's a useful tool that would probably work for pistols on a pinch. Rifle barrel, I have no plan but to pack it up and call it a day.

 

[DanGuy48]

Isn't this an extremely rare occurrence with factory ammo ?

And, as someone else said, if it appears you got a bad batch, wouldn't you be better off not shooting any more from it ?
Or is it obvious when it happens, like bang isn't what it should be, so you just deal with it ?

I've seen it with factory ammo a number of times but it was all OLD factory ammo.