Another Squib round

Neutron · Jul 6, 2019

I don't know what bothers me more, forgetting the powder charge while reloading, or not noticing the failure of the round when I pulled the trigger. Luckily the bullet didn't get far enough into the barrel to allow me to chamber another round. I remember ejecting an empty shell and thinking it was from a previous shot that I had not ejected yet. I think I had checked my target through a spotting scope between shots and when I resumed shooting I must have had the squib and not noticed it. When I cycled the bolt an empty shell popped out but the new round wouldn't go in all the way. I guess I'll go back and weigh all my reloads to see if I can find any more light rounds.

Postell · Jul 6, 2019

I assume you are using a progressive press, I would suggest that you order one of the lights that mount inside of the press and slow down and spend more time looking.

Moorvogi · Jul 7, 2019

Also check that your using the correct powder bar! I reloaded about 80 rounds of 300blk. Got a squib. Went back and pulled them. Tried to figure out why and it’s because I had the large bar instead of small.

Large choked down was inconsistent. I went to small bar and it’s been a dream ever since.

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Seabee · Jul 8, 2019

I don't have a progressive press,no need for it. I look in every case for powder before seating bullets as a habit. Haven't had a squib in 45 years from lack of powder but did have a failure to ignite powder with a 454C. Western powders never did figure it out, nor did I. Double check everything, it just basic reloading safety. Shrapnel in ones face is a good teacher if one survives. Glad you weren't hurt, very lucky

ironpony · Jul 8, 2019

Funny how when one reloads they will have the uncanny knack of noticing a squib load in a fraction of a second, well most will

Good Luck Neutron.

Neutron · Jul 8, 2019

ironpony said:
Funny how when one reloads they will have the uncanny knack of noticing a squib load in a fraction of a second, well most will
Good Luck Neutron.

I think shooting at a crowded range with lots of gunfire from both sides distracts from noticing something like a squib too. I will have to pay more attention to every pull of the trigger.

Muleskinner · Jul 8, 2019

I have a personal rule where I stop after 100 rounds and do something else for a bit. In my case I stop to recenter my attention since I'm fairly easily distracted. I started doing so after reloading nearly 500 rounds of .45 ACP with the wrong powder and had to pull them all apart. I typically load 1000-5000 rounds of a single caliber at a time. It takes me longer to finish a batch but haven't had a squib or pull a bullet since I made the rule.

Major03 · Jul 10, 2019

Reloading, while essentially a pretty simple process, should be approached with caution and a "healthy" sense of paranoia in my opinion. I do my reloading in stages on a single stage press. Powdering is done in batches of 50, and visually verified while the cases are in the reloading blocks before moving onto the seating stage.

Slow...sure...but safe. I like being alive

teratos · Jul 10, 2019

I'm a little OCD, so do everything in a specific order. On a progressive it should be relatively easy, if you didn't seat a bullet then you didn't charge the previous case. Just have to pay attention when getting started.

erwos · Jul 10, 2019

I forgot some primers one time. Oops! Had to pull bullets from like 30 rifle rounds with a kinetic bullet puller. Wasn't the end of the world, but it was annoying. Good news was, they all had powder in them!

It was a good time at the range... "why didn't this round go off?" "OHHHHH"

Pinecone · Jul 10, 2019

Major03 said:
Reloading, while essentially a pretty simple process, should be approached with caution and a "healthy" sense of paranoia in my opinion. I do my reloading in stages on a single stage press. Powdering is done in batches of 50, and visually verified while the cases are in the reloading blocks before moving onto the seating stage.

Slow...sure...but safe. I like being alive

If you want to be sure, why would you charge a bunch of cases at a time?????

I size and prime. Then when I charge and seat bullet, I pick up A case. Add powder, seat bullet, put THE round in bin or box. Repeat. ONE at a time

NO chance of missing a case.

K-43 · Jul 10, 2019

Pinecone said:
If you want to be sure, why would you charge a bunch of cases at a time?????

I size and prime. Then when I charge and seat bullet, I pick up A case. Add powder, seat bullet, put THE round in bin or box. Repeat. ONE at a time

NO chance of missing a case.

Pinecone,
I do the the loading block full thing for a double-check when using a Uniflow dispenser. You can see if any case has more or less than the others before you start seating bullets. If you have a light overhead or a penlight it's easy to see as they are all side by side, row on row.
Just another method. Never had a blooper with this method since the 1970's.
Using my Lyman dispenser which weighs each charge it measures out, I do as you do; one at a time.
Obviously this won't work on a progressive, where I check about every 10th case on the scale.

Major03 · Jul 10, 2019

Pinecone said:
If you want to be sure, why would you charge a bunch of cases at a time?????

I size and prime. Then when I charge and seat bullet, I pick up A case. Add powder, seat bullet, put THE round in bin or box. Repeat. ONE at a time

NO chance of missing a case.

yeah, you're not wrong...just what I do. I feel comfortable that visually inspecting the cases for powder in the block is a fail safe process for me.

I feel like I pick up a small amount of efficiency by batching them in 50's, but probably not much really.

Another Squib round

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