A customer blew his gun up. He thinks he had a squib load and the bullet lodged in the barrel a short way from the chamber. If it doesn't sound right, check the barrel! He was lucky, the next guy might not be

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Impressive.... very impressive!

What is a squib load?

A squib load is one where the powder doesn't ignite properly (or there isn't enough of it) The bullet then does not have enough force behind it to exit the barrel, and thus becomes stuck. Usually just a few inches from the chamber. You can tel la squib load by the sound they make. it is usually a pop or a much quieter report. Then of course, if you try to shoot it again, you either blow the barrel or blow the gun itself up. That is why if it doens't sound right, you ALWAYS check the barrel.

Thanks! Does that happen more with reloads or from over the counter ammo as well?

Mostly reloads. especially in progressive reloaders. If you are cranking out lots of rounds and the powder bottle gets low, it can throw a light charge, or if you start to screw around with the recipes you can get sqiibs. Another cause of squibs are if you mishandle the primers and get them dirty or contaminated. there are other reasons, but this is one reason why you need to periodically check your powder charges with a good scale.

I see alot of squibs in shotshell reloading,especially in .410 and 28 gauge. The pressures in those rounds are so high that a hull used 5 or times can separate and the wad gets stuck in the barrel. If it doens't sound right, something probably is wrong.

Thank you!

My Pleasure!

Seen something like that happen at the gun range once only that was a 44 mag pistol blew the side of the cillinder off lucky no one was on that side or might have been a real tradgede

I didn't see it but I heard about this: Some guy wen to the range with a brand new Uberti Colt Navy. You know, the cap and ball revolver. Apparently, he didn't understand what the term "black powder only" meant and apparently used smokeless powder. I guess the first shot was really loud and made a big bang. He cocked and fired the second round and BOOM! Instant disintegration. from what I was told by somebody that was there, the only thing left was the frame and the grips. That's it. no cylinder, no barrel, no action. Noone was near the guy when it went off which was a good thing since that could have been ugly.

Some people give the rest of us a bad name.

ya, thats the exact reason i never got into reloading, scares me i may mess up the round and blow me, my dad, or other hunting buddies away. thats somthing you dont want on your conscience

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Reloading is pretty safe mostly. Follow the recipes and use a single stage or turret press. That way you need to meter your powder charges by hand. That will insure a good powder charge. Progressives work wel, but some people won't check their powder throws often enough. What can happen is that the dispenser will lose its setting and start to throw faulty charges.

I use a turret press and a digitial scale and dispenser for that reason.

what caliber is that rifle.

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