Squib loads

[rahulbdelhi]

Squib loads can be dangerous. Please watch this short video:

[timmy]

Good idea! A blocked barrel due to a squib load is a recipe for disaster if one shoots again.

Getting mud in a rifle or shotgun barrel by negligent handling or accident is also a way that this can happen.

[ckkalyan]

Firearms sure are fun however, the user must be constantly watchful, attentive, and aware!

Firearms are not toys - that's why there are NO accidental discharges ONLY negligent discharges!

I mean, it is just the way of saying it - many people may disagree with the sentence - but it is easy to remember and be ever vigilant around firearms.

Enjoy Safe Shooting and the smell of Gunsmoke!!

[AgentDoubleS]

Good idea! A blocked barrel due to a squib load is a recipe for disaster if one shoots again.

Getting mud in a rifle or shotgun barrel by negligent handling or accident is also a way that this can happen.

I’ve seen a few of these unfortunate events on the range. In one lucky escape, in the middle of a competition, we saw a bullet half protruding from the barrel. Thought it was a last round in the revolver and the guy got lucky since there was no external damage to the barrel. Closer inspection revealed that it was the first round in the cylinder that was the squib and the young man had pulled the trigger and fired another 5 rounds into the barrel. Thankfully it was a custom Wilson revolver with a heavy barrel and some very light handloads (2.3gr Bullseye).. as a range officer I now load some squibs and make new starters shoot them in controlled circumstances so they know what to be on the lookout for.

[ckkalyan]

Closer inspection revealed that it was the first round in the cylinder that was the squib and the young man had pulled the trigger and fired another 5 rounds into the barrel. Thankfully it was a custom Wilson revolver with a heavy barrel and some very light handloads (2.3gr Bullseye).. as a range officer I now load some squibs and make new starters shoot them in controlled circumstances so they know what to be on the lookout for.

What a lucky break for the young man!

Thank you for sharing such true-life incidents AgentDoubleS. Very powerful motivation indeed, to be always aware and focussed.

[Woods]

A note - IOF handgun ammo particularly of .32ACP sometimes results in squib losds . Some cartridges thst come with unknown black liquid paint type stains have been seen giving squibs .

[Vineet]

Squib loads can be dangerous. Please watch this short video:

Being a gun shop owner I have seen many .32 handguns ( both Indian and imported) with barrel bulge. Most of the time the barrel bulges or sometimes the barrel cracks. But the handguns doesn’t blow apart as shown in the video here.

[timmy]

When the barrel is plugged, pressures can rise very high, even beyond the strength of a gun's steel.

But often missing in these videos (even in such videos as the one we had a while ago, where the 50 BMG rifle blew up catastrophically) are details about failures.

This article http://guns.connect.fi/gow//nitro.html discusses the different ways gun powder can react and is a good article to review. As is pointed out, "detonation" can be an extremely destructive force.

[thesinfulsaint]

When I was young and used to frequent shooting range with Dad. While his boys were practicing various drills. One sterling had a squib. The Sargent in-charge directed the soldier to pull the gun away at arms length and fire another shot to clear the squib. Years later I still wonder about why they use this method. Who cares about the gun but what about the hand?


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[rahulbdelhi]

Yes that's a rather weird, if not dangerous way to clear a squib load. Long back ago in a training, the trainer said that if you ever encounter a squib then cease firing immediately, unload and inspect the weapon.

He had also narrated an incident where he had seen a revolver blow up as a result of a hang-fire. When the guy shooting heard a click and the gun didn't fire, he pulled the trigger immediately to fire the next round. While the cylinder was rotating, half-way the 1st round got discharged. Thankfully the guy or anyone else in the range wasn't injured.

If you ever have a misfire, its best to keep the gun pointed down-range for a few seconds before trying to do anything with it.