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  • Heinz Bar

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    Jun 12, 2013
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    On my first string in an IDPA Classifier today I had a squib. Pulled the trigger and All I heard was a click while wearing my Pro Gold Ears. I tried to clear the malfunction but it wouldn't chamber another round. Thought it was the ammo so I switched. Same thing with factory. Finished the match with a borrowed gun.

    Between stages one guy says it's got to be a squib and sure enough there was a bullet in the barrel. I never got another round chambered and thus never fired into the obstructed barrel (luckily!). I've since done a complete take down and cleaning and could see no damage with magnifiers and a bore light. The chamber and feed ramp look ok too. My question is since no round was fired after the squib, I should be good to go with the weapon, correct? Should I have is examined by a gunsmith?

    I was pretty lucky that the round didn't go far enough to allow another to chamber. Important life lesson. I forgot my SPORTS training from 30 years ago.
    Target Sports
     

    RetArmySgt

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    You should be good since it was just a simple squib with no follow up shot. Just be a little more careful when loading your ammo and remember it it goes pop but doesnt recoil to take a min and check before firing again.
     

    Heinz Bar

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    That's the thing about electronic ears. You don't hear the pop just a click. The electronics blocks the primer strike like a real round since it just loud enough. The SO didn't hear it either. Sounded just like a misfire. From now on I will do a complete SPORTS check though Sgt! Just don't hit me on the helmet with a charging rod like my Drill Sergeant did!
     

    RetArmySgt

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    That's the thing about electronic ears. You don't hear the pop just a click. The electronics blocks the primer strike like a real round since it just loud enough. The SO didn't hear it either. Sounded just like a misfire. From now on I will do a complete SPORTS check though Sgt! Just don't hit me on the helmet with a charging rod like my Drill Sergeant did!

    I dont use clearing rods, I carried an extra K-Pot.

    You ever hear two turtles F***ing, Private?
     

    Younggun

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    Now I'm tempted to load a squib just to check the difference with electronic ear pro. Don't see how it could me any different than using regular muffs though since the NRR rating is pretty much the same.

    Also, if you hear a click and the casing you remove no longer has a bullet, you probably have a problem, lol.


    Really, I examine all my misfire/FTF casings to determine the cause. Mostly check for a solid primer strike.
     

    45tex

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    How would you know how to replicate the light load. I've experienced a couple of squibs and they left the bullet in different points in the barrel.

    profound thinking about stuff
     

    RetArmySgt

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    How would you know how to replicate the light load. I've experienced a couple of squibs and they left the bullet in different points in the barrel.

    profound thinking about stuff

    No powder or just a grain or so. He just wants to see if he can hear a difference with the electronic muffs.
     

    rushthezeppelin

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    How would you know how to replicate the light load. I've experienced a couple of squibs and they left the bullet in different points in the barrel.

    profound thinking about stuff

    Load up a round with primer only no powder(of course this only works if you have reloading equipment). This was one of the first things I did when I started reloading for my 9mm just so I knew what it sounded like. Thankfully this has been the only squib I have ever managed to load. Also a handy way to slug your bore if doing this with a lead round.
     

    M. Sage

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    Now I'm tempted to load a squib just to check the difference with electronic ear pro. Don't see how it could me any different than using regular muffs though since the NRR rating is pretty much the same.

    Also, if you hear a click and the casing you remove no longer has a bullet, you probably have a problem, lol.


    Really, I examine all my misfire/FTF casings to determine the cause. Mostly check for a solid primer strike.

    The squib should make a snap instead click. They're a lot easier to spot in revolvers, though.
     

    Heinz Bar

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    I didn't see the ejected case because it was in a competition and was trying to clear the malfunction quickly. Like I said, lesson learned, I'll follow SPORTS to the letter from now on.
     

    Younggun

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    The squib should make a snap instead click. They're a lot easier to spot in revolvers, though.

    I've had a couple, happened when I first set up my reloading equipment and didn't have the powder measure quite right.

    It was a vinous to me that something "different" happened and I figure it out pretty quick. I don't believe it was the electronic muffs that made the difference for the OP as much as the competition distracting him from the tell tale signs.

    But in an effort to know for sure I figured I'd test it.
     

    Andy

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    Sep 13, 2013
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    My question is since no round was fired after the squib, I should be good to go with the weapon, correct? Should I have is examined by a gunsmith?

    I was pretty lucky that the round didn't go far enough to allow another to chamber. Important life lesson.
    The pistol should be fine - as you noted, it's not so much the squib itself as the following round. I wouldn't bother with a gunsmith, but would absolutely rethink my reloading practices - you gotta visually check for powder before you place a bullet on top (I have an RCBS Lockout die plus an LED strip to help me visually check the contents of the case as I'm reaching forward with a bullet).

    And yes, you're lucky indeed - I was an RO on a range in South Africa where one shooter had a "pop" during a IPSC-shoot - and he performed a "tack-rack" drill so fast that we couldn't open our mouths fast enough to scream "STOP" before the kaboom itself happened.
     
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    Heinz Bar

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    Wasn't my reloads. I don't reload yet. These were commercial remanufactured rounds. And Young, you could be right, I've never had a squib before so I might not have recognized the sound and I did a quick immediate action drill because of the timer.

    One shooter said "did you hear a pop" as I was racking and trying to feed the next round. It didn't register with me and I did see the case eject. I failed to do the full OBSERVE step of SPORTS. He's the one who suggested the electronic ears may not register the squib sound. I'd be interested in your test.
     
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    Bozz10mm

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    If someone else had fired a round at the same moment you pulled the trigger, that could have possibly activated the electronic muffs and would have blocked the sound of your squib also.
     

    shortround

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    Had was I thought was a "squib." Little or no recoil, slide on the 1911 did not cycle. Dropped the magazine, locked the slide back, and an empty case popped out. My shooting buddy laughed loudly: Said he saw the bullet hit the ground about 15 feet away. Sure enough, we recovered the 230 FMJ bullet. That was the first round of a magazine loaded out of a box of PMC ammo. I condemned the ammo, pulled all the bullets, punched the primers, and had 49 bullets and 50 cases ready for reloading.

    Where will I find that 50th bullet? And 50 large pistol primers?
     

    Spcwolf

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    Apr 16, 2013
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    I had a squib with a 357 magnum once. The bullet didn't make it much past the forcing cone, the lead bonded itself to the cone. It was really dirty and took a lot of scrubbing to get it all out of the barrel once I got it home.
    The range officer nocked the round out with a rod and I just took the gun home.
     
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