Squib load

[strut64]

I have been reloading since about 1973 or 50 years. Had a squib load with my 9mm pistol. First failure I ever had. Went to You Tube and entered squib load. Showed how to deal with it. Took about 15 minutes to correct . Lesson learned- look in the case before seating the bullet!

 

[K22]

The best way I know to avoid this potentially very bad problem is to turn all your pistol cases upside down in a load block. Then one by one charge them. After all are charged, do a visual check of all cases before seating bullets.

This fail-safe system has kept me from double charging or failing to charge a case for over 50 years.

 

[farmerjohn]

The best way I know to avoid this potentially very bad problem is to turn all your pistol cases upside down in a load block. Then one by one charge them. After all are charged, do a visual check of all cases before seating bullets.

This fail-safe system has kept me from double charging or failing to charge a case for over 50 years.

YES, YES YES, what he said!!! AND, if you are over 70, do the visual by row TWICE.... John

 

[Pawnee Bill]

There are those that have and those that will.........

 

[Flouncer]

With a turret or progressive press ?

 

[outasite`08]

YES, YES YES, what he said!!! AND, if you are over 70, do the visual by row TWICE.... John

Yogi Berra said that he double-checked something three times. Jeff

 

[markT]

Be glad its wasn't documents marked as classified you were working with..

 

[SEM]

YES, YES YES, what he said!!! AND, if you are over 70, do the visual by row TWICE.... John

I stand up so I can see the powder in every case PERIOD I use a small led flashlight, Some years ago one of my daughters was complaining at me while I was charging cases I almost did not catch it, I had passed up on two cases the RCBS charge master had miss thrown 2 charges so I dumped them and recharged the cases at 50 on the counter I figured I was done, For some nagging reason I looked and two shinny cases were glaring at me, NO distractions and always double check !!!

 

[divingin]

With a turret or progressive press ?

I use a Hornady AP with a case activated powder drop. While it's probably possible to miss charging a case, you'd have to work at it.

Much more common is missing the push to seat the primer when the ram comes down, resulting in an unprimed case - unintentional dry fire practice.

 

[K22]

YES, YES YES, what he said!!! AND, if you are over 70, do the visual by row TWICE.... John

If you're over 75, check three times.

 

[farmerjohn]

With a turret or progressive press ?

I shoot a lot of handgun ammo in both carbines and handguns, my serious stuff I load on a little Harrell's PPC press, 100 at a time, one step at a time, use my V3 for powder. For all the plinking and steel plate shooting I use a 750 Dillion or a 650, both have a powder check warning buzzer, I still worry about them. I watch the powder bar each pull of the handle. I would not use a manual progressive or a turret press for any loads that are easy to double charge, don't trust myself enough anymore. So far I've caught all of my screw ups over the last 60ys by paying attention and double checking everything but it's like @Pawnee Bill said, not if but when. It's not the squibs that worry me.... John

 

[divingin]

It's not the squibs that worry me.... John

While I understand what you're saying, I see many more issues (read: blown-up firearms) with squibs than with double charges. Not saying double charges aren't an issue, just that squibs are much more common.

 

[farmerjohn]

While I understand what you're saying, I see many more issues (read: blown-up firearms) with squibs than with double charges. Not saying double charges aren't an issue, just that squibs are much more common.

I don't shoot that fast. If I don't feel recoil I stop instantly, count to 30 with the barrel pointed in a safe direction and see what is going on. Guess I got used to doing it back in the 60s shooting bulls eye and later shooting skeet, just natural with me, YMMV John

 

[divingin]

I don't shoot that fast. If I don't feel recoil I stop instantly, count to 30 with the barrel pointed in a safe direction and see what is going on. Guess I got used to doing it back in the 60s shooting bulls eye and later shooting skeet, just natural with me, YMMV John

Gotcha. I don't either. Frequenting a public range, though, (and one that gets a lot of new shooters), I see a lot of stuff.

One thing I always tell less knowledgeable shooters is to pay attention to what comes out if a pistol goes click instead of bang. If it's an empty case, it's either poor ejection or a squib (the former, no big deal; the latter a much bigger deal if not caught.) If it's a complete cartridge with bullet, it's a misfire, and likely benign.

 

[Forum Boss]

The other suggestion is to use a powder that will overflow if there is a double charge. That happened to me once (in the early days) with a .45 ACP case. Luckily the powder overflowed alerting me to the problem before I seated the bullet.

For progressive presses I strongly recommend having a lock-out die in one station. This will halt the press if it detects an under-charge or over-charge. This system really works.

RCBS Lock-Out Die for Progressive Presses — Be Smart, Be Safe « Daily Bulletin

The RCBS Lock-Out Die can also be used with some Dillon and Hornady progressive presses. If you load pistol or rifle ammo with a progressive press, we strongly recommend you get a Lock-Out Die from RCBS.

bulletin.accurateshooter.com

 

[Flouncer]

Thanks for the replies regarding double charges or no charge loads. I just started with a turret press and pistol after 25 years with the same single stage. The entire operation with the turret does not instill confidence and I never felt at complete ease firing with the last 300 9x19 I made. I also noticed that in my haste to collect my brass at the range, I also picked up other's brass and had problems with that also, including mil-crimp and a couple of 380 auto. I dont think I am going to find a powder that will top a double charge out with 9x19 and 380 or especially 38 Spl. Throughout the process, I am invested in the Red brand and I dont see powder lock out die. It looks like the RCBS literature excludes the Lee setups. I purchased an inexpensive digital scale and found out that the variance in brass case weights exceeds the charge weights I am using, meaning that a scale cannot reliably detect an unload or a double load. Any additional suggestions besides toss the Lee and drop $1K on Dillon are welcomed.

 

[mfendley]

Thanks for the replies regarding double charges or no charge loads. I just started with a turret press and pistol after 25 years with the same single stage. The entire operation with the turret does not instill confidence and I never felt at complete ease firing with the last 300 9x19 I made. I also noticed that in my haste to collect my brass at the range, I also picked up other's brass and had problems with that also, including mil-crimp and a couple of 380 auto. I dont think I am going to find a powder that will top a double charge out with 9x19 and 380 or especially 38 Spl. Throughout the process, I am invested in the Red brand and I dont see powder lock out die. It looks like the RCBS literature excludes the Lee setups. I purchased an inexpensive digital scale and found out that the variance in brass case weights exceeds the charge weights I am using, meaning that a scale cannot reliably detect an unload or a double load. Any additional suggestions besides toss the Lee and drop $1K on Dillon are welcomed.

One possible solution:

 

[Eagle Six]

When I was loading pistol on a single stage I would charge each case in the loading block. When done I would use a small light and slowly scan each case in a row right, then the next row left until the last row, then reverse and slowly scan in reverse, similar to @K22. I would also throw a max charge, my selected charge, and minimum charge as samples and check the visual volume comparison, so I had a good idea to judge for proper charge volume.

When I was using the Dillon 650, even with the charge alarm, I would position a bench light and my eye so I could visually inspect the case before I placed the bullet. If there was ever any doubt I would pull that cartridge, put is aside and later pull the bullet, and reload it.

I never had an issue I didn't catch, but whenever I was rushed, or interrupted, I would take a short break, double check everything and then start again. As said @Pawnee Bill, I'm in the class of those that will and realize no one is immune. And, now that I'm upwards of 77, I'm following @K22 and going for the 3 time checks!!!

 

[K22]

When I was loading pistol on a single stage I would charge each case in the loading block. When done I would use a small light and slowly scan each case in a row right, then the next row left until the last row, then reverse and slowly scan in reverse, similar to @K22. I would also throw a max charge, my selected charge, and minimum charge as samples and check the visual volume comparison, so I had a good idea to judge for proper charge volume.

When I was using the Dillon 650, even with the charge alarm, I would position a bench light and my eye so I could visually inspect the case before I placed the bullet. If there was ever any doubt I would pull that cartridge, put is aside and later pull the bullet, and reload it.

I never had an issue I didn't catch, but whenever I was rushed, or interrupted, I would take a short break, double check everything and then start again. As said @Pawnee Bill, I'm in the class of those thatJ

When I was loading pistol on a single stage I would charge each case in the loading block. When done I would use a small light and slowly scan each case in a row right, then the next row left until the last row, then reverse and slowly scan in reverse, similar to @K22. I would also throw a max charge, my selected charge, and minimum charge as samples and check the visual volume comparison, so I had a good idea to judge for proper charge volume.

When I was using the Dillon 650, even with the charge alarm, I would position a bench light and my eye so I could visually inspect the case before I placed the bullet. If there was ever any doubt I would pull that cartridge, put is aside and later pull the bullet, and reload it.

I never had an issue I didn't catch, but whenever I was rushed, or interrupted, I would take a short break, double check everything and then start again. As said @Pawnee Bill, I'm in the class of those that will and realize no one is immune. And, now that I'm upwards of 77, I'm following @K22 and going for the 3 time checks!!!

Sometimes it pays to be a dinosaur with my 50-year-old RCBS Jr. single stage press.

 

[Eagle Six]

I've loaded more 44 Magnum's than I could even estimate on an RCBS Jr.