squib load - The Firearms Forum

carver · 06-18-2012, 07:23 AM

For the second time in 35 years of reloading I built another one the other day. I had loaded up 50 rds, 1 tray, of .44spl. Ran out of boxes for this load, so I dumped them into a freezer bag. A couple of days later I sat down to load up some .357 mag, and as I was preparing to load I started to zero my scale, and there was powder in the tray! I looked at where the scale was set, and realized that I had obviously not dumped the powder into the last of the .44spls. I grabbed a sharpie and marked the bag of .44's as 1 squib load in bag. Sure enough a few days later I was out shooting the .44, and the fith shot went poop! Pushed the bullet back out of the barrel, and continued on. I just hate it when I do stuff like this, but I caught it, and was prepared for it. With the bag marked I knew there was no way I was going to load any of those bullets for SD.

Alpo · 06-18-2012, 08:15 AM

With only 50 rounds, I would have weighed the rounds. Six or seven grain difference in weight would have been a BIG heads-up, to me.

soundguy · 06-18-2012, 08:38 AM

maybee even a shake test...

Alpo · 06-18-2012, 09:44 AM

Two problems with the shake test. If the powder charge is high enough, there is not enough room in the case for the powder to rattle around, so you can't hear it.

Other problem would be old farts like me that shot too often with no ear protection and listened to too much WAY TOO DAMN LOUD rock and roll, can't hear the powder rattle anyway.

soundguy · 06-18-2012, 10:09 AM

yep, if a compressed charge.. no rattle.

as for the R&R my hearing's still somewhere between bat and dog

just gotta be safe around PA gear..

osha says 96db for 4 hours..

06-18-2012, 07:23 AM	#1
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,238	squib load For the second time in 35 years of reloading I built another one the other day. I had loaded up 50 rds, 1 tray, of .44spl. Ran out of boxes for this load, so I dumped them into a freezer bag. A couple of days later I sat down to load up some .357 mag, and as I was preparing to load I started to zero my scale, and there was powder in the tray! I looked at where the scale was set, and realized that I had obviously not dumped the powder into the last of the .44spls. I grabbed a sharpie and marked the bag of .44's as 1 squib load in bag. Sure enough a few days later I was out shooting the .44, and the fith shot went poop! Pushed the bullet back out of the barrel, and continued on. I just hate it when I do stuff like this, but I caught it, and was prepared for it. With the bag marked I knew there was no way I was going to load any of those bullets for SD. __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old. -->

06-18-2012, 08:15 AM	#2
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: squib load With only 50 rounds, I would have weighed the rounds. Six or seven grain difference in weight would have been a BIG heads-up, to me. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

06-18-2012, 08:38 AM	#3
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,414	Re: squib load maybee even a shake test...

06-18-2012, 09:44 AM	#4
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: squib load Two problems with the shake test. If the powder charge is high enough, there is not enough room in the case for the powder to rattle around, so you can't hear it. Other problem would be old farts like me that shot too often with no ear protection and listened to too much WAY TOO DAMN LOUD rock and roll, can't hear the powder rattle anyway. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

06-18-2012, 10:09 AM	#5
soundguy Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: florida Contributor Posts: 4,414	Re: squib load yep, if a compressed charge.. no rattle. as for the R&R my hearing's still somewhere between bat and dog just gotta be safe around PA gear.. osha says 96db for 4 hours..