stuck bullet

[ryan42]

I was shooting today and got a reloaded bullet stuck in the center of my barrel it was a pain in the butt to get out.The only thing I can think of is maybe I didnt get powder in one and the primer pushed the bullet down in the barrel not having enough umph to push it out.Has anyone ever done this?

[cpttango30]

Push it out with a rod from the breach.

[76Highboy]

That is called a squib, and that is most likely what happened. My father taught me to do the powder in the same step. When I use my single stage press, I have one loading block with 50 empty pieces of brass ready to be filled on the left side on my hopper, and another block that is empty on the right side of the hopper. Then, as I powder each round, I put it into the empty block on the other side of the hopper. Once they are all filled, they get the once over flashlight check over looking for no charge, or a double charge. Once I confirm that, I continue on. Some think I am too cautious, but it works for me. Hope that helps.

[JohnRich]

Originally Posted by ryan42

I was shooting today and got a reloaded bullet stuck in the center of my barrel...

Just be REAL careful not to have something odd like that happen, and then go ahead and shoot another round behind it. That would blow up the barrel, and possibly blow your face off. You always want to be extra cautious if something doesn't sound right when you pull the trigger, and stop and check everything before shooting again. Good on you for not making this minor inconvenience into something disastrous.

[rcairflr]

Originally Posted by ryan42

I was shooting today and got a reloaded bullet stuck in the center of my barrel it was a pain in the butt to get out.The only thing I can think of is maybe I didnt get powder in one and the primer pushed the bullet down in the barrel not having enough umph to push it out.Has anyone ever done this?

I weigh every round I reload on my digital scale. This is my final quality check and should avoid this ever happeing. It only takes a few minutes to do this.

[LDBennett]

What I have had happen is the flash hole get blocked by a clump of liquid polish and corn cob media used in the tumbler cleaning process. The bullet went about halfway down the barrel and stopped. My teenage son (this was over 20 years ago) was smart enough to stop and come and get me. If he had shot another round who knows what might have happened.

Weighing each round will only be a measure (yes/no) if there is any powder in the reloaded cases. Because of the case weight differences (especially between different brands of brass) you can not really determine the exact weight of the charge. But I have used that technique and it most certainly tells you if there is powder in the case. Shaking the case close to your ear you can feel and/or hear the powder moving in the case verses no powder at all unless the load is a compressed load (I have no compressed loads in any of my 30+ different cartridges that I reload for).

LDBennett

[carver]

I use the loading block, and the primed brass as a guage. Once the brass has been sized, belled, the next step is primers. As I prime the brass it goes into the loading block primer up, all unprimed brass is primer hole down. Once every case in the loading block is primed I'm looking at all 50 primers up. As I add powder the cases are set back into the loading block. When all 50 cases have powder I just look into them, as I have a light mounted right over the table. Once I have double checked the brass for powder, I start adding bullets. I can walk away from my reloading bench at any time, come back at any time, and pick up right where I left off. I have made one load with no powder, that was back in 1982, or 83. This system works for me, and I have taught it to others also.

[76Highboy]

Originally Posted by carver

I use the loading block, and the primed brass as a guage. Once the brass has been sized, belled, the next step is primers. As I prime the brass it goes into the loading block primer up, all unprimed brass is primer hole down. Once every case in the loading block is primed I'm looking at all 50 primers up. As I add powder the cases are set back into the loading block. When all 50 cases have powder I just look into them, as I have a light mounted right over the table. Once I have double checked the brass for powder, I start adding bullets. I can walk away from my reloading bench at any time, come back at any time, and pick up right where I left off. I have made one load with no powder, that was back in 1982, or 83. This system works for me, and I have taught it to others also.

That is also a great way to ensure a squib or a double charge.

[carver]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

That is also a great way to ensure a squib or a double charge.

How do you figure that? If the case is primer up, there is no powder in it. If it is up there is powder in it. A visual inspection with the light will reveal the powder lever in each, and every case.

[LDBennett]

My experience on a single stage press is limited to 50BMG but here is my take on how to not squib or double load:

I get the cases all cleaned, sized and primed in a bulk way. Then I take one case at a time, weight the powder in the digital scale pan (I add one LEE scoop at a time to get it up to 220 grains), then add the scale pan of powder via a funnel to the case. I immediately take the case already in hand and seat a bullet in it. There is absolutely minimum chance of an error. It works for me.

I never did like the idea of loading blocks as they leave the possibility of a reloading error and in fact I don't own any. But of course I have a progressive Dillon for all my other cartridge's reloading.

But we all get to choose, good or bad, when it comes to reloading. I always choose for safe reloading.

LDBennett

[murphy's law]

I had a squib once..... it taught me to be more careful when loading and avoid distractions. I now (on my 550B) peek into every case as it goes by station #2 and before placing a bullet on top in station #3. You know the old saying, you "can't" be too careful.

[myfriendis410]

We had a guy stick five bullets in his 686 last week before he realized something was wrong. Unfortunately he bulged his barrel and now has it off to Smith and Wesson for a new one. His problem was that he loaded the wrong powder charge--1.5 gr. of Bullseye in a .38 Special case and that simply wasn't enough oomph to clear the muzzle. Oops.

[312shooter]

Originally Posted by ryan42

I was shooting today and got a reloaded bullet stuck in the center of my barrel it was a pain in the butt to get out.The only thing I can think of is maybe I didnt get powder in one and the primer pushed the bullet down in the barrel not having enough umph to push it out.Has anyone ever done this?

Are you loading Progressive???

We had a guy stick five bullets in his 686 last week before he realized something was wrong. Unfortunately he bulged his barrel and now has it off to Smith and Wesson for a new one. His problem was that he loaded the wrong powder charge--1.5 gr. of Bullseye in a .38 Special case and that simply wasn't enough oomph to clear the muzzle. Oops.

Wow, obviously this guy needs to become a TFF member and experience a little reloader hazing from the members here before he does something that foolish again!!!!

[gdmoody]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

That is also a great way to ensure a squib or a double charge.

I don't understand that statement either. How is what carver is doing going to cause a squib or a double charge?? I do the exact thing when I am reloading except I use a small flashlight to look into the cases.

I had several squibs once when I started using a LEE progressive press. Never before that time and never since I got rid of that press. That is the only piece of Lee equipment that I will not recommend.

[Dirtypacman]

I have reloaded for 5 years or so now. I have officially had 2 squib loads. Both 9mm both in the same gun. I am very good about checking everything but obviously not perfect, something I need to correct if I don't want to hurt myself or someone. I tend to not let others shoot my reloads for this exact reason. I need to pick up a rod to push them out when it happens - having to leave a range to get it out sucks!!!

[ryan42]

You all make good sense to me.Ive only been reloading since christmas but I new enough not to shoot another one,that wouldnt be pretty,I usually do 50 at a time.I usually do all 50 step by step before I move on but for some reason I changed process and I wont do that again.Thanks guys

[Clipper]

I endured a squib of sorts on my Metro Commander. The first bullet must have lodged just near the muzzle and the second managed to push that one out but it bulged the end of the barrel so badly that I could not remove the barrel bushing. My gunsmith pal and I put a long punch in the muzzle and had to hammer so hard that we broke the barrel bushing. I replaced the barrel and bushing, and now things are back to normal. Metro was very helpful with the remedy, and sent me a stainless bushing gratis. I lapped the bushing, got it sized properly, and the gun is more accurate than before.

Needless to say, I don't do any rapid fire at all! Yes, I was very fortunate that things were not worse.

[JohnRich]

Originally Posted by LDBennett

What I have had happen is the flash hole get blocked by a clump of liquid polish and corn cob media used in the tumbler cleaning process.

I have a step in my reloading process at that stage where my brass is coming out of the tumbler and ready to be loaded. During a couple of hours of vibrating, the "right" size kernal often finds it's way into that flash hole and lodges there. I pick up a fistfull of cases, and examine all the heads of the cases for kernals in the flash holes. I then use a dental pick to poke out the kernals. I get probably 10% to 20% of my cases where this happens. I consider it an essential step in my process, and it doesn't take but a couple of minutes for 100 rounds.

Originally Posted by LDBennett

Weighing each round will only be a measure (yes/no) if there is any powder in the reloaded cases. Because of the case weight differences (especially between different brands of brass) you can not really determine the exact weight of the charge. But I have used that technique and it most certainly tells you if there is powder in the case.

Right. But you can come up with a weight range that takes into account the variations in case and bullet weights. For example, my completed .308 rounds might range from 398 to 402 grains. So if I have a round that falls outside the range by a significant amount, then it's cause for further investigation, as it might have too little or too much powder.

And if you segregate your brass into groups by weight before loading, it keeps that weight range tight when you're checking the completed rounds. I might have a group of cases that weighs 183.0 to 183.9, another group that weighs 184.0 to 184.9, and so on. That keeps the brass weight variance down to just one grain.

So then if a case is short, say, 5 grains of powder, the final weight will be obviously off, because it will fall well outside the normal range.

[JohnRich]

Originally Posted by LDBennett

I get the cases all cleaned, sized and primed in a bulk way. Then I take one case at a time, weight the powder in the digital scale pan (I add one LEE scoop at a time to get it up to 220 grains), then add the scale pan of powder via a funnel to the case. I immediately take the case already in hand and seat a bullet in it. There is absolutely minimum chance of an error. It works for me.

Yep, that's a good technique, but it's really slooow. Having only one round at a time with powder in it, avoids any confusion or errors from inattention. I do that with my long range loads where I'm not loading a lot at one time.

I use loading blocks for more mass-produced rounds. But every once in a while I'll accidentally bump a loading block full of charged cases, and some powder spills out the top. And since you don't know which of those cases lost that powder, you have to dump the whole batch back in the powder dispenser and start all over again. And then you've lost even more time...

[JLA]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

That is called a squib, and that is most likely what happened. My father taught me to do the powder in the same step. When I use my single stage press, I have one loading block with 50 empty pieces of brass ready to be filled on the left side on my hopper, and another block that is empty on the right side of the hopper. Then, as I powder each round, I put it into the empty block on the other side of the hopper. Once they are all filled, they get the once over flashlight check over looking for no charge, or a double charge. Once I confirm that, I continue on. Some think I am too cautious, but it works for me. Hope that helps.

Originally Posted by carver

I use the loading block, and the primed brass as a guage. Once the brass has been sized, belled, the next step is primers. As I prime the brass it goes into the loading block primer up, all unprimed brass is primer hole down. Once every case in the loading block is primed I'm looking at all 50 primers up. As I add powder the cases are set back into the loading block. When all 50 cases have powder I just look into them, as I have a light mounted right over the table. Once I have double checked the brass for powder, I start adding bullets. I can walk away from my reloading bench at any time, come back at any time, and pick up right where I left off. I have made one load with no powder, that was back in 1982, or 83. This system works for me, and I have taught it to others also.

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

That is also a great way to ensure a squib or a double charge.

Originally Posted by carver

How do you figure that? If the case is primer up, there is no powder in it. If it is up there is powder in it. A visual inspection with the light will reveal the powder lever in each, and every case.

Guys, youre both doing slightly different variations of the exact same thing..

Mirrors my methods as well, cept I dump all my brass in a box, and place them in another box as i prime them, then when i charge, i pull a primed case from the box and chack the primers presence on the way to the powder measure. and then the charged case gets placed in the loading block for flashlight verification before seating bullets. I have NEVER had a squib or a doubel charge.

[ryan42]

hope thats my last.

[carver]

Originally Posted by Dirtypacman

I have reloaded for 5 years or so now. I have officially had 2 squib loads. Both 9mm both in the same gun. I am very good about checking everything but obviously not perfect, something I need to correct if I don't want to hurt myself or someone. I tend to not let others shoot my reloads for this exact reason. I need to pick up a rod to push them out when it happens - having to leave a range to get it out sucks!!!

I've only had one squib load, .44 Mag, and I just cut a stick form a near by tree, and pushed it out with that. Metal is too hard, and might damage the crown on your barrel, wood is soft, and won't harm that crown.

[todd51]

Never a squib or double charge in thirty years until last month. I have always used the primer up/primer down, like Carver, one case at a time under the powder measure and weighing every tenth round. Well I saw a add with Larry Potterfield reloading some rounds using the loading block with several rounds primer down and holding the whole thing under the powder measure and going down the line putting in powder. Hmmm, that looks like it would be faster. So I loaded some .45acp that way and then placed the bullets on top and seated them. I FORGOT to do the visual check. So next time at the range Murphy and his law and my carelessness added up and when firing the first mag. Pfffst -- a squib and a bullet stuck. Poked it out and fired again, Pfffst -- another squib. I stopped and when back home pulled those bullets. There were three more without powder totally five, I had missed one row in the loading block. Now if I had done the visual check as I should have I would have caught it but it just goes to show how things can so easily go bad. I am back to the old one case at a time with primer up/primer down and hopefully it will be thirty more years with out a problem.

[JLA]

I have removed squibs with blanks. Those pesky little .22 cal colibri rounds that aguila makes for example. sometimes they wont shoot clear of a rifle barrel. when someone brings me one to get out I just use a .22 cal nailgun blank and shoot it into the dirt. Mainly because I dont want to risk damage to the bore using anything to 'drive' the bullet out.. Now, multiple squibs.. Different story. Id prolly just scrap the barrel and install a new one.

[myfriendis410]

Well, I'd go insane loading from a single stage after running two Dillons for 20 years. If you follow good visual inspection techniques you can load 500 rph with one. Never had a squib load.

Many years ago I read about Brian Enos's practice regime and he hired three high school kids to run three Dillon presses every afternoon, which he shot off the next day in practice. He shot enough that he wore out two or three 1911's a year. Never heard of a problem.

If you aren't meticulous Mr. Murphy will bite you where the sun don't shine, that's for sure!