Experienced my first squib....need help!

[NATEWA]

Had my first squib about 6 months ago. PMC, .380 FMJ.

Luckily I heard and felt something different. Guy at the range got it out - not sure how. Fired 10-20 rounds afterwards with no problems.

Can you get the barrel out? If yes, put a wooden dowel in there and try to whack it out with a hammer, as suggested.

[Dago Red]

Can't remember the brand but was with a buddy shooting his 45/70 when he got a squib w factory ammo. Wasn't freedom munitions though.

Good to have a squib once to know what it sounds/feels like so you don't keep pulling the trigger

Red

[roostersgt]

Put gun/barrel on block of 2x4 and place wooden dowel through bore. Smack with another 2x4 piece until "squib" becomes unlodged. Not rocket science and you don't need a gunsmith, unless you fired a round after the squib, which would have caused a bulge in the barrel. Oh, and stop shooting reloads, or remanufactured ammo from your gun. You're worth real factory ammo!

[Urban Achiever]

The above advice. Just whack away at it. The bullet with come out and if you use a wooden dowel and block, no damage to your barrel.

[ElDub1950]

I'm pretty sure there's a 2 year backlog on man card applications. I heard its pushing wait times for reapplicants.

I heard it's because most can't figure out what to write in the 'Good Cause' letter and their wife won't tell them.

[ElDub1950]

Unless you've done this, a wooden down and a hammer will work.

[Baggs]

Was at chabot today w/ my S&W Shield. was shooting factory ammo and it caught me off guard. the round is stuck in there real good. the older gentleman with the mustache tried punching it out but no good. Now i need to take it to the gunsmith.

can anyone recommend a gunsmith that has dealt with squid loads stuck in their barrels? I am in the San Jose/Fremont area. any idea how much it could cost?

Any friends with a lathe?

[Urban Achiever]

I've seen that. It was a rental S&W 686 with a 4 inch barrel. The guy kept shooting it until it locked up the cylinder. Luckily he was shooting 38 specials.

[RustyIron]

Was at chabot today w/ my S&W Shield. was shooting factory ammo and it caught me off guard. the round is stuck in there real good. the older gentleman with the mustache tried punching it out but no good. Now i need to take it to the gunsmith.

can anyone recommend a gunsmith that has dealt with squid loads stuck in their barrels? I am in the San Jose/Fremont area. any idea how much it could cost?

A lot of disinformation here. Choose carefully whose advice you follow.

First of all, a squib won't create bulges in your barrel.

Next, you want to be VERY careful in beating the bullet out of the barrel. Use a wooden dowel. You'll risk squishing the bullet, making it even tighter in the barrel. If you use a punch or a small drift, you're virtually assured of deforming the bullet

Typically, removing the bullet from a squib is not a big deal. But your mustache buddy might have turned it into a big deal. If you brought it to me, I'd try knocking it out with a dowel. If that didn't work, I'd chuck it up in the lathe, then use either a right or left hand drill, whichever would tend to "unthread" the bullet from the rifling. After drilling or boring until there was only a little bit of bullet remaining, then I would tap it out with a hammer and dowel.

It won't be a lot of work for anyone with skills. If you have a friend with a lathe, bring him the barrel and a couple bottles of good wine.

[RustyIron]

Was at chabot today w/ my S&W Shield. was shooting factory ammo and it caught me off guard. the round is stuck in there real good. the older gentleman with the mustache tried punching it out but no good. Now i need to take it to the gunsmith.

can anyone recommend a gunsmith that has dealt with squid loads stuck in their barrels? I am in the San Jose/Fremont area. any idea how much it could cost?

A lot of disinformation here. Choose carefully whose advice you follow.

First of all, a squib won't create bulges in your barrel.

Next, you want to be VERY careful in beating the bullet out of the barrel. Use a wooden dowel. You'll risk squishing the bullet, making it even tighter in the barrel. If you use a punch or a small drift, you're virtually assured of deforming the bullet

Typically, removing the bullet from a squib is not a big deal. But your mustache buddy might have turned it into a big deal. If you brought it to me, I'd try knocking it out with a dowel. If that didn't work, I'd chuck it up in the lathe, then use either a right or left hand drill, whichever would tend to "unthread" the bullet from the rifling. After drilling or boring until there was only a little bit of bullet remaining, then I would tap it out with a hammer and dowel.

It won't be a lot of work for anyone with machine shop skills. If you have a friend with a lathe, bring him the barrel and a couple bottles of good wine.

[MrOrange]

I'd say you might as well give it a shot yourself, take it as a learning experience.

Degree of difficulty might depend on what caused the squib. If it was a weak charge, the bullet might end up a lot farther down the bore than one from a primer-only reload flub. If it's a lead bullet just a bit down the barrel it should knock out w/o much drama.

If it's a jacketed bullet, I'd probably hit it with some Kroil on both sides, let it sit, vibrate it a bit with light blows, more Kroil, let it sit, then attack with violence. I'd also recommend a brass rod as opposed to wood, since the wood won't transfer as much energy to the bullet, and will be prone to deforming and splintering. The brass is softer than than the barrel, and even if it scratches a bit, no big whup, it's not like a benchrest rifle barrel where you're going to be upset at a 0.10" change in group size at 100 yards.

My first and only squib was my own damn fault, a lead bullet round with primer but no powder, with a compact .45. The RO took us behind the line (this was during a match), locked back the slide, pounded the bullet out with a brass rod, and I went back to the match.

[colossians323]

Hammer it out with a wooden dowel or a brass rod. And are you sure you were shooting factory ammo? According to most here squibs only happen with Freedom Munitions ammo

Does the truth hurt that bad. Happens way more with reloads than it does with factory

[sealocan]

Guys it's quite possible the OP is concerned about messing up his gun, even further than it may be.

Or maybe he's already tried all the easy man card ideas you're all suggesting.

maybe he wants to get their opinion to see if he's broken anything on his gun....etc.

Anyway, good advice on what to do as been given but no one is actually answered his question and recommended some gunsmith in or around San Jose who could help him.

( I would but I just don't know anyone who does that in that area.)

[Chapped Hide]

Happens way more with reloads than it does with factory

I agree 100℅

[RTE]

Remove the barrel.
Check the debth of the squib.
Add a little lubricant like PB blaster.
IF it doesn't tap out with a wood dowel, put a plastic or rubber sleeve over an appropriate drill bit and core the bullit.
That can be done with hand tools.( ie a drill bit and vice grip pliers) in lieu of a lathe, 10 ton press or cordless drill.
Tap again with wood dowel.

You could always mail the barrel to someone with tools.