Dud primer? Maybe

[Tabbytab]

I was at my local range this morning already put 200 or so downrange and heard a really soft pop and felt no recoil. Was using newer stock cci small pistol primers and newer stock titegroup for 9mm. I dropped the mag and opened the action and out dropped a bunch of powder, the casing and no bullet. The bullet managed to go halfway through the barrel and got stuck. I checked the casing and the primer had a solid strike on it. Popped out the bullet and finished up the rest of the rounds no problem. What do you guys think the problem was?

[pacrat]

You heard the pop. Not a dud primer.

Typical operator error squib load.

Not enough powder to send bullet down range, or function action.

Squibs typically leave unburned powder. Because there is not enough pressure generated to give full burn.

[Tabbytab]

In the past I have loaded squib rounds when I first started reloading. I would not consider my self a pro by no means but in the past the bang sounded like a regular round went off. This time I barely heard the pop at all. It all seemed strange.

[racinjason233]

Standard squib. Glad you knew to check the barrel before next shot. Nothing to worry about. It happens on new ammo to. Check to see if you have the correct powder in the rounds after this one was made and head back to range.

[BajaJames83]

Squib.
If the bullet made it into the barrel the primer had enough bang just no powder to burn

[BIGOX]

Squib! My first Squib occurred on a Standard Products M1 30 carbine using factory ammo. Luckily I was smart enough to check the barrel. It's one of the main reasons I started reloading.

[divingin]

The pop you heard was the primer. The gas from the primer shoved the bullet into the barrel. For some reason, the powder didn't ignite, or didn't ignite fully.

Causes could be all over the place: piece of tumbling media blocking flash hole, contaminated powder from liquid or oil left in the case, weak primer, probable a bunch of others I'm not thinking of.

It happens (both with reloads and factory fodder.) You caught it. All good (at least better than the alternative.)

[tabascoz28]

Half way down, that was a strong sqib. I've had a few that didn't make it past the first inch.

What kind of press and powder drop are you using? I know when I get into a rhythm sometimes I forget to fill the hopper. Now I fill after every sleeve of primers, esp for 556.

[Tabbytab]

I'm using a single stage rcbs and a lee auto disc. From what everyone has said it sounds like a squib round. I haven't had one in many years now. I guess I'll just have to pay more attention.

[tabascoz28]

Auto disk is what I use and I'm sure it's cause I let the powder get too low a few times. The other issue could be it didn't get returned all the way to the end to get a full powder drop, or maybe not pulled all the way down. On my progressive it pretty much forces me to pull all the way up and down.

Good thing I don't shoot too fast and am always self evaluating my shots. In a self-defense situation maybe I might not notice a squib until it was too late.

[Metal God]

Sounds like a low charge or contaminated charge . Titegroup is a high energy easy to ignite position insensitive powder . If the primer ignited so would have the Titegroup.

Other possibility could be a clogged flash hole . Although I did do some minimal testing with purposely clogging flash holes . This was with large pistol primers in 45acp cases . All primer ignitions blew the clogs out of the flash hole . I did these test with no powder or bullets so I have no data on if the clog reduced the primer flash enough to effect powder ignition.

You got squibs when you started , you’re getting/got a squib now . Its time to reassess your reloading habits maybe .

[bergmen]

I'm using a single stage rcbs and a lee auto disc. From what everyone has said it sounds like a squib round. I haven't had one in many years now. I guess I'll just have to pay more attention.

Also make sure your expander die is not opening the inside of the case too much (or that your bullet diameter is on the small side). Bullet retention as the round is being fired is essential in getting the powder to fully ignite (less so for fast burning powders but still essential). Check the diameter of your bullets with a micrometer (not a set of calipers) and compare this to the diameter of your expander die. I forget the proper difference but 0.001 comes to mind. There are resources to check to confirm this.

Dan

[maga2020]

Did you inspect the case after? How many squibs did you have this go around?

1. Could it be from first batch that you had squibs?
2. Possible moisture in case from cleaning but not completely dry?
3. Excessive case lube from spraying directly onto cases?

I separate each lot that I load so I can ensure reliability and consistency. If I get any failure, I investigate and segregate the root cause

[divingin]

Half way down, that was a strong sqib. I've had a few that didn't make it past the first inch.

It happens. Bullet choice has something to do with it (jacketed vs lead, as well as profile), as does how much powder may have burned.

I've seen multiple squibs in a single gun using the same reloaded ammo lot that ended up anywhere from preventing chambering to a few inches down the bore.

The important thing here is to check for an obstruction whenever something feels off.

[JagerDog]

Auto disk is what I use and I'm sure it's cause I let the powder get too low a few times. The other issue could be it didn't get returned all the way to the end to get a full powder drop, or maybe not pulled all the way down. On my progressive it pretty much forces me to pull all the way up and down.

Good thing I don't shoot too fast and am always self evaluating my shots. In a self-defense situation maybe I might not notice a squib until it was too late.

In an automagic the firearm won?t cycle.