Had a squib load tonight

[Chach]

Went to the range tonight and fired off a few hundred rounds, good time overall except for when I went to fire my P220. Upon firing my 3rd shot, I had a squib load, luckily the projectile didn't travel far at all and wasn't able to chamber the next round so no major catastrophe occurred.

So here's the issue. I was using 6.8 Gn Power Pistol with 230 grain Hornady Hollow points. I had previously used 6.8gn PP w/ Speer 230gn Gold Dot Hollow points without a single issue, however with the Hornady I had 2 (after I cleared the first one, I shot a few more rounds, 3 went off fine, 4th one stuck again but couldn't be cleared at the range.) The Hornady manual shows that 6.8 should be enough for over 800 FPS so I'm not sure why this would occur.

Any suggestions?

[RobG]

Insufficient powder charge?

[Chach]

Insufficient powder charge?

That was my first thought, but I've used same powder for same weight bullets where the only difference was manufacturer. Only thing I could think is that since I use a progressive sometimes when it clicks over it can be harsh enough to jiggle the powder inside. If going fast enough, it'll pop some out. Maybe just enough powder popped out so that some would operate fine, others would squib.

Regardless I'm in the process of dismantling the remaining ones.

[Brasspolisher]

Regardless I'm in the process of dismantling the remaining ones.

GREAT call. If you get any insight from the teardown of the cartridges or examination of the press, please keep us posted!

I use a progressive sometimes when it clicks over it can be harsh enough to jiggle the powder inside. If going fast enough, it'll pop some out.

Is your progressive a Dillon? There's a thread on 650XLs spilling powder (and some suggestions) here.

[Chach]

GREAT call. If you get any insight from the teardown of the cartridges or examination of the press, please keep us posted!

Just finished tearing them down. Out of the 80 some odd I had remaining and tore down, I found 3 without any powder in them at all. I'm thinking that this was my problem as the 3 w/o powder were towards the end of my batch as were the two squibs I experienced tonight. I guess I need to get myself a powder cop and remain a little more diligent throughout the process. Lesson definitely learned here.

Is your progressive a Dillon? There's a thread on 650XLs spilling powder (and some suggestions) here.

No, it's a Hornady LNL. It definitely has the capability to kick around enough to spill powder if you get into a fast groove. I have to go nice and slow w/ .223 to ensure none gets bumped out.

I think it was no powder in those two that caused the issue though as it seems very odd that I'd been able to use same amt of powder with same weight bullets of diff manufacturer before w/ no problems.

[ar15barrels]

This is why I run a powder check die on my press.
If I run out of powder and do NOT notice the empty powder measure, the press rings a buzzer when the first empty case hits the powder check station...

[PolishMike]

This is why I run a powder check die on my press.
If I run out of powder and do NOT notice the empty powder measure, the press rings a buzzer when the first empty case hits the powder check station...

+1 this is a great tool to have. You can also set it up to buzz if there is too much powder.

[Brasspolisher]

If I run out of powder and do NOT notice the empty powder measure

+1 this is a great tool to have. You can also set it up to buzz if there is too much powder.

Umm.... Errr... When I'm running a press, I kind of include the powder level in the 'instrument scan' each time I pull the handle. (Enough? Are there primers? Cases? Are they the right side up? etc...) When anything looks to be within 50 rounds of the bottom, I give it extra attention (and feel kinda queasy if I don't refill it when I first think about it -- perhaps an association with the sailor's theory of reefing sails...).

I think it was no powder in those two that caused the issue though as it seems very odd that I'd been able to use same amt of powder with same weight bullets of diff manufacturer before w/ no problems....

I guess I need to get myself a powder cop and remain a little more diligent throughout the process. Lesson definitely learned here.

Man, not to lecture, but please don't use this as an example to buy a new toy and be done with it.

[Sky_DiveR]

...No, it's a Hornady LNL. It definitely has the capability to kick around enough to spill powder if you get into a fast groove. I have to go nice and slow w/ .223 to ensure none gets bumped out....

You need to tighten the shellplate nut just alittle bit more... don't forget a bit of grease around the ball/detent under the plate. Tighten the nut just enough so the shells don't "click" around, but not so much as to make it difficult to use (pull the handle).

I've never had the problem of powder being thrown out ever since the Hornady rep. told me how to fix the problem.

[Chach]

Man, not to lecture, but please don't use this as an example to buy a new toy and be done with it.

No worries, as I said, lesson learned. Just need to be more diligent and not reload when I can get distracted. All eyes on the prize as they say.

You need to tighten the shellplate nut just alittle bit more... don't forget a bit of grease around the ball/detent under the plate. Tighten the nut just enough so the shells don't "click" around, but not so much as to make it difficult to use (pull the handle).

I've never had the problem of powder being thrown out ever since the Hornady rep. told me how to fix the problem.

Thanks for the note, I'll be sure to tighten down a bit more in the future.

[nn3453]

If you end up with cases that are not charged at all, it doesn't have anything to do with powder spillage. Make sure that your powder drop is screwed in correctly. It needs to be screwed it enough so that powder is completely dropped at the end of the stroke, yet not so much that it will mar the case mouth. Make sure that the arm of the measure that holds it in place is tight. Also make sure that you tighten it when the powder micrometer is parallel to the ground. This is what Hornady recommends.

I have loaded several thousand rounds on a LnL AP. The documentation sucks and you have to learn by trial and error but once you get the technique right, you should be good. If you have a problem, call their customer service and their technical guy will be more than happy to give you tips.

[ar15barrels]

When I'm running a press, I kind of include the powder level in the 'instrument scan' each time I pull the handle.

When you are doing 100 rounds every 4 minutes, it's not hard to miss things like powder and primers.
That's why there are alarms.

[bruceflinch]

When you are doing 100 rounds every 4 minutes, it's not hard to miss things like powder and primers.
That's why there are alarms.

Why the big hurry? Sacrifice safety for speed?

Mechanical devices, eyes, ears & brain can all fail...

[ar15barrels]

Why the big hurry?

That's not a hurry.
If I was in a hurry, it's more like 3 minutes for 100 rounds.