First squib

[jdmstuff]

I had my first and hopefully last squib today. I'm fairly new to reloading (less than a year) and this batch was part of the first batch that I've loaded. I've loaded up about 1000 rounds of .223 over the past 6 months and every other round have gone off normally. The squib occurred on one of the last 20 rounds of my first batch.

Luckily, the bullet didn't get lodged deep enough down the barrel to allow another round to chamber. I knocked out the bullet with a cleaning rod feeling lucky that it didn't lodge itself deeper into the barrel. The results would have been devastating. I'm not sure how I managed to get a squib, but from now on I'm going to be double checking my powder drop in every round.

[seasnake]

Use a very bright flash light after charging your cases you can check for uneven or empty cases .

[ExtremeX]

If you load on a progressive get the RCBS powder checker die.

[Dsal_13]

Please forgive my noob question.. but what is a Squib and what causes it?

[JohnnyPark805]

Please forgive my noob question.. but what is a Squib and what causes it?

he forgot to put powder in the shell.

I did it once a few weeks ago, hopefully it was my last and only time.

[Swagman00]

I remember my first squib. Reloaded 9x18 Mak w/97 gr. cast in shortened 9mm brass.

Gun ran great for about 30 odd rounds till I hit it. "Pfft" was the sound I recall, the slide ran 1/3 the length, and the slug lodged dead center of the barrel.

I pulled several of the remainder 20 and found a round with the powder wet with the oil I used on my bench press. I learned to wipe my dies dry before using them from now on.

[Dsal_13]

What happens if the powder is wet with the oil from your press?

[Zamble]

Should not be that much oil on the press.

[ExtremeX]

What happens if the powder is wet with the oil from your press?

[sigma6]

Please forgive my noob question.. but what is a Squib and what causes it?

A squib is when there isn't enough energy to push the bullet down the barrel. If the bullet gets stuck in the barrel and you fire another round, bad things can happen to you and your gun. It can happen if you forget to manually put in powder, your powder measure only puts a partial amount or the powder is contaminated so its not at full performance.

[jdmstuff]

Yes, this batch was loaded on my 550b. I've since switched back to my rockchucker to do my rifle loads. I never really liked loading .223 on my Dillon. I have yet to have a problem on my pistol rounds though. I've loaded up about 3000 rounds of those in 9, .40, and .45.

[Munny$hot]

On my final inspection when I'm checking for high primers I shake each round to verify there is powder in it.