my first squib load. what happened?

[rjd726]

At the range today shooting my first set of 45acp reloads. 5.4 grains of w231 behind a 230 grain fmj bullet. They were shooting and feeding great and then pop. Slide stayed in battery. I thought at first it was just a missfire. As you can see the round is stuck about an inch down the barrel. There is a ton of unburnt powder all over the gun. What happened here?

[762xIan]

Considering you have unburned powder everywhere, something caused incomplete ignition. Bad primer, plugged flash hole, who knows. Looks like the bullet is just passed the chamber. I am wondering if the bullet popped out when it chambered? If it did, could explain the lack of ignition. What kind of crimp are you putting on your rounds.

Glad you caught it and didn't just clear it and fire one behind it.

Find a dowel rod, you should be able to tap that right out.

[M&P Chris]

Maybe media in the flash hole.
I check every flash hole before I prime.

[rjd726]

i just got the round out pretty easily. cleaned it and reassembled and everything seems ok.


Posted from Pafoa.org App for Android

[Mike3888]

I would have to say plugged flash hole also.

[Remington788]

Would the empty case hold any clues?

[bamboomaster]

OP, great post and pictures.

What you've experienced has happened at one time or another to nearly every reloader.

I'm inclined to agree that it may have been an issue with either the crimp (none on this round) or some debris in the primer pocket and/or at the bottom of the case (tumbling media/gunk from a range pick-up/etc) that caused the problem.

Glad to hear that you removed the "stuck" bullet - without firing the rest in the mag. Tells me you mentally "count" your rounds as you fire them, which I think is a practice that enhances safety.

FWIW, while this event is infrequent but does occur from time to time, have always carried a few 10" dowels in different diameters and a can of WD-40 or PB Blaster to help out other folks who may experience this. And a full-length ramrod of suitable rifle length just in the event another shooter on the line could benefit from using it to resolve a similar issue.

[rjd726]

Would the empty case hold any clues?

I wasn't paying attention to where it dropped when I cleared it. There was a ton on the ground already. I'll check them all when I get a chance.

[corey4]

i was there when it happened. after the click/ffffsssssstttttt. there was still smoke coming from the gaps on the slide/frame few seconds later.

we were guessing that the primer had enough ass to send the round out of the brass and into the chamber, but we were stumped at the unburnt power.

[rjd726]

OP, great post and pictures.

What you've experienced has happened at one time or another to nearly every reloader.

I'm inclined to agree that it may have been an issue with either the crimp (none on this round) or some debris in the primer pocket and/or at the bottom of the case (tumbling media/gunk from a range pick-up/etc) that caused the problem.

Glad to hear that you removed the "stuck" bullet - without firing the rest in the mag. Tells me you mentally "count" your rounds as you fire them, which I think is a practice that enhances safety.

FWIW, while this event is infrequent but does occur from time to time, have always carried a few 10" dowels in different diameters and a can of WD-40 or PB Blaster to help out other folks who may experience this. And a full-length ramrod of suitable rifle length just in the event another shooter on the line could benefit from using it to resolve a similar issue.

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking it was a plugged flash hole. All were loaded in once fired brass. I shoot factory ball ammo in my old Colts and Remington Rands and only shooting reloads in my low end 1911s. Since it was the first time it happened I just reassembled it and waited until I got home to remove it. My 12 year old son was shooting it right before me but luckily I'm not comfortable letting him shoot reloads yet.