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I got a squib today - what to do?
brotus2
Member Posts: 178 ✭✭✭
Was shooting 38 special in my 1976 Ruger New Model Blackhawk with 7" bbl. POP! No recoil. Took the cylinder out and there was the bullet about an 1/8" in.
What do I do?
What do I do?
Comments
Cort
I have had a couple of squibs. The wooden dowel tends to splinter so I recommend an aluminum or a brass rod that almost fills the barrel. I also recommend that you oil the barrel behind the bullet before trying to drive it out. Moving the bullet a little is not too hard but moving it the length of the barrel is very hard unless you lubricate the barrel. Generally, you can hold the barrel in your hand and knock the squib out with a few strong swings of your hammer. Be careful of your crown. It is easy to damage it.
Cort
I don't recommend aluminum. The surface of aluminum goes through a process called passivization that creates an oxide on the surface which can be harder then steel.
After you get the bullet out, review your reloading technique and equipment to minimize the chance of it happening again. Inconvenient at the range: a downright PITA if it happens with game in your sights or worse, in a self defense situation.
I would lock the barrel in a vise with padded jaws and then follow advise above.
[:0]
This happens quite regularly on the IPSC range, no vises there the RO has the shooter "show clear" and lock the action open and then takes a brass rod inserts it into the barrel and whacks it with a mini hammer while the shooter hold the fire arm. it doesn't take much to get one to come out.