{"id":4805,"date":"2022-04-05T08:56:22","date_gmt":"2022-04-05T08:56:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ammoman.com\/blog\/?p=4805"},"modified":"2022-08-04T18:01:03","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T18:01:03","slug":"whats-a-squib-load","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ammoman.com\/blog\/whats-a-squib-load\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s A Squib Load?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Loudest \u201cPOP\u201d You\u2019ll Ever Hear: The Squib Load\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\r\n

The modern ammunition cartridge is a miracle compared to the days when you had to assemble everything inside the gun by pouring powder into the chamber, then adding a bullet of some kind and setting it off with a spark. Today\u2019s cartridges are reliable, well made and accurate, but a few bad apples can fall through even the most rigorous of quality control processes. Improper quality control by either reloaders at home or at the factory can result in a lack of powder inside the cartridge. This can result in squib load and some very bad consequences for you and everyone around you.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What is a Squib Load?<\/h2>\r\n

A squib load occurs when you pull firearm’s trigger, the bullet’s primer ignites the cartridge but there isn’t enough powder or charge to push the bullet out of the barrel with the typical amount of force.<\/p>\r\n

A squib load can lead to a dangerous situation. For example, it’s possible the bullet never leaves your barrel. In this case, if you fire a follow-up round, the second bullet would collide with your squib load bullet. That can lead to a small explosion in the barrel.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n

\"parts<\/a>A modern round of ammunition consists of four parts: There\u2019s the bullet, which comes flying out the end of the barrel and (in theory) hits the target. There\u2019s the powder, which burns rapidly and sends the bullet on its way. The case (usually brass, steel or aluminum) holds everything together. At the end, there is the primer, which is stuck by the firing pin and sets everything in motion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

What Causes A Squib Load?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n

A squib load is caused by not having enough powder inside of the casing. The firing pin hits the primer, the primer ignites and either there is no powder inside of the case, or there is only a small amount that is not sufficient to send the bullet downrange fast enough to even approach the correct muzzle velocity. Having this happen to you is a bad (very bad) thing because there is no guarantee the bullet actually left the barrel of your gun. If there is a bullet stuck in your barrel and you shoot another round, the results can be catastrophic. At best, you\u2019re going to ruin your gun. At worst, people can be injured and die.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Firing a gun produces a tremendous amount of pressure. For instance, <\/span>a 9mm round can create up to 35,000 p.s.i.<\/span><\/a> when fired. As a comparison, the pressure at the bottom of the Marianas Trench, the deepest part of Earth\u2019s ocean, <\/span>is only 16,000 p.s.i.<\/span><\/a> The purpose of all that force is to send the bullet out the barrel of the gun. If that doesn\u2019t happen because the barrel is blocked by a bullet from a squib load, all that pressure has to go somewhere, with potentially catastrophic results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Warning: Contents Under Pressure<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

Some of the results of firing a round after a squib load can include bulging the barrel due to the pressure of firing a round. That ruins the barrel, and can bring your semi-automatic pistol to a screeching halt as the barrel no longer fits in the slide and can in fact explode in your hands. With a revolver, unless you hear the \u201cpop!\u201d of a squib occurring, (more on that later), you can, in theory, keep shooting. <\/span>Sometimes the results only ruin your gun<\/span><\/a>. Sometimes they ruin lives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Brandon Lee was the son of renowned martial artist and movie star Bruce Lee. Brandon\u2019s first (and last) big break in the movies came when he played the lead role in the 1994 film \u201cThe Crow.\u201d Like most modern action movies, the movie made extensive use of prop guns and <\/span>blank ammunition<\/span><\/a>. However, the armorers on the set created their \u201cblanks\u201d by removing the powder from the cartridges and leaving the bullets and primers intact. This resulted in a squib round, which was then later shot from the gun with enough force to end his life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

\"Squib<\/a>

One of this is purpose-built squib load. The other is not. Can you tell the difference?<\/p><\/div>\r\n

When I say squib loads are a big problem, I\u2019m not kidding. Fortunately, they are fairly rare. They can happen with factory-produced ammo, but they are much more common with reloaded ammunition. Diagnosing a squib load when it happens is the key to avoiding a catastrophic result. The diagnosis isn\u2019t hard, but it does require you to pay attention as you are shooting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Signs You Have A Squib Load\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

The most-obvious indication you have a squib load is the distinctive \u201cpop!\u201d of the primer igniting without a significant amount of powder igniting as well. That sound (and the fact that your gun didn\u2019t cycle if it is a semi-automatic) is your clue to stop shooting. This can mean different things, depending on where you\u2019re doing your shooting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

If you\u2019re at the range, wait until no one is downrange. If you have a squib rod or <\/span>range rod<\/span><\/a>, insert it in the barrel, keeping the Four Rules of gun safety in place while you do so. The rod might be blocked by something inside the barrel and doesn\u2019t show up in the chamber, you have a bullet stuck in the barrel and need to get it out before going further. If the barrel is clear, it\u2019s probably a good idea to field-strip your gun and inspect everything to make sure everything is okay before reassembling your pistol and continuing your range session.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Welcome To Your Nightmare<\/span><\/h4>\r\n