I suppose one should expect hills, and sometimes, mountains in life. I had my first squib load after 25 years of reloading. The head stuck about three inches up the 23" Swede, M38 barrel. So, make sure and check EACH case for a charge regardless of the time you feel your "wasting".

I had that happen one time with my 45-70. It's surprising how far the bullet will travel up the barrel with just the primmer for propellant.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger.

I ran 230 gr. of SWC up the bore of my SBH the other day. I carry a dowel and a mallet for times like these.

This was the second one in my life. Last one was in about 1994.

Never hurts to pay attention!

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PowderBurns Black Powder / Muzzle Loading Forum:

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For every down there's an up - you had a down with the squib load then you had a major major up in that you detected it and didn't send a non squib after it.

Apply this logic to hunting and every blank session is at least a deer not wounded.

My own pressure ringed 9.3 barrel (re fillers post) got me really pissed off but I just have to tell myself that it didn't go pop, that I still have my eyes and I get to work up my loads again. OK you did something you didn't want to do now the odds of you doing it again are reduced because you're reviewing your practice.

In my trade we have to teach these 'coping strategies' to patients, me I prefer to call it as Monty Python did, now repeat after me 'Allways look on the bright side of life....'

1894 has got a point about the bright side. I got a bullet stuck in my 7.62 once (trying out subsonic loads with a silenced Valmet M62 and the bullet stopped just after the gas hole in the barrel. As there was no recoil or sound anyway - I just kept racking new rounds in and wondering why I can't see the bullets hitting the dirtbank. Ended up having to take the rifle to the smith - remove the barrel etc. to get three jacketed (very stubborn) bullets out. This is the point in my life when I stopped using pistol powders in rifles.
Rgds.,Peter

A couple years ago I was letting a 17yo kid shoot my .454 casull while I was off a bit, chatting with friends.

I suddenly heard a blast that didnt sound quite right, by the time I got there , yelled "dont shoot", and took the gun away from him , he had cocked for the next round and was about 1/2 lb of pressure from sparking the next round.

There was a 335 grn cast bullet "squib" stuck in the barrel. Upon investigation I had used a bad batch of AA#9, "the stuff had oil of some kind mixed in with it".

Boy, if that kid had touched off that round..................................

So a good lesson was learned by all. I now include an addition to my speech when I let someone shoot one of my firearms.

Bej you shouldnt be depressed, you should be happy, and proud of yourself. When you rise to the level of shooter and hunter, who readily admits the worst CAN STILL happen to him, you have risen to the level where you can start teaching other's.

I know all kinds of ex"know-it-all's" who are missing finger's,toes, and other appendages. The day you become a "know-it-all" with firearms and reloading is the day you become a candidate for THEIR club......good shooting.......10