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The Squib: A squib load,
sometimes called a squib round is a firearm malfunction where a fired
projectile does not have enough force behind it to exit the barrel, and
thus becomes stuck. This type of malfunction can be extremely dangerous,
as failing to notice that the projectile has become stuck in the barrel
may result in another round being fired directly into the obstructed
barrel, resulting in a catastrophic failure of the weapon's structural
integrity. Signs that a squib round has occurred include: a much quieter
or otherwise unusual-sounding discharge noise (bloop sound), a lighter or nonexistent
felt recoil force.
All cartridge reloaders
have experienced the squib round at least once as they experiment with
differing powder loads. This is the round that has insufficient powder to
propel the bullet out of the barrel; the bullet is lodged somewhere in the
barrel. Another variant on the squib round is the cartridge that has no
powder at all and primer explosion only pushes the bullet far enough out
of the cartridge case to stop at the barrel rifling grooves but the bullet
base is still in the cylinder chamber. This effectively jambs a
revolver in such a way that cocking to rotate the cylinder is impossible
and disassembling the cylinder is also impossible.
Removing the cylinder pin will not help either as the bullet may still
be lodged in the gap between the cylinder and the barrel.
Both squib round variants
may be cleared using a sufficiently long rod that fits loosely in the gun
barrel. We prefer a solid brass rod to prevent marring the internal
surfaces of the barrel.
The pistol squib round
is best forced backwards from the barrel into the cylinder where it will
be pushed back into the spent cartridge case. The pistol can then be
cleared normally.
Once the gun is deemed
safe without any other expectations of a live round firing, the gun can be
cleared by placing the rod in the barrel against the squib round and
hammering the rod end. Lever action rifles should cycle the empty
cartridge brass from the receiver and eject all rounds from the magazine.
A longer brass rod is used and the squib round is driven backwards. This forces the squib round backwards
(into the rifle chamber where it should fall easily from the rifle
receiver. |
