Gun Safety: beware squib load and bullet jam

[Brian4Liberty]

VIDEO: Here’s What Happens When a Bullet Gets Stuck in the Barrel of a Gun

Knowledge of gun safety, and what different things can go wrong, and how to handle such situations, is vitally important for both new shooters and experienced shooters alike.

There is a particular type of firearm malfunction that can pose an exceptionally dangerous risk, known as a “squib” load.

Click here to get a FREE subscription to the Conservative Tribune.

A squib is an underpowered cartridge in which either the primer or gunpowder fail to fully ignite and only partially fires the bullet, at less than full force, which often results in the bullet getting stuck partway down the barrel.

A squib can usually be detected by a noticeable change in the sound of the gun firing, or by a noticeable lack of recoil, or if the smoke from the fired round exits through the chamber or ejection port, instead of the end of the barrel.

What makes a squib load so dangerous is that if it isn’t noticed immediately and another round is fired before the bullet obstructing the barrel is cleared, the next shot can cause a catastrophic failure of the firearm.
...
More: http://conservativetribune.com/bulle...un-barrel-bad/

[Tod]

that was pretty dramatic!

[pcosmar]

KaBoom.

[osan]

Her error, one that is VERY easy to make, was in having failed to check the bore when the weapon misfired.

Lesson here: any time your weapon behaves in an unexpected fashion, STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and clear the weapon to ensure the bore is not obstructed.

[brushfire]

Thank you for posting this!

A squib can happen with any load - factory/reload etc.

Most should have a ram/cleaning rod to verify the bore is clear, but in a pinch a clean,spent .22 case can be dropped clear through the bore, or a bic pen (barring the bore diameter isnt too small) can be dropped through.

If its possible, clear the firearm and view down the bore from the breach side. Lastly, beware of the "hang fire" which is a delayed fire.
Either quickly cycle the action to eject the hung fired (or misfired) cartridge, or just hold it, but always keep the muzzle down range. A hang fire that goes off in the chamber will send a bullet down range. A hang fire that is quickly ejected will amount to a firecracker, making little more than noise.

Either way, you want to avoid putting your face in the breach on a hangfire, or looking down the muzzle. It goes without saying, but sometimes evolution gets the best of some folks.

[Brian4Liberty]

Another thing to avoid is putting the barrel of a long gun into water. Some people have the bright idea of shooting into water by putting the barrel into water, in order to shoot at a fish for example. There is the potential for "kaboom" there too.