Squib load YIKES

[Hatchdog]

Ruger Single Seven shooting 32 H&R reloads.

A little history, some time ago I loaded up some Hornady 100 gr XTP 32 H&R’s and ran a powder test and all was well. I recently found some 85 gr XTP’s so I thought I would give them a try in the 32 H&R and save the 100’s for 327 Fed Mag. So today I attempted to do a charge test and shot the 85 gr I loaded earlier this week. When I shot the 100’s they went off with a nice solid boom.

So, today I started with the lowest charge in the 85’s and the first four fired with a noticeable reduction in boom but nothing concerning, just noted the difference. I had loaded five and after the four low booms the fifth was just a poof. Well of course the alarm bells went off. I took a look at the target and sure enough only four holes. Started to unload the gun and right away the problem became obvious. I have never had a squib load in 40+ years of reloading. Every charge was dispensed and weighed on my RCBS 1500 Chargemaster. I’m at a loss at how this happened. Needless to say, this ended my shooting with the Ruger 32.

I had a cheap leather man type tool with me and I tried to pull the bullet but it would not budge. I didn’t try too hard to remove it as I didn’t want to scratch the finish on the muzzle.

Any suggestions for me on how to remove it? I’m going to try to get a rod in there and push it out but of course with the design of the single action revolver there is no way to get a rod in straight, it will be angled a bit to clear the frame.

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[Mags]

From the picture it looks like you could get grip on the bullet with pliers or vice grips and tug it out.

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Lock the bullet in vice. Wiggle the gun and pull it free.

[BigAl52]

Would think the vice would work. You are lucky it poked its head out of the barrel

[fortyshooter]

Yeah I have had one too in my Ruger LCR shooting some 38 Specials I had loaded. Bullet stuck just past the forcing cone so swung out the cylinder and drove it out with a wooden dowel.

[Headhog]

Looks like enough sticking out to get a vise or good pliers on it. Put some tape on the muzzle first to protect it from scratches.

Paul

[Hatchdog]

Lock the bullet in vice. Wiggle the gun and pull it free.

Success! I used this suggestion but was prepared to chuck up the barrel and use vice grips if I had to. I was able to wiggle the barrel side to side to take advantage of the rigid jaws. Thank you everybody for your suggestions.

So, I may have solved the mystery as to why this happened. When I loaded the 85 grain XTP’s I first seated a bullet into an empty case in case I needed to adjust the die for the lighter (shorter) bullet. I used one of my primed cases as they were handy. When I was cleaning up and putting stuff away today I discovered an extra 32 H&R cartridge in my MTM box along with all the loads I didn’t shoot. I weighed it and comparison with my 100 gr loads it was exactly 15 grains lighter. In my shuffling around at the range yesterday I didn’t notice it. So this makes me think that the squib load was the test cartridge that had no powder charge. Makes sense right…..but….

This brings up another mystery. When I was loading these 32’s I know I pulled the bullet from the test case. I used my kinetic puller pounding it on the concrete floor of the basement. I know this because my wife came downstairs wondering what all the pounding was about. So where did this squib load come from? I’ll probably never know but my confidence in my RCBS Chargemaster has returned.

I know better than to use a primed case for a COL test case but I let convenience override common sense. Sure glad I didn’t have to pay the price of a destroyed revolver.

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[fortyshooter]

Could have been a bad primer that didn't ignite the powder completely. I think that is what happened with those 38 Specials I had loaded that time.
Haven't had that happen since.

[Vaquero]

Glad you got it without too much trouble.
Things that make ya say... hmm.

RP

[BrokenolMarine]

Glad there was no injury or damage, I've seen the results of a round fired behind a squib.

I build dummy loads for setting the OAL and depth settings for seating when reloading, but the first thing I do is write Dummy on the cases in bold red marker. Better safe than sorry. I also don't use primed cases. LOL.