Stubborn squib

Note: Under no circumstances use brass or other soft metal for a driving-out rod. Such type of rod is not only useless, but often swages the obstruction more firmly in place or becomes swaged in place itself.
This comment confuses me. Why would a brass rod (which, by the way, is not that soft) swage "...the obstruction more firmly in place..." and a steel rod would not. Since they are both ostensibly harder than the bullet should they not swage the bullet equally? I am also at a loss as to how the brass rod would become swaged in place if it was the correct diameter for the bore and the end was not mushroomed. Maybe he's right but in over 40 years of shooting I've never seen what he has described occur, at least not in a handgun. And hammering a steel drill rod down a gun barrel whether the tip is chamfered or not just doesn't sound like the smartest thing to do. People steer away from steel cleaning rods because of the potential damage they can do to the bore and muzzle so why would this be any different?

I think i'll stick with brass rods & take my chances.
 
This comment confuses me. Why would a brass rod (which, by the way, is not that soft) swage "...the obstruction more firmly in place..." and a steel rod would not. Since they are both ostensibly harder than the bullet should they not swage the bullet equally? I am also at a loss as to how the brass rod would become swaged in place if it was the correct diameter for the bore and the end was not mushroomed. Maybe he's right but in over 40 years of shooting I've never seen what he has described occur, at least not in a handgun. And hammering a steel drill rod down a gun barrel whether the tip is chamfered or not just doesn't sound like the smartest thing to do. People steer away from steel cleaning rods because of the potential damage they can do to the bore and muzzle so why would this be any different?

I think i'll stick with brass rods & take my chances.

The real problem is using the wrong size brass rod.
Too long or not maximum diameter and the rod will flex and not deliver the full impact to the whole bullet.
The same thing can happen with a steel rod if you just tap on it.
 
I think the brass rod was referring to rifle barrels
one round in a pistol barrel, I can't see being that hard, 2 yes, but on 2or 3 stacked in a thin barrel, I would think it would be bulged.
Would be easy enough to measure and see.
one of the fellow had one at the range , 9mm, and we pushed it out with my short cleaning rod, but it was just into the forcing cone
The gunpowder shot thing sound interesting, , just like a real long cartridge case, But if it has been hammered on already, could be a bit of a risk????
Princes Auto has heat shrink tubing, in different sizes, makes a good cover for steel rods for this.
BTW, it is not legal to sell reloads, unless you are licenced to do that., other wise you just but the brass.
I did get about 500-600 rds of 9mm from a estate, they where in 100 rd cases, and I just paid for the boxes, 5.oo each, Odd primer is dead, but I don't do fast shooting,
and use it in a cheaper gun.
 
The real problem is using the wrong size brass rod.
Too long or not maximum diameter and the rod will flex and not deliver the full impact to the whole bullet.
The same thing can happen with a steel rod if you just tap on it.
I can understand what you're saying. I still can't figure out the comment about the brass rod getting swaged.
 
I can understand what you're saying. I still can't figure out the comment about the brass rod getting swaged.

Probably because some people use a brass cleaning rod as the only tool available to to them at the range. The cleaning rod is significantly smaller in diameter and prone to bent as compared with a properly sized rod. It is totally conceivable for it to get swaged if you are dealing with double / tripple squibbs (also I think marshall is correct suggesting that that this may be more relevant to rifle squibs) After giving this some thought I tend to agree that if the brass rod is only a fraction thinner than the barrel it shouldn't bend / get swagged either
 
The stubborn squib has been dislodged!! Thanks to a great CGNer who lent me his brass rod. I put my purse down and gave it a few heavy hits and cams out no problem. I lubed up the barrel a bit too first. No damage to the barrel.

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