Bullet stuck in Barrel?

[misfire]

Being new to reloading I'll admit to 5 squibs in one day between the two .45's I was shooting. I had the RO pound out three. When I got the next squib I went to my other pistol. When I encountered another squib I decided it was time to go home and check the remaining ammo seeing that I was too embarrassed to ask the RO to pound out two more squibs. On the way home I stopped at Home Depot and bought some 3/8" wood dowel to pound out the squibs. It was kind of hard going with a rubber mallet as the dowels kept splitting where it met the bullet. I guess I should have splurged and bought oak dowling. Luckily I found a piece of brass tubing in my tool box, squirted some WD40 down the barrel and out they came out with some pounding. Pounding out the squibs gave me a better appreciation of how much force it takes to propel a bullet down the barrel, both squibs were about 1/4" in from the chamber--primer but no powder. BTW, the remaining rounds were fine. I reload with a Lee 1000 and, for some reason, it didn't dispense powder on 5 rounds out of 200 even though there was lots of powder in the hopper and everything appeared to functioning correctly. I, now, check EVERY case for powder before seating the bullet.

 

[Rapt]

I, now, check EVERY case for powder before seating the bullet.

No matter how good your equipment or your procedures this is the only way to have quality ammo. You can either do this manually (visually) or on some presses with a special checker. But it should be done, every case, every time.

Been there done that. And brass works better than wood. I've seen some REALLY tight ones.

 

[Boomer]

Good idea on paper, piss-poor idea in practice. Feel fortunate that you did not get hurt.

I don't like the sounds of that "water" idea much, either. Sounds like a good way to end up wearing your ass as a hat.

The water behind the bullet works flawlessly and it's safe. Essentially you are using the same concept as you would with hydraulics in heavy equipment or even in your car's power steering. The reason fluid power works is because it does not compress, therefore when you put force behind fluid it acts as a solid. You will not create an overload by using a primer with no powder charge. The water behind the bullet acts as a solid rod, and the bullet in the bore is hydraulically moved forward until it clears the barrel and falls on the ground.

 

[RUPZUK]

I agree with atr on powders
I like Rex 2 for my 45 because its nice and fluffy .
a double charge would overfill the case , this makes it very easy to spot check the ammo while assembling it .

 

[haywire]

One of the theories of why some firearms misteriously blow up is related to exactly what you did. As the previous gentleman said. " pressure curve".

 

[Cocked&Locked]

I. (4) Something blows and the first couple of rounds in the magazine go also , Sympathetic detonation . .

I agree with your vehemance on this approach to removing a stuck cartridge, and admit to being suprised at the succsesful outcome. I'd be pulling that barrel and holding it up to the light to make sure it wasn't ringed.

I've never heard of ammunition reacting with sympathetic detonation though?
Have you seen this? Detonation, not just the next couple rounds split open by gas and fragments?

Please don't take this as an attack, I've just never heard of it so I'm curious to learn something new (to avoid in this case!)