Squib Loads

A

albog

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May sound as a stupid question, but anyway, here ot goes: is there any way (or any gadget) known to mankind to detect a squib while you're examining the reloaded rounds?

If not, what's the best way to avoid them while reloading? Let's say, on a Dillon 550? I thought I was taking a very good care during reloading sessions, however, I'm still ending up with at least one squib out of 150 reloads.
 
Weighing pistol ammo doesn't work because variations in bullet and case weight may / will exceed the weight of the powder. It's also painfully slow and defeats the purpose of a progressive press.

The best way to avoid a squib in a 550 is a) a free-flowing ball powder and b) good technique. The next thing is an RCBS Lock-Out die to stop the press if no powder is found in a case. It takes up a position in your toolhead.

www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/LockOutDie_Instructions.pdf
 
acrashb said:
Weighing pistol ammo doesn't work because variations in bullet and case weight may / will exceed the weight of the powder. It's also painfully slow and defeats the purpose of a progressive press.

The best way to avoid a squib in a 550 is a) a free-flowing ball powder and b) good technique. The next thing is an RCBS Lock-Out die to stop the press if no powder is found in a case. It takes up a position in your toolhead.

www.rcbs.com/downloads/instructions/LockOutDie_Instructions.pdf
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Great info there...

I'll add one thing - how well lit is your reloading setup? You should invest in a desk lamp of some kind that beams light directly into the stage where you're going to put a bullet on - so you can see if there is powder before you put that bullet in.

1 squib in 150 rounds on a press that you choose to rotate the shellplate on is completely unacceptable.
 
Doh! He beat me to it ^^^^

Here is what I was going to say anyway:

Quality control beghins and ends with the reloader. I use a simple technique: I bought a reading lamp (the kind that clamps to the headboard of a bed) and positioned it above the press. I reload while standing up and before I add the bullet, I visually verify that powder is present. Sure it slows you donw a bit but it takes less time than pounding squibbed bullets out of your barrel. I use this technique on both DIllon 550s and a 1050.

Nick
 
usually squibs on a 550 happen because something goes wrong and your rhythm is broken and it results in you turning the star when you shouldn't have. i would suggest that if you are having a squib every 150 rounds that every time you have a problem, you empty the four stations and start over.
 
i still do the weigh thing- i seperate the the cases by brand, establish a range for the loaded round, and throw em on the digital scale- there's not enough variation even using cast to worry about- a double or a squib shows itself pretty quick in a box of 50
 
I just got a 550 dillion and listen to the others that state ,always look into your cases to make sure that theres powder in them before you place a bullet on them .Theres no excuse for squibs that your talking about. Also watch for double charges of powder before putting bullet on your cases. Has stated already ,if a mistake is made always remove cases from shell holder and start over again. I shine a moveable lamp directly on top of shell holder .
 
dudley2112 said:
:agree: check check and tripple check might slow you down but better then getting a squid, and get the RCBS lockout die that will help too.
Click to expand...

No room on a 550 for a lockout die...unless you seat / crimp at the same station.

IMHO that's giving up too much for something that can be better handled by paying attention.

Cheers
 
what about if you make your seater also a crimper?- most seaters will crimp- that gives you your hole and its in the right space for a powder check - most of is run only 2 die sets anyway, with the powder taking up the third station
 
t-star said:
what about if you make your seater also a crimper?- most seaters will crimp- that gives you your hole and its in the right space for a powder check - most of is run only 2 die sets anyway, with the powder taking up the third station
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Seat/crimp dies are a pain to adjust properly, and even then you may not get the desired results (accuracy for example)...Best to seat and crimp on separate dies....If there can be any fault with the Dillon 550, it`s the fact that it only has 4 stations.....But as been mentioned, it`s the operator that has to take responsibility for a squib load...Clamp a small light to your re-loader, so that you can see the powder charge...In untold ten`s of thousands of rounds, I have had one squib load...Pay attention!....
 
+ 2 for light on shell holder!!!

davidd said:
I just got a 550 dillion and listen to the others that state ,always look into your cases to make sure that theres powder in them before you place a bullet on them .Theres no excuse for squibs that your talking about. Also watch for double charges of powder before putting bullet on your cases. Has stated already ,if a mistake is made always remove cases from shell holder and start over again. I shine a moveable lamp directly on top of shell holder .
Click to expand...

Yup.. I agree 100%... use a light to visualize the powder in the bullet seating station.... I am a newbie at reloading .. only got into it about a year about but have loaded on my Dillon 550 and shot 22,000 rounds, 9 mm to 40 s&w to 45 and have not had one squib ever... Get a light and look at each casing when you are putting the bullet to seat...problem solved.. One thing i do is never stop until i get 100 done.. Dont even try to talk to me when i am reloading.. until i am finished the 100 i am working on.. Concentration + routine = no squibs

RDG
 
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I have a removable light hook on to the Square Deal B above the seating station.
One more thing I will do is actually speak out "Yes. Powder", then I put the bullet in. If I haven't said it, I won't put my bullet until I do so..
 
using a dillon machine allow for a powder checker in station 3,wich is an alarm for a low/double charge.

unless a pretty good amount of powdre is missing, you cant get a squib when using a powder checker, this, and weighting each 10 rounds or so.....

even with variation in bullet weight, you can get a security check by weighting the exact powder load with the primer and case in the scale,take note of the weight, then put a finished rounds in the scale for a quick check lets say each 10 rounds or so... ..
 
Interesting thread for a guy like me who uses a single stage press and is thinking of adding a progressive. I agree with the light comments. I have a 100w reading lamp on a movable/extendable arm that I wouldn't be without.
 
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