My First Squib, Ever

[MarcSpaz]

Well, I had my first squib ever, while shooting my 300 BO today. I was at a range with hearing protection, a suppressor, subsonic rounds and a bunch of other rifle shooters. I didn't hear any difference in the shots. The only reason I didn't blow-up my barrel is because the next round wouldn't feed.

When I couldn't get a round in the chamber, I pulled the bolt and didn't see any light.

I took it to Virginia Arms and their armorer was able to clear it for me. The theory is, it was a primer only squib, as the second the round hit the rifling, it stopped dead. I didn't go back to the range to test... but I think its going to be fine. The bullet was in near perfect shape and the barrel looked perfect. I'll head to the range again next weekend and test it again. Hopefully all is good.

The ammo was questionable from the jump. In 33 rounds, I had 2 fail to fires, 3 fail to ejects, and the squib. I was using Armscor 208gr subsonics. I have used there 220gr subs and their 147gr supersonics without problems... but I think I am going to stay away from the brand for awhile. I bought it at VA Arms. They gave me an unsolicited refund on the ammo I bought (which is unheard of anywhere) and the guys pulled the ammo from the shelves. They all came from the same lot, so hopefully they will get taken care of.

[SHMIV]

I wonder if someone else had issues with the same ammo?

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[MarcSpaz]

Its possible. The owner pulled his sale records and saw that (of that batch) he only sold 10 or 12 boxes to 3 other customers... then I had purchased 8 boxes. He hasn't heard from anyone else as of yesterday, though.

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[Reverenddel]

Hopefully they shoot it before they depend on it!

I buy 5.56 and sit on it for a year or two while shooting the older... That's a bad situation sometimes with "bad loads".

[Snakester]

I've never had that happen but , it does sound like bad ammo. I was at a private range several years ago when a guy shooting a Ruger Mini 30. I noticed he was having all kinds of issues. Finally he stopped shooting and the range master stepped in when he was getting all bent out of shape. Waving the gun all around and turning it in ALL directions . It didn't take long to figure out that he was shooting bad ammo.

The range master told me later that the primer fired but not all the powder and the bullet only went about 11/2" down the barrel. When it fired , of course the sound was proof that the bullet did not fire as it should. He was lucky that was the last round in the gun.

So if the gun doesn't operate as designed ....Will not load or eject as it should , It is most likely the ammo. I've shot lots of Armscor and never had any problems so far.

With all the noise going on in the range where you were shooting and with ear protection , you were lucky it would not load another round. Could have been Deadly !

[FiremanBob]

Armscor is developing an unenviable reputation.

[MarcSpaz]

With all the noise going on in the range where you were shooting and with ear protection , you were lucky it would not load another round. Could have been Deadly !

No doubt. Even subsonics can grenade a barrel and kill someone. I am extremely lucky.

Armscor is developing an unenviable reputation.

I never heard of them before about 6 months ago. After the squib, I did a search for reviews. They wrote most of the reviews on Lucky Gunner themselves. There are a few right-ups about rounds blowing up in the barrel instead of sending the round down range.

I'm pretty sure I'm done with them.