I've been shooting for nearly 60 years, and reloading my own ammo for 36 years. I've never before stuck a bullet in a barrel. Yesterday, I had my first.
Shooting cast bullet 9mm Luger loads in a Colt Government Model. I'd already fired 50 jacketed bullets, then another 43 cast bullet loads. Shot number 44 of the cast loads would not chamber. Nor would cartridge #45. This was when I noticed a smoked 9mm casing at my feet. I removed the magazine and looked down the barrel. It was dark. Uh-oh.
I was lucky on this one. With a short, narrow stick, I was able to ascertain that there was only one bullet stuck. The base of the bullet was barely past the lip in the chamber where the case head spaces off of. It was stuck in the leade of the rifling. Which was a very good thing, because it prevented another cartridge from going into battery and being fired. Which was probably what would've happened, as I had no sensation of a squib load when #43 fired.
When I got home, I was able to easily drive the stuck bullet out with a length of aluminum rod. After cleaning the barrel, there was no evidence of damage done. Which is a very good thing, as this pistol is one I rather prize and it isn't a cheap object.
This was in a last batch of ammo I loaded on progressive equipment before I discontinued that method. My sense of what happened is that the cause was a light load. The bullets in these rounds had hefty seating friction and I don't think the mere detonation of a primer would've dislodged the bullet. Plus the fact that I had no sensation of an anomaly, and the fired case ejected.
Shooting cast bullet 9mm Luger loads in a Colt Government Model. I'd already fired 50 jacketed bullets, then another 43 cast bullet loads. Shot number 44 of the cast loads would not chamber. Nor would cartridge #45. This was when I noticed a smoked 9mm casing at my feet. I removed the magazine and looked down the barrel. It was dark. Uh-oh.
I was lucky on this one. With a short, narrow stick, I was able to ascertain that there was only one bullet stuck. The base of the bullet was barely past the lip in the chamber where the case head spaces off of. It was stuck in the leade of the rifling. Which was a very good thing, because it prevented another cartridge from going into battery and being fired. Which was probably what would've happened, as I had no sensation of a squib load when #43 fired.
When I got home, I was able to easily drive the stuck bullet out with a length of aluminum rod. After cleaning the barrel, there was no evidence of damage done. Which is a very good thing, as this pistol is one I rather prize and it isn't a cheap object.
This was in a last batch of ammo I loaded on progressive equipment before I discontinued that method. My sense of what happened is that the cause was a light load. The bullets in these rounds had hefty seating friction and I don't think the mere detonation of a primer would've dislodged the bullet. Plus the fact that I had no sensation of an anomaly, and the fired case ejected.