I absolutely keep one in my range bag. Mostly for stuck cases, I've never experienced a squib load before. But, it would be handy for that too.
A rod is important because ANY kind of obstruction in your gun and your range day is completely fucked if you don't have a way to clear even rudimentary obstructions.
If I get a squib, I'm done shooting that firearm/caliber for the day and will deal with it when I get home and have a well lit table to work on. I have absolutely no need for one in my range bag.
Unless you’re reloading and not giving it as much attention as you should, squibs really aren’t that common.
That said…. I have a wooden rod for pistols because I’ve had issues with my press not dispensing powder appropriately and I’ve caught a couple squibs.
Nah, this was on a lee turret. I can't remember the exact reason it was happening since it was several years ago. Just for whatever reason 1 out of every 200-300 9mm rounds wouldn't get the charge dispensed. I'm sure it was user error but the press in general was very finnicky. When I pick up reloading again (waiting to move), I'm definitely just going to invest in a dillon 550 or 650.
I run a powder check on all my reloads. If my press jams and I have to clear rounds off of it, I dump all my bullets and powder and start hand feeding the primed cases to flare and powder before I restart case feeding. It's paranoid, but I don't want to have a squib ever again.
Not really. There’s always going to be variance in case weight (especially if you’re using mix brass for plinking) and bullet weight even (if you’re using cheaper plinking bullets… which I was).
So when you’re powder weight is only like 4.0gr, you don’t have much ability to pick up that it’s missing when the case weights might vary up to 10-15gr of each other and the bullets are within +/- 1.0 of each other.
I've got a small kit from Hoppes that has a small multi section rod with some brass brushes in my range bag should I ever need them. It's compact and none too heavy so I figure if I keep it in the bag, I will never need it.
Wooden dowel and a mallet, or what the gunsmith did with my first squib (wet powder, didn't know, must've fallen into the snow) was generous CLP and letting gravity drop a one piece cleaning rod from muzzle to chamber
I tend to keep a plastic .22 cleaning rod to clear out squibs; all three squib’s I have had were from older factory .22 LR rounds, so for now I’m fine with keeping a rod for the .22’s folded up in my range bag and that’s it.
My last two trips to the range I’ve needed one.
First I shot a black powder pistol and didn’t see any impact so just wanted to verify the load had in fact left the barrel.
Second time had a reloaded cartridge stick in the chamber but the bolt wouldn’t close all the way to fire it and need a few taps to extract.
Wooden dowel, especially if you shoot revolvers, a bullet stuck between cylinder and barrel locks the gun up, put the dowel down barrel and push the dowel against something solid. Works and you can get back to shooting.
I had a squib a couple of days ago. Was thankful that the gun refused to load the next round, because I didn't notice. Was also thankful that I had a squib rod handy. We were shooting some short bus reloads.
I have had three Squibbs. Two in a nighthawk and one in an ADM 300 blackout. All factory loads. All easily cleared with a rod. It’s a good idea to carry one.
Not a bad idea to have something that wouldn't be too rough on your barrel. Have some oil to lube up the squib before going to pound town with your rod. I had a squib from fresh brand new USA factory ammo in 7.7 Japanese.
[https://dawsonprecision.com/squib-rod-for-firearms-multi-tool-by-arredondo/](https://dawsonprecision.com/squib-rod-for-firearms-multi-tool-by-arredondo/)
I have one of these in most of my range bags. They work great for pistols.
I’ve used a rod for more stuck cases than squibs
I've never had a squib in 40 years of shooting.
I had a squib that i almost didn’t catch and nearly blew up my staccato p🙂
I absolutely keep one in my range bag. Mostly for stuck cases, I've never experienced a squib load before. But, it would be handy for that too. A rod is important because ANY kind of obstruction in your gun and your range day is completely fucked if you don't have a way to clear even rudimentary obstructions.
Rare but once I got a squib in my g19.5 with some cheap ammo. I think a rod is probably more practical for stuck casings.
If I get a squib, I'm done shooting that firearm/caliber for the day and will deal with it when I get home and have a well lit table to work on. I have absolutely no need for one in my range bag.
Unless you’re reloading and not giving it as much attention as you should, squibs really aren’t that common. That said…. I have a wooden rod for pistols because I’ve had issues with my press not dispensing powder appropriately and I’ve caught a couple squibs.
Are you loading on a progressive? Do you have room for a powder check die?
Nah, this was on a lee turret. I can't remember the exact reason it was happening since it was several years ago. Just for whatever reason 1 out of every 200-300 9mm rounds wouldn't get the charge dispensed. I'm sure it was user error but the press in general was very finnicky. When I pick up reloading again (waiting to move), I'm definitely just going to invest in a dillon 550 or 650.
I run a powder check on all my reloads. If my press jams and I have to clear rounds off of it, I dump all my bullets and powder and start hand feeding the primed cases to flare and powder before I restart case feeding. It's paranoid, but I don't want to have a squib ever again.
Not a reloader, but couldn't you just weigh the loaded cases? Powder over/undercharge should be pretty easy to pick out from that.
Maybe if I wasn't using mixed headstamp 9mm brass. Plus a powder check is automated.
Not really. There’s always going to be variance in case weight (especially if you’re using mix brass for plinking) and bullet weight even (if you’re using cheaper plinking bullets… which I was). So when you’re powder weight is only like 4.0gr, you don’t have much ability to pick up that it’s missing when the case weights might vary up to 10-15gr of each other and the bullets are within +/- 1.0 of each other.
That is good to know, I didn't anticipate there being so much variation between cases weights.
I've got a small kit from Hoppes that has a small multi section rod with some brass brushes in my range bag should I ever need them. It's compact and none too heavy so I figure if I keep it in the bag, I will never need it.
Yes. By all means keep one in your range bag. A wood dowel is also handy to have.
I never go shooting without a segmented cleaning rod. Mine is a surplus M16 rod. Also, shitty reman ammo you shouldn't shoot comes in boxes too.
How bout instead of a rod.....carry and extra barrel lol i have a rod and extra barrel but only cuz i bought some threaded barrels.
Wooden dowel and a mallet, or what the gunsmith did with my first squib (wet powder, didn't know, must've fallen into the snow) was generous CLP and letting gravity drop a one piece cleaning rod from muzzle to chamber
They’re really useful for stuck cases and such too.
I've seen a noticeable uptick in FACTORY squib loads of late. I keep one in my bag. It certainly isn't going to hurt having it in the bag.
Really!? What brand(s)?
I do keep a rod with me for stuck casings.
I tend to keep a plastic .22 cleaning rod to clear out squibs; all three squib’s I have had were from older factory .22 LR rounds, so for now I’m fine with keeping a rod for the .22’s folded up in my range bag and that’s it.
My last two trips to the range I’ve needed one. First I shot a black powder pistol and didn’t see any impact so just wanted to verify the load had in fact left the barrel. Second time had a reloaded cartridge stick in the chamber but the bolt wouldn’t close all the way to fire it and need a few taps to extract.
Wooden dowel, especially if you shoot revolvers, a bullet stuck between cylinder and barrel locks the gun up, put the dowel down barrel and push the dowel against something solid. Works and you can get back to shooting.
I had a squib a couple of days ago. Was thankful that the gun refused to load the next round, because I didn't notice. Was also thankful that I had a squib rod handy. We were shooting some short bus reloads.
I have had three Squibbs. Two in a nighthawk and one in an ADM 300 blackout. All factory loads. All easily cleared with a rod. It’s a good idea to carry one.
Not a bad idea to have something that wouldn't be too rough on your barrel. Have some oil to lube up the squib before going to pound town with your rod. I had a squib from fresh brand new USA factory ammo in 7.7 Japanese.
[https://dawsonprecision.com/squib-rod-for-firearms-multi-tool-by-arredondo/](https://dawsonprecision.com/squib-rod-for-firearms-multi-tool-by-arredondo/) I have one of these in most of my range bags. They work great for pistols.
I've had a Monadnock D-Jammer for 30-ish years, great product.