Squib Removal Tool

[MCPO]

Had my first experience with a squib last week. Shooting a 9mm - heard a swish and a lot of smoke - not the usually 'bang'. No recoil of slide. I dropped the mag and racked the slide and a spent cartridge ejected. Looking down the barrel - no light.

The range had an old cleaning rod we used with a brass hammer to drive the bullet out (barrel removed and driven out from the chamber side).

After-wards I ran a cleaning rod with brass brush down a few times and went back to shooting. All good.

The ammo was a green box of Remington/umc 9mm Luger bought in a case from Dick's Sporting Goods.

Found out Brownells carries a Squib Rod (http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/productdetail.aspx?p=1251&st=&s=) for the standard calibers.

My question - how many of you carry a brass rod and hammer in your range bag??? If not what do you use to clear a squib???

[log man]

For the safety of my barrels I carry a wood dowel, but I might add have never had a squib. Well, almost, in the shop because I wanted to see what an empty case squib would be like, and so I fired one. The wood dowel knocked it out with ease. I have also slugged barrels and driven bullets through with, yep, a wood dowel.

LOG

[Bud White]

wood dowel rod works the best

[Hawkmoon]

My question - how many of you carry a brass rod and hammer in your range bag??? If not what do you use to clear a squib???
I do. Nothing fancy -- I bought a length of brass rod at Lowe's or Home Depot, cut off a section about 8" long, cleaned up the ends with a file and then some emery paper, and tossed it in the range bag. I also have a smaller diameter rod for .22s.

[Bluffton45]

A handy & durable squib rod is a 3/8" wooden dowel cut to a convenient length. Sand the ends until a .38 special case fits over. Use a tubing cutter to cut off the the rim & web area of the cases. This will crimp the cases onto the dowel making a very durable rod.

Ron

[MCPO]

Thanks guys, I like the wooden dowel idea. May have to spend some time on "Black Friday" at Lowe's :)

May have to follow Bluffton45's idea for a .45 'squib remover' while I'm at it.

[Gordon Jr.]

I carry a brass rod and a small hammer in my bag always. I have luckily never had to use it on any of my loads, but I have used them on some squibs other shooters have had at our range and matches.

[Baldy]

I got a couple of teflon rods that I carry. I have knocked a few out for other folks but none for myself yet. Hope my luck holds out.

[TonyW]

After some experimentation discovering that with lead reloads, sometimes the squib needs a lot more than a wooden dowel to knock it out, I cut an aluminum 3/8th" inch rod to about 10 inches and fitted a fired .40 S&W case to each end with some epoxy. This gives a nice square surface for a punch, and the AL rod is less expensive than brass. Even though I carry this and a brass hammer in my bag, I think it is better to carry a spare pistol and take the squibbed barrel home (if it's yours) to make sure you have a good surface to place it on that can't possibly hurt it - like several layers of dense carpet.

[MCPO]

. . . I think it is better to carry a spare pistol and take the squibbed barrel home . . .

I do believe I agree Tony. I usually carry 2 guns, just different calibers - a 9mm or a .38 Spl and a .45 or a 40S&W.
May re-think that and carry 2 or more of the same caliber.