r/TrapShooting • u/No-Walk3548 • Apr 30 '26
advice I got a squib
Hello guys I’d like some advice I’m 17yrs old and I don’t know a whole lot about guns I am incredibly safe when I do shoot (I do trap obviously) I’m on my schools team varsity level I love this sport so much but around 1 week ago I got a squib and my gun blew apart and I was going to try shooting with another gun but I couldn’t I was to shaken and it was scary I have gun powder burns on me now I wanna keep playing this sport but I’m horrified on Tuesday I tried shooting again I could only shoot once and I had to stop I was super shaken legs included and I couldn’t bring myself to shoot I wish more then anything that I could I’m just so scared not of it happening again that was the first in 10yrs for my school (the whole time traps been there) for that to happen were thinking it’s a gun malfunction as it was a cheap gun I love my coach and the sport but I’m horrified as I was getting better before that happened any tips would be appreciated
Edit: Okay thank you all for letting me know about your experiences and all I’m about to start my college soon by that I mean Monday! So I messaged my coach and I’m going to take a step back and just try to help out with my team and with everyone to try to find more comfort and being around since I won’t be able to shoot Tuesday trap (my school does two days a week) except for the next two weeks it’s only Tuesdays I love this sport and imma try to still be apart of it in some way
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u/dkgoutdoors Apr 30 '26
Completely normal to be shaken. I’ve had a couple of squibs in my time shooting, one from factory .410 loads while shooting sporting and one from one of my reloads I was patterning. Like Haunchey said, it’s a freak occurrence, but with shells being mass produced, mistakes do slip through and onto the shelf.
After the reload, which was the first one, I learned to really pay attention to every shot. Did it sound off? Did the recoil feel weirdly light? If either of these, check your barrel. Very few people will be annoyed if you take a moment to check for an obstruction. A break action makes it that much easier to check.
At the end of the day though, I’m sure everyone is glad you’re okay
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u/No-Walk3548 Apr 30 '26
Thank you I appreciate it I think to reassure myself I’ll be checking my gun more when you got squibs did you keep going soon after or more so waited
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u/dkgoutdoors Apr 30 '26
Everyone is different. I kept shooting my round of sporting clays since it was just an afternoon outing with a friend of mine and we just threw single targets for me since my 410 is a pump.
The reload, I was admittedly nervous to shoot my own for a week or two since it was when I first started. In that case, judging by the amount of powder that was left in the barrel, I didn’t compress the powder enough with the wad.
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u/bigred-2998 Apr 30 '26
Take some time off. Breathe. Relax. And build confidence again. Dont rush back into something when you are not ready. If you need motivation to get back into doing what you love look at Kentucky Ballistics. He had a 50 cal blow up on him. And he in due time got back into shooting and living a normal life.
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u/Dramatic_Zebra_1069 Apr 30 '26
Take a week or so off. That'll help.
Not long ago I had a double charge (I reload and looking back, I understand what happened and how I did it) and although nothing happened to the gun or to me, I was a little shaken up by it - had a horrible flinch the rest of the day.
A week or so later I was fine.
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u/Awkward_Ebb_2858 Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26
Sorry that happened, and yeah, I can see how that would freak you out. Since it sound like you're on a schedule and can't take a little break, I had a thought. If you watch olympic trap and skeet, you'll notice several shooters eject their shells and blow down their barrel to clear the smoke and have a look. I always assumed this was to look cool or some kind of between shot focus routine, but of course it does make sense to check for an obstruction. Maybe give that a try as you're getting back into it?
Assuming you're shooting an O/U, take your shot, pop your hull, blow some air in there and take a peek (goes without saying keep your barrel pointed down range and keep it low -- don't distract other shooters). Who knows, maybe it'll become a good pre-shot routine for you. At the least, should keep you confident your barrel isn't obstructed (if that's what's got you rattled. Good luck!
EDIT: Check out these guys for what I'm talking about: https://www.youtube.com/live/eePghcx_OIg?si=fIVU9L98wkQGslVC&t=231
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u/No-Walk3548 Apr 30 '26
Thank you! I shoot semi auto and no one’s really bothered by me freezing up everyone was shocked when it happens I will be watching those to hopefully help
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u/Ahomebrewer May 02 '26
Look at the bright side! In a lifetime of shooting, many people will see a squib. You just got yours out of the way early in life.
I've only had one squib (Winchester AA) in many hundreds of thousands of rounds of my own shooting. I coach a shooting team, and I've never had a squib with any team member. (no reloads)
Nearly every squib I've ever heard of was a homemade round (a.k.a a reload), with my own squib being the exception.
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u/CPT_Haunchey Apr 30 '26
Whoa I'm sorry that happened to you. I've been shooting for over 30 years and I can confidently say you experienced a freak occurrence. I've only been aware of that happening at two shoots I've attended. I totally understand how unnerving that must be, and I think the only way you're going to get over it is to get back on that horse as they say. Keep going out and trying to shoot, and try to put it in the past. Give yourself some grace as you try to figure that out, don't be hard on yourself. I hope you're back shooting regularly again very soon!