Stuck bullet in barrel
 

I was shooting some reloads in my 9mm luger today. Loaded 5.0 gr. Bullseye. All shots fired and cycled the action just fine until...nothing! I opened the action to find an empty case. Looking down the barrel revealed a bullet stuck in the bore. I had a wood dowel and hammer with me but it wouldn't budge the bullet. So, what would be the best way to remove said bullet? A metal rod?
Thanks for your help,
Major Tom

I think you'll do OK with the wood once you get the upper into a padded vise. A dowel OD as close as possible to the bore would be the most businesslike in delivering the taps to the bullet.

Two answers- direct opposites-
don't use wood, use metal of near bore diameter; wood will deform around the projectile and then you will have wood and a bullet in the bore.

I'd either pull the rest down, if any are left; or if someone else's reloads just throw them away.

Thanks for the replies! The reloads were mine @ 5gr. Bullseye under the 90gr. .309 Hornady bullet. The wood dowel did start to split so I quit using it. It was definitely a squib load probably only primer fired as the bullet is stuck just ahead of the chamber. Being a 4 inch barrel I will use a drill bit (reversed) to get it out. In 55+ years of reloading I have never had a squib load but $hit happens. I had only loaded 8 rounds and they all fired OK except that last one. BTW, those 7 rounds were very accurate @ 25 yards.

I had to get not one, but 3 bullets out of a now-bulged artillery Luger. I did muzzle down on a lightly padded anvil and a heavy hammer. I don't recall the material of the rod. Generally it helps to drill thru the bullet to relieve pressure. If you can reach it.
Jacketed or cast bullet?
dju

Do NOT just stick a drill bit down there and start drilling. You must use a tube or something to keep the bit away from the bore.

It is a jacketed bullet HP. No, I will not "drill" with the drill bit. Just will select a close fitting bit, reverse the bit (shank end in first) and tap it out.

I would expect a drill bit to crack/break, they are quite hard.
Depending on where/how it breaks, you may not be able to get it out.:eek:

The right size hard wood dowel rod, a liberal shot of break free and a big hammer works for me

I would use a Phillips screwdriver and tap it out from the muzzle end.
Norm

Put some Kroil oil down there to help it along.

I am a bit confused about your information. In you OP you state that you are firing your 9MM Luger with some of your reloads. Then later in this thread, you state that your 9mm reloads are loaded with 90gr .309in. Hornady HP bullets behind 5.0gr of Bulleye powder.

Hornaday 90gr .309 bullets are designed for 30 Luger brass, and would be too small in diameter for 9mm brass. They would just drop into a 9mm brass case.

So were you firing 9mm, or 30 Luger handguns, and what was your load. :confused:

If it was me i would insert a primed 9mm case containing 5gr of bullseye into the chamber with the muzzle pointing up. When the case is fully seated you can point the muzzle anyway you want, now the powder wont spill.
Then push the button and let it "clean" itself.

I have done it several times and it is borderline boring and just like firing a normal cartridge.

Give it an enema, it may not help but it can't hurt.
Norm

Norm,
normally I would not contradict you, but to use a phillips or any screw driver or any pointed object, will only serve to expand the bullet more firmly into the rifling.

A flat rod is the way to go.

One might get buy with it if the bullet is only "slightly" stuck, but this one has already been beat on with a stick. The OP may have to resort to a pilot drill before he is done.

Rich,
don't even say that in jest, someone will think you are serious.

Chickenthief,
If one is absolutely positive there is only one bullet in the barrel, maybe- but once you make a recommendation you "own" the result.

I would use a Phillips screwdriver and tap it out from the muzzle end.

The round nose bullet would let the sharp nose of the screwdriver slip to the side and scrape the chamber and or the lands & grooves. Kinda bad advice IMO.

Over the years I've removed many a stuck bullet from the bores of rifles and pistols. (About 30 years as a full time gunsmith.)DO NOT use wood. Use aluminum, brass or steel, ONE PIECE rods that are near bore diameter, and do not protrude from the bore more than about 6" from the end you are going to tap on. Spray some of your favorite oil in the bore from the end the bullet will travel through, usually the chamber end, if it was a squib. Clamp the barrel firmly in a padded vise. Now insert the rod and bring it up against the projectile, hold it firmly, and give it a good strike with you favorite brass mallet. 1 or 2 hits will usually do the job.
Wood is a VERY bad idea, as it will typically break up and lodge pieces around the nose of the bullet, making any further attempts much more difficult. DO NOT use wood, of any type.

I'm always surprised just how tight a bullet is in the bore in these situations. Makes me wonder if they don't elongate just a bit at the moment of firing.

It is a 9mm. I was also shootinG a 30 luger too and got old age mixed upitis. I did get the bullet out easily with the drill bit. Not tightly stuck at all.

How can this happen and how can it be prevented in the future?