Squib Load Hazards
One of the things that a new shooter is grilled in is the need for being situationally aware of the possibility of the "squib load.” Being an extremely infrequent anomaly makes the squib load an insidious threat.
Brad Miller, over at American Handgunner has some pertinent comments.
I had been under the impression the bullet had to exit [the barrel] in order for there to be enough reciprocal rearward force to make the slide move far enough back to cycle the gun. I don’t know why I thought that, but I did. And I was wrong.
If that last round didn’t feel or sound right, you’d better check it out before you pull the trigger!
/fl