So, you might be wondering, “What the heck is a squib?” A squib is what happens when you pull the trigger and something’s off. If you're at the range shooting alone, you'll probably know it right away; the sound isn’t the sharp bang you expect. It’s more of a pop or a weak poof. That’s because the bullet didn’t leave the barrel like it’s supposed to. Now, if you're in the middle of a gunfight, you might not realize it at first due to the chaos and adrenaline. Sometimes, the bullet does leave the barrel but with very little force, which can make it even trickier to catch. Either way, recognizing a squib is critical to avoiding bigger problems. The powder inside the cartridge either didn’t ignite fully or didn’t ignite at all. You’ve now got a bullet stuck in your barrel and if you don’t recognize it, things can get ugly fast. If it does get stuck and you fire another round without clearing the barrel, best case, your gun gets wrecked. Worst case, you injure yourself or someone else. A bulged or exploded barrel is no joke, and neither is a trip to the ER.