Final answer:
The claim that a squib load is a round failing to fire due to insufficient powder/primer is false. A squib load actually refers to a round that fires but lacks sufficient force for the projectile to exit the barrel due to an underpowered charge.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a squib load is a round which fails to fire due to insufficient powder/primer is actually false. A squib load usually refers to a malfunction in firearms where a bullet is fired but does not have enough force from the powder charge to exit the barrel.
This situation can be extremely dangerous, as it may lead to a bore obstruction, which if unnoticed, can cause barrel damage or injury if another round is fired.
To be precise, the term squib load is specific to the situation where the projectile does not have enough propellant force behind it to clear the barrel. This is often due to a fault in the cartridge where the primer is good enough to ignite the powder, but there is an insufficient quantity of powder, or the powder fails to burn properly. Therefore, while related to the primer and powder, it specifically refers to an underpowered cartridge, not necessarily one that fails to fire at all.