How to Deal with Misfires and Malfunctions in Pistols

If you are a gun enthusiast, one of the worst feelings is being on the range or in a competition, aiming your pistol, pulling the trigger, and nothing happens. The round might be stuck, it may have failed to feed, or it might have malfunctioned for any number of reasons. Now, you are looking down at your Taurus 1911 like it is nearly useless. How do you fix it? With these simple tips, you can quickly find a solution for the misfire or malfunction and continue your training or competition.

Failing to Feed or Fire Failing to feed or fire is easy to tell by a single, dreaded sound: the click. You pull the trigger, and instead of a loud bang, all you hear is a disappointing click. To clear your handgun of the dreaded failure to feed or fire, tap the magazine baseplate forcefully, which will ensure the magazine is seated correctly. Then, rack the slide to clear the chamber and cycle a new round. If you are using a fresh magazine, it could be a weak magazine spring or a defective primer on the round. It might also be a weak or broken firing pin, though weak firing pins are rare when the pistol uses an inertia-based system like the 1911 or CZ75. Striker-fired guns, such as a Glock 35, require spring pressure and are more likely to need a replacement striker assembly. If the click rarely happens, it is likely an ammunition issue. As a side note, if you hear anything more than a click, like a pop or poof, the primer ignited and the bullet is in the barrel. Do not chamber another round, and inspect the bore, as you might have a squib. The Tip-Up A widespread malfunction is commonly referred to as the tip-up. This happens when the round feeds from the magazine but does not enter the chamber. Instead, the bullet’s nose gets lodged against the barrel hood and locks the action. Eject the mag, insert a new mag, and rack the slide to clear it. This process should eject the old round and chamber a new round. If it is too tightly jammed, hitting the mag release may not eject the mag, and you may have to strip it out with your support hand. Retracting the slide and jiggling the loose round out may work. However, it could jam it further. The cause of the tip-up can be worn feeding lips on the mag, a weak magazine spring, or it could be specific loads that do not work with your gun. Doubling-Feeding the Chamber As the name implies, double-feeding the chamber occurs when a second round jumps and tries to enter the chamber. It jams against the base, and your HK USP slide will not go into battery. The immediate action drill is the same as the tip-up. This is a magazine malfunction, and worn feed lips are the most common reason you will have a double-feed. The Stovepipe If the casing does not fully clear the gun during extraction, you get what is known as a stovepipe, which looks like a smokestack. Keep a firm grip on the pistol with your firing hand and use your support hand to grab the case while racking the slide back, allowing the gun to cycle a new round. The cause is likely a worn recoil spring or dirty chamber. However, it can also be the result of a lack of lubrication or because your wrist was too limp. About GunBroker.com GunBroker.com is the ultimate online marketplace for buying, selling, and browsing user listings for firearms. It remains among the most trusted platforms anywhere for buying and selling guns, ammunition, parts, accessories, and a whole lot more. Sellers can always trust the secure, easy-to-use sales and auction processes, and buyers love having access to a streamlined, safe platform featuring such a wide variety of listings. Plus, GunBroker.com provides an invaluable community for gun enthusiasts across the country to share information, ask questions, and discuss their passion for firearms. Whether you are trying to find a Barrett 50 cal, 243 ammo, a Mac 11 gun, or almost anything else, be sure to check the user listing on GunBroker.com to find the next addition to your collection. Find ammo, firearms, and dummy rounds for practice from user listings at https://www.gunbroker.com/ Original Source: https://bit.ly/3AxZUqk