FSC - Firearm Safety Certificate Ammunition and Malfunctions Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a "stovepipe" malfunction in a semi-automatic pistol?
- A round that fails to feed from the magazine
- A spent casing that fails to fully eject and is caught vertically in the ejection port, resembling a stovepipe (Correct answer)
- A double-feed where two rounds try to chamber simultaneously
- A firing pin that strikes but fails to ignite the primer
Correct answer: A spent casing that fails to fully eject and is caught vertically in the ejection port, resembling a stovepipe
A stovepipe is a type of failure-to-eject malfunction where a spent casing is not fully expelled from the ejection port and stands vertically, resembling a stovepipe. It is typically cleared with the "tap-rack" malfunction clearance procedure: tap the magazine base, rack the slide, and attempt to fire.
Question 2: What is a "double-feed" malfunction and how is it cleared?
- Two bullets loaded into one casing; cleared by replacing the magazine
- Two rounds attempting to chamber simultaneously; cleared by locking back the slide, removing the magazine, clearing the chamber, reinserting the magazine, and chambering a round (Correct answer)
- A magazine feeding too fast; cleared by slowing the trigger pull
- A firing pin striking twice; cleared by returning to the manufacturer
Correct answer: Two rounds attempting to chamber simultaneously; cleared by locking back the slide, removing the magazine, clearing the chamber, reinserting the magazine, and chambering a round
A double-feed occurs when two rounds attempt to enter the chamber at the same time. Clearing it requires: locking the slide back, removing the magazine (may need to rip it out), working the slide 2-3 times to clear the chamber, inserting a fresh magazine, and racking the slide to chamber a round. This is more complex than a simple tap-rack.
Question 3: What is a "hangfire" and how should it be handled?
- A round that detonates while still in the magazine; remove the magazine immediately
- A delayed ignition where the round fires after a short delay following the trigger pull — keep the firearm pointed downrange for at least 30 seconds before clearing (Correct answer)
- A round that gets stuck in the feeding ramp; clear by tapping the magazine
- A misfire that will never fire; immediately eject and dispose of the cartridge
Correct answer: A delayed ignition where the round fires after a short delay following the trigger pull — keep the firearm pointed downrange for at least 30 seconds before clearing
A hangfire is a delayed ignition of a cartridge — the primer ignites the powder charge after a slight delay. If you hear a click instead of a bang, keep the firearm pointed downrange (or in a safe direction) for at least 30 seconds before treating it as a misfire and clearing. A hangfire may fire at any moment during this period.
Question 4: What type of ammunition is generally prohibited from being used in most shooting ranges?
- Full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition
- Hollow point ammunition
- Armor-piercing or steel-core ammunition that can damage range equipment and backstops (Correct answer)
- Subsonic ammunition
Correct answer: Armor-piercing or steel-core ammunition that can damage range equipment and backstops
Most indoor and outdoor shooting ranges prohibit armor-piercing, steel-core, tracer, or incendiary ammunition because these can penetrate and damage steel range equipment, cause fires (tracers/incendiary), or compromise backstop integrity. Standard FMJ and hollow point ammunition is generally acceptable at most ranges.
Question 5: How should corroded, damaged, or questionable ammunition be handled?
- Fire it at a range to test if it still works
- Attempt to clean the corrosion with solvent and then fire it
- Dispose of it safely according to local regulations — do not attempt to fire it (Correct answer)
- Store it separately and use it only as a last resort
Correct answer: Dispose of it safely according to local regulations — do not attempt to fire it
Corroded, cracked, deformed, or otherwise damaged ammunition should never be fired. Compromised ammunition can cause dangerous malfunctions including squib loads, stuck cases, or catastrophic over-pressure. Contact your local gun shop, law enforcement, or hazardous materials disposal service for safe disposal options.
Question 6: What is the correct "tap-rack-assess" malfunction clearance procedure?
- Tap the ejection port, rack a new round, assess the situation
- Tap (slap) the magazine base firmly to ensure seating, rack the slide vigorously to eject and chamber a new round, then assess whether the threat is resolved (Correct answer)
- Tap the barrel to dislodge obstructions, rack the slide, assess for damage
- Tap the safety off, rack the hammer back, assess your target
Correct answer: Tap (slap) the magazine base firmly to ensure seating, rack the slide vigorously to eject and chamber a new round, then assess whether the threat is resolved
The tap-rack-assess (or tap-rack-bang) is the standard immediate action drill for most semi-auto malfunctions: (1) Tap the bottom of the magazine firmly to ensure it is seated, (2) Rack the slide vigorously to eject the problematic round and chamber a new one, (3) Assess the situation. This clears most failure-to-fire and failure-to-eject malfunctions.
FSC - Firearm Safety Certificate Ammunition and Malfunctions Questions and Answers 2
What is a "stovepipe" malfunction in a semi-automatic pistol?