Firearm Stoppages and Malfunctions Flashcards

An RSO observes a shooter's revolver cylinder binding and refusing to rotate after live firing in sandy conditions. What is the most likely cause?

Answer: Debris or fouling accumulation around the cylinder axis or crane preventing rotation

Sand, grit, or fouling around the cylinder crane or axis pin can bind cylinder rotation; thorough cleaning resolves this environmental malfunction.

During a carbine course, a shooter's AR-15 goes fully into battery but fails to fire when the trigger is pulled. The primer shows a light strike mark. What should the RSO first suspect?

Answer: A worn or broken hammer spring or debris obstructing the firing pin channel

Light primer strikes in AR-pattern rifles are commonly caused by a weakened hammer spring or carbon fouling restricting firing pin travel.

Which condition describes a firearm that continues firing after the trigger is released on a semi-automatic platform?

Answer: Slam fire or runaway condition

A runaway or slam-fire condition occurs when the disconnector fails to hold the hammer, causing continuous fire independent of trigger release.

A shooter on the range has a semi-auto pistol with the slide locked back but the magazine still has rounds. What should the RSO identify as a potential cause?

Answer: The slide stop was inadvertently engaged by the shooter's thumb during firing

High-grip shooters often place their thumb on or near the slide stop, which can prematurely lock the slide back before the magazine is empty.

After a cease-fire is called due to a range malfunction, when should the RSO allow shooters to handle their firearms to clear malfunctions?

Answer: Only after the RSO has assessed the situation and determined it is safe to proceed

The RSO must evaluate the nature of the malfunction before permitting firearm handling to ensure no hangfire or other hazard is present.

An RSO finds that a particular magazine brand consistently causes failures to feed in multiple shooters' identical pistols. What corrective action should the RSO take?

Answer: Remove the suspect magazines from use and document the failures

Magazines that consistently cause malfunctions across identical firearms indicate a magazine defect and should be removed and documented for safety.

A shooter's semi-auto rifle chambers a round but the bolt does not fully close, leaving a small gap. What is the RSO's primary safety concern?

Answer: Firing out of battery can cause case head separation and hot gas venting into the action

Firing a cartridge when the bolt is not fully locked (out of battery) risks case head separation and exposes the shooter and bystanders to high-pressure gas.