Firearm Stoppages and Malfunctions Flashcards
7 cards from real RSO practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Firearm Stoppages and Malfunctions flashcards as text
A shooter experiences a 'squib load' where the bullet lodges in the barrel. What is the RSO's immediate concern if the shooter fires another round?
Answer: A catastrophic barrel obstruction and possible firearm destruction
Firing a round into an obstructed barrel can cause catastrophic pressure buildup, destroying the firearm and injuring the shooter and bystanders.
Which of the following best describes a 'double feed' malfunction?
Answer: A live round and an unfired case both present in the chamber area
A double feed occurs when a live round tries to enter the chamber while an unfired case is still there, typically requiring a lock-rip-rack-reload clearance.
During a range exercise, a semi-auto pistol fires but the slide does not return to battery. What should the RSO instruct the shooter to do first?
Answer: Keep the firearm pointed downrange and assess the situation
The first priority is maintaining muzzle direction downrange while assessing what caused the slide to remain out of battery.
A revolver fails to cycle to the next chamber after firing. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: A spent case protruding from a cylinder chamber blocking cylinder rotation
A high primer or protruding spent case can catch on the recoil shield and prevent the cylinder from rotating.
Which clearance procedure is commonly called 'Tap-Rack-Bang' (or Tap-Rack-Assess)?
Answer: Type 1 failure-to-fire / failure-to-feed clearance
Tap-Rack-Assess is the standard Type 1 clearance for a failure to fire or failure to feed: tap the magazine, rack the slide, assess before firing.
A 'stovepipe' malfunction is most accurately described as:
Answer: An empty case caught vertically in the ejection port preventing slide closure
A stovepipe occurs when an ejected case is not fully cleared and stands upright in the ejection port, resembling a stovepipe.
When an RSO observes a shooter experiencing repeated malfunctions with the same ammunition in multiple firearms, what should the RSO suspect?
Answer: Defective or non-standard ammunition
Malfunctions that occur across multiple firearms with the same lot of ammunition strongly indicate a defective or non-compliant ammunition batch.