New Gun, Training & Handling

Clearing A Misfeed

Malfunctions can happen with all machines, and so it is with a gun. Learning the techniques of clearing a misfeed in your gun safely is very important. There are a number of causes for malfunctions with your gun. They can be caused by the ammunition not performing correctly, the gun itself may have an internal mechanical issue, your gun is very dirty, or they can occur due to human error. This article will focus on the type of malfunction known as MISFEEDS. Your ability to quickly and safely clear a misfeed in your gun enables you to better protect yourself and to prevent an accidental discharge of your gun.

What Is A Misfeed In Your Gun?

The misfeed is the most common form of malfunction with a gun. This happens when the round is not properly chambered and the gun jams. There are three different types of misfeeds that can happen with your gun.

One of the greatest advantages of revolvers is that if you have a malfunction, most can be solved by simply pulling the trigger again.

A Semi-Automatic Pistol relies on the action of the slide to eject the spent shell and draw in the next round into the chamber. Sometimes this doesn’t go as it should and a round of ammunition does not enter the chamber properly, so clearing a misfeed is a skill necessary so you can defend yourself.

The task in clearing a misfeed is to remove the jammed round and get a new round into the chamber as quickly as possible.

Clearing The Three different types of misfeeds

Clearing A Type 1 Misfeed – FAILURE TO FEED

Photo credit: Concealed Nation

First is the Failure To Feed, in which around was not loaded into the chamber (e.g. you didn’t rack the slide after you loaded a magazine, or the magazine wasn’t seated (inserted fully) enough to load a round). This malfunction is not necessarily visible, but when you have pulled the trigger nothing happens.

Follow these instructions in this order!

Step 1: TAPFirmly tap the bottom of the magazine with the base of your palm. If the magazine was not firmly in place the slide would have failed to pick up the next round for chambering, so this firm tap properly seats the magazine for proper feeding.

You must tap the magazine into place first, before moving to the next step.

Photo credit: NRA Family

Step 2: ROLL"Roll" the firearm approx. 90 degrees to the right to "tip" the ejection port.

Photo Credit: Modern Self Protection

Step 3: RACKRack the slide firmly and completely to the rear. If the previous round of ammunition had been a dud and not an empty chamber, it will be ejected now. Do not ride the slide as it moves forward. Pull it all the way back and let it go under its own tension. As the slide comes forward again, it will pick up a fresh round from the top of the firmly seated magazine.
Step 4: ASSESSVisually check and assess your target. Verify that you need to shoot.

Clearing A Type 2 Misfeed  – The  STOVEPIPE

Photo Credit: Concealed Nation

A stovepipe occurs when the casing from the round that was just fired is not fully ejected. The casing is caught in the ejection port by the slide.

Step 1: TAPFirmly tap the bottom of the magazine with the base of your palm

Photo credit: NRA Family

Step 2: ROLL"Roll" the firearm approx. 90 degrees to the right to "tip" the ejection port.

Photo Credit: Modern Self Protection

Step 3: RACKRack the slide firmly and completely all the way to the rear. The jammed casing will be fall out as the pressure has been released and the gun is rolled to the side. Do not ride the slide as it moves forward. Pull it all the way back and let it go under its own tension. As the slide comes forward again, it will pick up a fresh round from the top of the firmly seated magazine.
Step 4: ASSESSVisually check and assess your target. Verify that you need to shoot.

Clearing A  Type 3 Misfeed – The DOUBLE FEED

Photo Credit: NRA

A double feed happens when two rounds try to enter the chamber of a semi-automatic at the same time. Because there is not enough room for both, the gun locks up with the slide partially to the rear. The slide has limited motion and the magazine will not eject by pressing the magazine release. It cannot be fired again until the problem is cleared away.

Step 1: TAP - ROLL - RACK - as aboveUpon performing this action, it will become immediately evident that you have a double feed because the slide will not function normally. Even if you think you know you have a double feed, don't skip this step. It is an important step in diagnosing the type of misfeed you have.

Photo credit: NRA Family

Step 2: UNLOADFirst, press up on the slide release / slide-stop lever and lock the slide to the rear. There is a lot of tension, to be able to remove the magazine in the next step, you must alleviate it. It may appear that the slide is locked back, but it is not. You will need to pull hard on the rear of the slide and press up on the slide stop lever to lock it in place.

Second, press the magazine release and strip the magazine from the mag well. It will not drop free on its own with this malfunction and you may have to pull hard to release it.
Step 3: CLEARRack the slide a full 3 times to clear it of all ammunition.
STEP 4: RELOADInsert a new loaded magazine
Step 5: RACKRack the slide to chamber a round.
Step 6: ASSESSVisually check and assess your target. Verify that you need to shoot.

Final Thoughts on Clearing A Misfeed

Note: It is important to note that the immediate action to clear all three misfeeds are initially identical. If all three misfeeds were cleared differently, under extreme stress it would take time you don’t have to access the misfeed and decide how to clear it.

Failures to fire can also be caused by poor ammunition. It does not react as expected when the primer is struck. In some cases, the fault may lie within the mechanics of the firearm. Worn springs or dirty firing pin channels may not allow the firing pin to strike the primer as hard as it must be struck in order to fire the round.

In failures-to-fire caused by worn or broken parts or by dirty internal parts, simply clearing the previous round out of the way might temporarily allow other rounds to fire. The firearm must be cleaned or repaired as soon as possible. Tap, Rack, (Assess and) Bang is, in such cases, merely a temporary fix and not a permanent cure.”

You can also watch a video by Clint Smith on this technique by clicking here

 

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5 thoughts on “Clearing A Misfeed

  1. I own a CZ SP75 01 I am dealing with a few now and then bullets will not chamber it goes into barrel but slide will not close due to that bullet jams up the fire pin seems to be sticking out in one of my pictures and the shell is below that fire pin so my question is ….Is this problem ths shooter / Me … or is it a bullet case issue and or a loose mag im just confused on if the gun needs repair or it this this issue being caused by the ammo im using or am i limp wristing a round now and then ?? Marty

  2. Erin says:

    I was in my CPL yesterday (yay!). My instructor insisted we remove the magazine before clearing any of these. Just curious about your input on that. I really love this site, thank you for all you do.

    1. Carrie Lightfoot says:

      Congratulations Erin on getting your CPL!!! This might be the instructors’ practice for safety purposes with new or newer students, but type 1 and type 2 don’t require the removal of the magazine. When training for a self-defense situation, the clearing of a misfeed must be as fast as possible to be able to get your gun functioning and back on target immediately. Every second counts. So, I wouldn’t add any action that wasn’t necessary and that would slow down clearing. I hope this makes sense Erin.

    2. Marty Beckman says:

      Always !!!! remove the magazine

  3. I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty.
    You are wonderful! Thanks!

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