3 Types of Firearm Malfunctions

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Guide 01 · Chapter 03 · Common Firearm Malfunctions · 3.1

3 Types of Firearm Malfunctions

A firearm malfunction — often called a stoppage — can happen for a range of reasons: poor maintenance, unsuitable or incorrectly loaded ammunition, poor shooting technique, or a faulty part. Every shooter runs into one eventually, and being able to identify what's actually gone wrong, and clear it safely, is a core skill.

Put simply, a malfunction is any failure of a firearm to operate as intended — it doesn't fire as it should, or doesn't fire at all. The cause usually comes down to one of three things: an ammunition fault, a mechanical fault, or shooter error.

Most firearm malfunctions fall into one of three broad training categories — Type 1, Type 2, or Type 3 — each with its own recognised clearance drill. Here's a quick map before we go through each one in detail.

Type 1
Click, no bang. A failure to feed or fire.
Type 2
Dead trigger, no click. A failure to eject.
Type 3
Dead trigger, visible double feed. The most involved to clear.
Before You Rely On This

These categories are genuinely useful for training, and cover the vast majority of stoppages you'll encounter — but they're not the whole picture. A hazard like a suspected bore obstruction is a different kind of problem entirely, and treating it like a routine Type 1–3 malfunction could be dangerous. If a shot ever sounds or feels distinctly abnormal, stop, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, and physically inspect the firearm before assuming any standard clearance drill applies.

Type 1 Malfunctions

A Type 1 malfunction is commonly referred to as a failure to feed or failure to fire.

What You Notice
An audible click, but no bang, when the trigger is pressed.
What May Be Happening
The round hasn't chambered or fired properly.
The Solution

Run the Tap Rack Bang drill — covered in detail in the next module.

Type 2 Malfunctions

A Type 2 malfunction is commonly referred to as a failure to eject.

What You Notice
A dead trigger — nothing happens, not even a click.
What May Be Happening
The spent casing hasn't cleared the chamber.
The Solution

As with a Type 1 — run the Tap Rack Bang drill.

Note: some causes of a Type 2 malfunction may require you to improve your shooting fundamentals, or to ensure sufficient propellant charge in handloaded ammunition.

Type 3 Malfunctions

A Type 3 malfunction is the least common of the three, and the most problematic to deal with, since it takes the most time to clear. When it does occur, it's most commonly in the form of a double feed.

What You Notice
A dead trigger, just like a Type 2 — but on inspection, you can see a visible double feed.
What May Be Happening
Two rounds have tried to feed at once, jamming the action.
The Solution

Bypass the Tap Rack drill entirely — instead, run what's known as a further stoppage drill.

Note: some malfunctions don't apply to bolt-action rifles, and are more of a concern for semi-automatic rifle users.

Quick Comparison

Type What You Notice The Fix
Type 1 Click, no bang Tap Rack Bang
Type 2 Dead trigger, no click Tap Rack Bang
Type 3 Dead trigger, visible double feed Further Stoppage Drill