Mechanical Malfunctions

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Guide 01 · Chapter 03 · Common Firearm Malfunctions · 3.5

Mechanical Malfunctions

A semi-automatic firearm cycles through the same basic stages every time it fires: a cartridge feeds into the chamber, the firearm fires it, the spent case extracts from the chamber, then ejects clear of the action. Most mechanical malfunctions are named after whichever of these stages didn't happen properly — which is why it helps to know the sequence before diagnosing what went wrong.

The Type 1, 2, and 3 labels from earlier modules are useful training shorthand, but they're not a full mechanical diagnosis. A "dead trigger" or a "click, no bang" can point toward several different underlying problems — recognising the pattern is the first step, not the last one.

Failure To Feed

What It Means
The next cartridge doesn't enter the chamber properly.
What You Might Notice
Signs vary depending on the cause — this isn't always identical to a Type 1's audible click.
Possible Contributing Factors
A damaged or ill-fitted magazine, an issue with the ammunition, or a fault with the firearm itself could all be involved.
What To Do Next
A stoppage drill resolves many routine cases, but it isn't a guaranteed fix for every failure to feed.

One specific version of this is going "out of battery" — where the action hasn't fully closed. It's a useful term to know, but it doesn't cover every failure to feed; it's one possible form of it, not another name for the same thing.

Out of battery malfunction

Failure To Extract

What It Means
The fired case stays in the chamber instead of being pulled out — distinct from a failure to eject, where the case has left the chamber but not cleared the firearm.
What You Might Notice
Often a dead trigger with no audible click, though this isn't a certain identifier on its own.
Possible Contributing Factors
A dirty chamber, a damaged case, or an issue with the extractor could all play a part.
What To Do Next
Proceed with a Tap Rack drill. If this doesn't work, ceasefire and unload the firearm, ensuring the weapon is clear. Clean the firearm and inspect the extractor claw for damage, replacing it if needed.

Failure To Eject (Stovepipe)

What It Means
A case has extracted from the chamber but hasn't cleared the action — a stovepipe, where the case gets caught at the ejection port, is one possible way this shows up, not the only one.
What You Might Notice
A dead trigger, and on inspection, a case visibly caught in the ejection port if it's presenting as a stovepipe.
Possible Contributing Factors
Ammunition, a fault with the firearm, or how it's being held can all potentially contribute — no single cause should be assumed by default.
What To Do Next
A stoppage drill resolves many of these, but a recurring pattern is worth having looked at properly.
Stovepipe malfunction

Double Feed

What It Means
More than one cartridge — or a new cartridge alongside a case that never left the chamber — ends up obstructing the feed path. It isn't always literally two live rounds competing for the chamber; a failure to extract can lead into this too.
What You Might Notice
A dead trigger, with no audible click.
Possible Contributing Factors
A defective magazine, a stuck case, or an issue with the extractor or recoil spring could all be involved — sometimes following on from a failure to extract.
What To Do Next
A standard stoppage drill won't resolve this. It calls for the further stoppage drill covered in the previous module.
Double feed malfunction

Slamfire

This one deserves its own attention, separate from the routine stoppages above. A slamfire is an unintended discharge that happens as the action closes — the firing pin makes contact with the primer before the shooter has pressed the trigger.

This is not the same thing as a "runaway gun." A runaway gun describes sustained, uncontrolled firing — a distinct and more serious scenario in its own right, with its own causes and its own response, which isn't covered here.

Any unintended discharge — slamfire or otherwise — is reason to stop using the firearm immediately and have it properly assessed by a qualified professional before it's fired again.

When To Stop

An unexpected discharge, visible damage, a stoppage that keeps recurring, or genuine uncertainty about the firearm's condition all call for the same response: stop, keep the muzzle in a safe direction, and follow your range and manufacturer's guidance. Repeating the same drill on a fault you haven't identified isn't the answer.

Quick Comparison

Malfunction What Failed Possible Visible Clue
Failure To Feed Cartridge didn't chamber Action not fully closed
Failure To Extract Case stayed in chamber Dead trigger, no click
Failure To Eject Case didn't clear the action Case caught at ejection port
Double Feed Feed path obstructed Dead trigger, no click
Slamfire Unintended discharge on closing Firearm fires without trigger press

Key Takeaway

A stoppage drill can restore normal function in a lot of routine cases — but a fault that keeps recurring, or behaves unusually, needs diagnosis, not another automatic attempt at the same fix.