The Tap Rack Drill
The Tap Rack Bang Drill
Tap Rack Bang is a widely taught immediate-action drill for certain routine stoppages in magazine-fed, self-loading firearms. In the previous module, we looked at how to recognise a Type 1 or Type 2 malfunction. This module covers the standard response most shooters are taught for those situations — though, as we'll come to, it isn't automatic, and it isn't the answer to everything.
If something feels off — an odd sound, unusual recoil, a cartridge that looks damaged, or you're just not sure what happened — stop and figure out why before continuing. That includes a suspected squib load or bore obstruction.
Same goes for a click with no bang. It's usually a routine stoppage, but it can also mean the round's about to go off late — so give it a moment before you start working the action.
Tap
Aggressively tap or slam the base of the magazine into the firearm, ensuring that it is correctly seated. A magazine that hasn't fully locked in place is one of the most common causes of a failure to feed — sorting this first solves the problem more often than you'd expect.
Rack
Cycle the action as you've been taught for your specific firearm, where this drill is appropriate for it. This clears the chamber and feeds a fresh round.
Bang
Before doing anything else, assess: your firearm, your target, and what's around you. Fire only if it's safe, lawful, and necessary to do so. "Bang" is the traditional name for this stage — it's not an instruction to fire automatically, and it never replaces your own judgement in the moment.
Warning: this drill MUST NOT be performed on a squib load.
When Tap Rack Bang Isn't The Answer
Tap Rack Bang is not a universal fix. A few situations call for something else entirely:
- A suspected bore obstruction — a different kind of hazard entirely, and one we flagged in the previous module.
- A stoppage that keeps recurring, even after you've run the drill correctly.
- A visibly complex stoppage, such as a double feed, where you can see the problem is more involved than a simple failure to feed or eject.
In any of these cases, repeating Tap Rack Bang isn't a substitute for working out what's actually gone wrong. That's covered in the next module.
Key Takeaway
Recognise the stoppage, run the response you've actually been trained on, and stop the moment anything sounds, feels, or looks wrong. Tap Rack Bang is a good tool for a specific job — not a reflex to lean on when something more serious is happening.