Season 1 – The women’s self-defense series that goes beyond EDC. Close Failures to extract include the use of stovepipes (pictured), or brass sticking to the ejection port. (Photo by David Bahde). Even the most reliable handguns can malfunction or fail. Pistol malfunctions are rarely caused by shooters. There are many types of malfunctions, including improper grip placement and loading the magazine improperly. RELATED STORY 9 Tips For New Gun Owners Clear Your Pistol Malfunctions Fast & Get Back in the Fight! Once you are certain that it is not you, look at the mechanical issues. You should not use malfunction clearing protocols to diagnose pistol malfunctions. Do not incorporate “identification” into the routine for malfunction clearing. Just fix it and move on. Double feeds are most commonly caused by worn or unclean magazines. (Photo by David Bahde). If you experience a malfunction during training, follow your normal routine to get back into the fight. Next, look at diagnosing. There is a clear distinction between “running” your gun or fixing it. Don’t mix them. There are three main types of pistol malfunctions: Stovepipes and brass sticking in the ejection port. Double feeds are usually magazine issues, such as weak springs, dirt, or worn followers. Incorrect feeding can lead to improper feeding. Failure to return the slide forward or go into battery can result in a dirty pistol. However, it can also be caused by weak springs, dirt, worn followers, etc. It is sometimes called “catastrophic” and means that the gun cannot be repaired without a bench, tools, and a gunsmith. 1. Shooter Induced: The most common error is a failure to place the magazine. Push the magazine into place by pressing down on the base of your hand. To check if the magazine is properly seated, pull on it if you can. Do not tap, whack or punish the magazine. (Photo by David Bahde). Hammering the magazine may cause it to not sit with firm pressure. If it doesn’t sit, remove the magazine and push one more time. Never “overload” your magazines. If the magazine says to load 12 rounds, it is probably because there is more space. It could cause damage to the spring and make it difficult for you to seat. Today’s handguns have the slide stop in a variety of positions. Think about how your grip might affect whether your slide locks to its rear prematurely or fails on the last round. You might be pushing the slide stop up or holding it down. You can change your grip or replace it. You should not bend, grind, or alter the slide stop in your gun. You can either change your grip or get one designed for this purpose. (Photo by David Bahde). A failure to lock forward (locking in) may be caused by carbon, dirt, or lint buildup. Slide movement and magazine operation are crucial. A clogged slide or magazine can lead to serious problems, including a failure of fire. It won’t fire if it doesn’t go into battery. So make sure to clean and oil your handguns. 2. Double feeds are most commonly caused by mechanical problems. Make sure you only buy the best magazines, clean them regularly and check the springs every so often. You can replace any part of the magazine or the entire one, but they must be kept clean and maintained. Dropping them on the range deck can cause problems. If the slide does not lock forward (go into batteries), it could be your recoil spring or assembly. Most have a “life” time or round count. You can replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions (or sooner). Springs can lose tension or they may have the wrong tension. Every day, broken or bent springs occur. This is especially true if you shoot your pistol more often. High-pressure ammunition speeds up the process. 3. Failure to Eject Failure to eject is generally a failure to remove the empty case. An extractor that is worn, damaged, or dirty will cause brass to remain in the barrel and prevent it from being completely ejected. This is the most common reason for malfunctions that leave spent casings in the chamber and ejection ports. You can repair it yourself or hire a gunsmith. Here’s a look at what happens when an extractor fails to eject. (Photo by David Bahde). Make sure to inspect your extractor for wear, chips, and proper tension at each cleaning. Pay attention to the pattern of your brass ejection. You should inspect your extractor if it is dribbling to the side, hitting your head, or spraying all over the place. A gunsmith can diagnose more serious problems. Ejectors and barrel fit, strikers and internal workings — none of these issues can be fixed in a fight or at the range. They fail less often, so it is easier to focus on them. 4. Clearance Sale – Malfunction Clearance Let’s begin with a failure in battery. That used to be a sign that you were out of the fight, but not today. A semi-automatic pistol with a dirty trigger will often see the return springs. High-round count training will allow most striker-fired pistols to do this. Keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction. Once the trigger finger is clear, you can use your palm edge to “tap” on the slide’s back. It should be able to snap into the battery. If it does not, you can continue to the next steps. (Photo by David Bahde). Only two types of pistol malfunctions (Type 1 & 2) can be fixed in a fight using two methods. They can fix most things if they are done in the right order. Anything worse (Type 3), and it’s bench-time. It doesn’t matter how many times you tap, rack, slam and tackle, it won’t work. Gun No. 2 is a great time. Plan B or 2 If the trigger doesn’t work, it is likely that the magazine was not properly seated or ejected. To clear Type 1 clearance, you should first place the magazine and press firmly. Then, pull down as much as possible. Second, slide the slide up making sure to not cover the ejection port. Next, get back on track and do what is necessary. 5. If this fails, move to the Type 2 clearance. Step No. Step 1: Lock the slide to your rear.Step 2 2: Take out the magazine. Step No. 3. Run the slide three times. This is usually enough. Step No. Step 4: Now, insert and seat your magazine. It should be cleaned, maintained, and practice often. While it’s not perfect, it can avoid most problems. Simple failures can be fixed by placing the magazine in a tray and running the slide. If you have any other issues, you can unload, clear and reload the magazine. You can seamlessly switch between the two by practicing. This is best done with dry practice. Dry practice is great for this. Sign up for the Personal Defense World newsletter today to stay in the loop! Sign up for our newsletter I have read and understood the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy and I hereby accept them. Athlon may collect, store, process, and transfer my Personal Data and Non Personal Data for the purpose of signing me up for the email newsletter. Up Next Democrats Fear a Increase in Black Gun Owners, Hinting at Trouble at the Polls. Pistol malfunctions are rarely caused by shooters. There are many types of malfunctions, including improper grip placement and loading and/or inserting of the magazine improperly. Clear Your Pistol Malfunctions Quickly and Get Back in the Fight!
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