Req 2ad — Misfire, Hangfire, and Squib Fire

Three abnormal firing events can occur with any cartridge-firing rifle. Knowing what each one is and responding correctly prevents serious injury. These are not common, but when they happen, you have seconds to make the right decision.

Misfire

What it is: You press the trigger, the firing pin falls, but nothing happens—no bang, no movement. The cartridge did not fire.

Cause: A faulty or wet primer, a light firing pin strike, or a defective cartridge.

Response:

1. Keep the rifle pointed downrange.
2. Wait at least 30 seconds with the rifle still aimed downrange. (This is the hangfire wait—described below.)
3. After 30 seconds, carefully open the bolt and extract the cartridge, keeping the muzzle pointed downrange.
4. Set the cartridge aside in a designated dud container. Do not pocket it or throw it in the trash immediately. Do not attempt to fire it again.
5. Inform the range safety officer.

Hangfire

What it is: You press the trigger, the firing pin falls, and there is a delay—sometimes a second or more—before the cartridge fires. The propellant ignites late.

Cause: Moisture in the propellant, degraded powder, or an inconsistent primer.

Why it is dangerous: A hangfire looks identical to a misfire in the first moment. If you open the bolt immediately thinking it misfired, the cartridge may fire with the action open, directing the blast sideways instead of down the barrel.

Response: Identical to misfire—wait 30 seconds with the rifle pointed downrange before opening the action. The 30-second wait gives any delayed ignition time to occur safely.

Squib Fire

What it is: The cartridge fires, but the bullet does not have enough force to fully exit the barrel. You hear a reduced bang or pop, feel very little recoil, and see a puff of smoke. The bullet is lodged somewhere in the bore.

Cause: No propellant or severely reduced propellant charge. The primer alone fired, which was just enough to push the bullet partway down the barrel.

Why it is extremely dangerous: If you fire the next shot without realizing the bore is obstructed, the barrel will rupture violently, injuring or killing the shooter and bystanders.

Response:

1. Stop immediately. Do not fire another shot.
2. Keep the muzzle pointed downrange, engage the safety, and unload.
3. Visually and physically verify whether the bore is obstructed—do this with the rifle unloaded, using a cleaning rod from the muzzle end under the supervision of your instructor.
4. Do not fire again until the obstruction is confirmed clear.
5. Inform the range safety officer.

Remembering the Three

• Misfire: No fire at all. Wait 30 seconds, then extract.
• Hangfire: Delayed fire. Wait 30 seconds—same procedure as misfire until you know which it is.
• Squib: Weak fire with possible obstruction. Stop, unload, inspect the bore.

The common thread: never rush after any anomalous firing event. Thirty seconds of patience can prevent a catastrophic injury.