When it comes to firing rounds, there are a lot of moving parts... literally. Guns are prone to malfunction just like any sorts of mechanical devices. Understanding common malfunctions can also help you avoid them in the future. For an untrained eye, it's difficult to identify a user error compared to a gun-malfunction. Both will end in similar results.
Here are a few things to lookout for when trying to identify gun errors.
Failure to Feed or Fire
Gun jams are something that many people deal with—especially new shooters. If a round fails to feed in your chamber or fire, you're dealing with a common malfunction. This could be due to a human or mechanical error. When the magazine doesn't fully set, you won't get a shot when you pull your trigger. No bang, just click. This could be a cause of self-loading incorrectly or using an old gun. Be careful and diligent every time you load your gun.
Stovepipe
Failure to extract is another common gun malfunction that is mostly aligned with human error. If you’re not properly handling your gun, your fired casing can be partially ejected, causing a stovepipe. Give yourself enough resistance to your gun when shooting to avoid this problem. In some cases, your extractor could become weak over time, causing your casings to not eject properly. Make sure you know your weapon well, and make sure it is maintained.
Ammunition Error
If your gun is completely clear of any jams and is fully fed, but your gun still doesn’t fire off, you’re most likely dealing with a bad round. This is another common malfunction that is caused by the primer or powder not operating correctly. Your round will fail to shoot with a dud round. Always dispose your dud round, because it can still pose a risk to your firearm if reused.
Avoiding Errors
After ensuring that your firearm is properly loaded and fed with precise ammunition, your gun should fire. A sure way to make your gun work as effectively as possible is to clean and maintain your firearms. Guns get dirty, but, by having clean and cared for guns, you’ll eliminate a lot of the possible malfunctions. After unloading your firearm, disassemble it and make sure it’s cleaned and oiled. Handling your gun properly will also steer you clear of problems.
Learn more about Armscor's limited life-time warranty on all firearms, and be sure to check out all our assembly videos and gun-care guide here.
