Handgun Functions, Malfunctions, Remedial Actions

[DobermansRock]

Functions of firing. Stripping, feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting an cocking. At least thats what the Army taught me. Civilian versions may vary. Oh and remember kids don't buy Yugo.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@DobermansRock This was observed by someone else quite some time ago. While it is 100% accurate, it's largely irrelevent. Taking a minimalist approach: 1) malfunction in stripping, feeding, chambering and locking are all a "failure to feed"; 2) failure to fire or cock, is failure to fire; 3) malfunction in unlocking or extracting (a fail to unlock usually leads to a failure to extract) is a failure to extract; 4) failure to eject is failure to eject.

[DeadeyeSteve]

Discussing all these functions bores out the student. I choose the four above as I can related them to directly to the most common malfunctions. Continuing the minimalist approach; all but the failure to fire are really interruption of the feeding process. We're down to two malfunctions- failure to feed and failure to fire (a gun can simply have a bad cartridge). Now ultimately, in our minimalist approach the shooter first and foremost knows one thing- the gun ain't firing.

[DeadeyeSteve]

So the student is standing there with a gun that ain't going bang. Whether it be in a gun fight, in competition, or on the firing line, the gun ain't going bang when it is.

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My minimalist approach has lead me to teach loading and unloading and turn those same actions into remediation of the malfunction. First, load the gun- insure the magazine is in the firearm and attempt to cycle a round into the chamber. If this does not work, unload the gun and load the gun.

[DeadeyeSteve]

I teach the load as a 3 step process: load cartiridges into the magazine, insert magazine into the firearm, and cycle the slide. The unload is also a 3 step process, remove the magazine, cycle the slide, inspect for an empty chamber. You can teach a person how to load, unload, remediate simple malfunctions (FtFeed, Fire, Eject) and remediate complex malfunctions (FtExtract) with 2 simple processes of 3 steps each. Ruminate and hit me back with your thoughts.

[DobermansRock]

@DeadeyeSteve What you are teaching is perfect for a new shooter. The further functions can actually help identify in a pin point way what the problem is. IE slide does not go all the way forward but nearly. Instead of dropping the mag and racking the slide, just push it the rest of the way to lock. Sorry you were doing basic skills and I was going into intermediate or advanced stuff. Can't help it I was an armorer when I was in the Army and with machine guns there is a lot happening.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@DobermansRock No, sir, thank you. I hadn't actually thought to include the additional information in intermediate classes, now I just might. It was basic, mininalist and largely "good enough." Communication is good. I apprecitate the differing perspective. It's healthy.

[DobermansRock]

@DeadeyeSteve For an advanced class with 1911's you could show how they can be taken apart without tools, only what make them up. Get into the parts and how they relate. Then take notes on ideas. I am a gunsmith on my own guns and could see a wealth of ideas/knowledge get shared. If I can make it to Texas I hope we can talk face to face. I shoot for fun and sport. I work on my guns to try and improve on the design. Shooting itself is just skill built over time.

[DobermansRock]

@DeadeyeSteve Smartass do pushups.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@DobermansRock "One, two, three, four...."

[DobermansRock]

@DeadeyeSteve Get up...

[DobermansRock]

@DeadeyeSteve Smartass do pushups. If you buy an ATI you will have none of these problems. Loaded mag in, pull trigger 8-9 times, mag out. Repeat.

[mr00jimbo]

I've had a case with rimfire pistols where a round will fail to fire. Most cases I wait 30 seconds, then drop the magazine, extract the round, reinsert and try again.

However, one time a round failed to fire, and refused to come out of the magazine. I racked the slide repeatedly, but the round wouldn't come out of the chamber. How would you recommend clearing this? I've been told to just put a rod through the muzzle and push it out of the chamber. Is this the safe way to do it?

[DeadeyeSteve]

@mr00jimbo Rimfire .22 are tempermental. You will mostly have to accept that maybe every 50 - 100 rnds you will have a malfunction. I know the NRA says you wait 30 sec to clear the round because one fears the hangfire and an out of chamber detonation. I never see anyone do this anymore. I've never see a true hangfire. The recommendation to use a clearign rod down the chamber is correct. But be very careful. safe direction, use a hammer and keep eye and ear protection on.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@mr00jimbo Yeah, largely safe. I tend to use the blade of a knife and use that to pry it out of the chamber.

[DaedalEVE]

Very nice. You explained everything well, did it quickly, and it didn't cost $200 to learn.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@DaedalEVE

lol

True!

The Basic Pistol class I teach costs only $100, but' is is 2-4 hours of this and more.

[BrokerExecutives]

This morning, I had a failure to fire. I should have watched this video first. I tried pulling the slide back but it wouldn't budge. So I emptied magazine, racked the slide then put the mag back in to fire. Tap, rack, target is much easier.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@BrokerExecutives Why wouldn't the slide move?

[BrokerExecutives]

@DeadeyeSteve . It was weird, because it happened on both my Sig p220 Elite and my Sig p220 Carry. Here's the video I shot today. you can, see the hammer did fall, but when I tried to rack the slide back, it was stuck. I was able to extract the round, but only after I released the magazine qik.com/video/8857031

[DeadeyeSteve]

@BrokerExecutives What ammo?

[BrokerExecutives]

@DeadeyeSteve Winchester 230gr FMJ

[TheGrandmasterfresh]

boring

[DeadeyeSteve]

@TheGrandmasterfresh lol, I'm sorry it board you. I watched you're video "Head Shots"... I have a video just for you. It's called Basic Principles of Accuracy/Marksmanship. You should study it.

[TheGrandmasterfresh]

lol tips from a noob no thanks lol nice joke

[DeadeyeSteve]

@TheGrandmasterfresh lame trash talk from a nobody hiding anonymously on youtube... unimpressive.

[Zenmagine]

You're really good at coaching/teaching! Keep up the great vids!!! I believe a shooter is only as good as his ability to clear a malfunction. This vid should help out lots of good folks.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@Zenmagine Thank you for the kind words.

[ninjatoth]

I have a Ruger P95 that has began to fail to eject spent casings.I just went through a 100 pack of winchester 9mm ammo and got 5 fails to eject.The gun dealer says that it is caused by limp wristing,and I am new and learning how to shoot,so I don't know what to think.I am watching your videos trying to figure out how to not limp wrist and get less FTEs if he is right about that.

[DeadeyeSteve]

You need to isolate the gun from the shooter. The FtEjects could be the gun or you. Give the gun to a good shooter. If the gun FtEjects for the good shooter then it's the gun. If not, it is you.

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Limp wristing is one possible reason for the FtEject. If the recoil spring is too heavy or if the ejector needs adjusting could also easily cause the issue,

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[DeadeyeSteve]

Watch this video: 5lsO1_cqjok

Understand that managing recoil most a stable platform. You "resist" recoil "passively": You set your rest and keep it that way as much as you can- while NOT increasing the resitance at any time. That would cause more problems than it solves.

[MrSixxxr]

Great video, thanks Steve; this happened to my Kimber a lot, now I know how to handle it.

[DeadeyeSteve]

@MrSixxxr My pleasure, but please indulge me, what malfunction are you having?

[MrSixxxr]

The brass would get caught in the chamber during ejection, but I knew what the problem was, I was using low grain ammunition and the magazines i had were old used military magazines, so I assume the feeding isn't as smooth as it would in a newer magazine. I sold the weapon to an old boss of mine so i no longer have it. At least I know how to handle it now when it does happen again with future hand guns that I purchase. Thanks for the reply Steve.

[DeadeyeSteve]

If I may observe:

When you shoot lower power cartridges you may have to change the recoil spring. If you shoot the heavy recoil spring with light charge you can have F-t-Eject issues. (I had this issue and dropped to a 15# spring to correct)

A weakening or worn extractor can also produce F-t-Ejects before the dreaded F-t-Extract. Replace to retuning the extractor may solve this. (at about 15,000 rnds I had to retune the extractor- it's time now to replace the extractor)

[yaiwolf1]

Excellent video.. clear pictures.. clear talking..thanks!

[DeadeyeSteve]

Thanks for the kind comment.

[TonyZayasEDS]

I was taught three simple rules:

1. A hit with a 22 is worth two misses with a 44.

2. If you can't stop' em with your first five rounds, another nine won't matter much.

3. Revolvers never, ever jam!

Sooner or later, ALL 1911's, ACP's and Semi Auto's Jam. Once; during an emergency, I had not one but two autos jam on me... Never again!

Remember, 357's never, ever jam,

[DeadeyeSteve]

Thanks for your comment, but I can't agree with all of it.

1- I agree with, hits always count, misses only if they scare the guy off. I'll put my trust more in well placed shots.

2- It's clearly better to be good enough to stop 'em with the first 5 rounds, but sometimes it really helps to have 9 more. Not all situations are the same.

3- Revolvers malfunction, too. I've seen it. Are they more dependable? Maybe. Opinions vary.

[ncisid]

what kind of gun does he have

[DeadeyeSteve]

That is a Kimber Supermatch II (she's beautiful, my precious)

[Stonyman65]

Nice. Doesn't the Supermatch II have the Swartz-style grip safety?

[DeadeyeSteve]

accordin to what I have read on THR and other places

[tulshib]

This was a very nice video. I've never fired a gun, or really plan to but i do enjoy learning about them. If you could link any other good gun basics video it would be appreciated

[DeadeyeSteve]

watch?v=BfyULpEhmug

from Clint Smtih at Thunder Ranch is a grat video.

If you can get past the long windyness, Yeager discusses rememdidal acion:

watch?v=0Uqtq_MPOBk

[tulshib]

Thank you

[nerptwerd]

Great video! Everything was very clearly and professionally presented with very little room for misinterpretation.

[securityadmin]

professional and informative.

[MorrisonsMorgan]

Good Video !!

Great Kimber !!

[DeadeyeSteve]

Thanks for the kind words.

[PandaBoy007]

You actually only explained half of the functions of a firearm. Feeding, chambering, locking, firing, unlocking, extracting, ejecting and cocking. As far as clearing malfunctions, you are right that there are many different ways to do it and not one is better than the other in all situations. Some cases guns don't have the manual locking mechanism prohibiting the shooter from keeping the slide in the most rearward position while releasing the magazine.

[DeadeyeSteve]

Good catch- I originally thought to communicate that FFEE were the sig or main functions but it became too wordy for a basic vid: failure to chamber or lock is essentially a failure to feed. A failure to lock or cock could be perceived as a failure to fire. A failure to unlock is so rare that I've never seen one 10,000s fired, millions observed.

If someone has a SA with no slide lock then one must muscle the mag out. On a FtEx locking the slide rearward is nice, not necessary.

Thanks

[1airplane21]

pistol have no bolt locking or no locking lugs

[DeadeyeSteve]

Most pistols have no bolt or locking lugs, the desert eagle is a notable exception, but they still "lock" into place (battery), they still unlock from this ready to fire place.

[12GaugeLosAngeles]

Good shit... good info.

[monkeymac3]

I know NOTHING about guns but this video sure taught me a lot about handgun malfunctions. Maybe i'll get a gun when i can

[Tbird761]

Good video. You might want to discuss in another video what happens when an FTE turns into an even more serious problem--like if the rim has sheared. This happened to me with an AR once, and it was a discouraging experience until I figured out what to do.

[DeadeyeSteve]

That is a good idea, except I wouldn't know what to do except, A- club the guy with said AR or handgun or, B- use a pen, knife, pliers or screw-driver to pry the offending item out of the chamber. Either seems preferable to, C- give up.

Please tell us your experience.

[Tbird761]

Most of the time, a dowel stuck down the barrel would clear the case. One time though, I had to pry the bolt loose from the chamber because the torn rim had gotten stuck in the locking mechanism and jammed the whole thing. Either way, option A is about the only choice as these aren't rapid fixes.  :)

[DeadeyeSteve]

Because it's a necked cartridge in the AR? Will a dowel work with a straight cartridge like what is in most handguns?

[Tbird761]

I've never tried it, but I imagine it would work similarly. Even if it doesn't contact the rim, it will still be able to press rearward on the base of the case.

[ONKlub]

I wanted to point out that it's not a good idea to practice the clearing of a failure to feed with a 1911 -type pistol, due to the style of extractor.

[DeadeyeSteve]

Then you'd never practice with a 1911... that can't be acceptable.

If it breaks, I'll replace it. :)

[Furiousn]

Awesome video! Thanks!

[DeadeyeSteve]

Plan on going out to the range and demonstration with live ammo and dummy rounds to further demonstrate

[strongbadd665]

Another Great Vid! Thanks again.