What to Do When Your Gun Malfunctions
Like any other machine with mechanical parts, guns are prone to failure. Accidents occur as a result and may lead to fatal injuries. Frequent maintenance and servicing is required to ensure that the firearm stays in good working condition.
Malfunctions when handling firearms are inevitable. You can fix most of these problems yourself with adequate knowledge and information. Where a firearm has sustained substantial amounts of damages, service, and repair are done by a state-licensed professional gunsmith in Michigan. Here are some common gun malfunctions and how you can clear each.
Feeding Failure
A gun experiences feeding failure when the round fails to make it to the chamber, very common in automatic and semi-automatic guns. Greasy chambers, damaged magazines, and using wrong caliber rounds often result in feeding problems. Clearing a loading failure requires you to remove the magazine and empty the chamber. Inspect the magazine as most of the feeding problems are associated with weak magazine springs.
Extraction Failure
During firing, the bullet moves through the muzzle and a shell casing is ejected from the chamber. If the casing does not leave the chamber, the gun has an extraction failure. Using wrong caliber rounds and having excess dirt on the extraction spring are the main causes of extraction failure. Removing the magazine and racking the slide multiple times should clear the malfunction. For a pistol, use a long rod to push out the stuck shell casing from the chamber. Replace the extraction spring and clean the chamber.
Gun misfire
Misfires occur when a live round fails to fire when the trigger is pulled. Indent (striking force) insufficiency is the main cause of misfire. The firing pin may get stuck and fail to strike the primer of the round due to the wearing off of the striking spring. A misfire can be corrected by removing the round from the chamber and loading a new one. If the misfire is not corrected, have your gun’s firing pin replaced by a qualified gunsmith.
Delayed Discharge
Delayed discharge occurs when the gun is fired but takes a few seconds to discharge the round. The propellant in the round ignites and takes time to build up pressure, eventually the releasing round. The gun should be aimed downwards away from yourself and other people to avoid injuries when the bullet is shot. Delayed discharge can only be prevented by using high quality caliber rounds.
Ejection Failure
The ejection of a shell casing is dependent on the recoil of the gun. A loose grip causes insufficient reaction thus the casing ends up stuck in the ejection port. To correct an ejection malfunction, turn the ejection port downwards away from your face, and rack the slide. The new round will load into the chamber and push out the stuck casing. Regular cleaning of the chamber reduces the occurrence of ejection failure.
Misaligned Firing
A gun should fire calibers straight with precise accuracy. Misaligned firing may occur due to misaligned sights, bent muzzles, and using poor quality rounds. Ensure that the muzzle is straight and properly rifled. For long-range shots, ensure the sight is properly aligned with the muzzle.
Squib Loading
Squib loading occurs when a round is fired and only a ‘pop’ is heard without any ejection of a casing or firing of the bullet. Using high quality rounds with sufficient gunpowder is recommended to prevent squib loading.
Gun Backfire
A backfiring gun fires rounds out of the chamber. When backfiring is mainly caused by use of poor-quality rounds, a greasy gun can also cause backfiring as the chamber does not fully close during firing. Clean the gun properly and regularly, while insisting on using appropriate caliber rounds.
Muzzle Bursting
When the bore is clogged, the exit of a fired round is restricted. Pressure build-ups tear the muzzle from the inside. Muzzle bursting can only be corrected by replacing the entire muzzle. Regular cleaning of the bore and applying a run through-gauge before firing helps prevent muzzle bursting.
Conclusion
The malfunctioning of any machine starts with poor maintenance routines and practices. Cleaning of guns is a very important exercise and if not done often, it can lead to loss and damage of the firearms. Defective guns should not be fired for they can cause fatal injuries. Any damaged or defective gun should be taken to a certified gunsmith for repair and serving before it can be fired again.