Common Malfunctions of Firearms
Mechanical Malfunctions of a Firearm
Mechanical malfunctions of a firearm commonly called jams
include failures to feed, extract, or eject a shell; failure to fully cycle
after firing; and failure of a recoil- or gas-operated firearm to lock back
when empty (largely a procedural hazard, as "slide lock" is a visual
cue that the firearm is empty). In extreme cases, an overloaded round, blocked
barrel, poor design and/or severely weakened breech can result in an explosive
failure of the receiver, barrel, or other parts of the firearm.
Failure to feed
Failure to Feed (FTF) is when a firearm fails to feed the next round into the firing chamber.
Hammer follow
Hammer follow occurs when the disconnector allows the hammer to follow the bolt and firing pin into battery, sometimes causing the firing mechanism to function faster than it is designed to.
Slam fire
A slam fire is a premature, unintended discharge of a firearm that occurs as a Shell is being loaded into the Chamber.
Stovepipe
A stovepipe, smokestack, or failure to eject (FTE) occurs when the empty shell case jams vertically in the ejection port of a firearm instead of being thrown clear. Failure to eject (FTE, "stovepipe") Stovepipes can sometimes be caused by a malfunctioning or defective extractor.
Failure to feed
Failure to Feed (FTF) is when a firearm fails to feed the next round into the firing chamber.
Hammer follow
Hammer follow occurs when the disconnector allows the hammer to follow the bolt and firing pin into battery, sometimes causing the firing mechanism to function faster than it is designed to.
Slam fire
A slam fire is a premature, unintended discharge of a firearm that occurs as a Shell is being loaded into the Chamber.
Stovepipe
A stovepipe, smokestack, or failure to eject (FTE) occurs when the empty shell case jams vertically in the ejection port of a firearm instead of being thrown clear. Failure to eject (FTE, "stovepipe") Stovepipes can sometimes be caused by a malfunctioning or defective extractor.