In my experience, a little lubrication on the feed lips of the magazine and in the chamber fixes this issue.Īfter checking to see if your magazines are in good working order, your next step would be to switch ammo. It also is possible that the magazine was not inserted properly. A round that fails to feed is normally associated with a magazine problem-the spring needs cleaning, or possibly it is a bad follower. However, if you are unsure, take your gun to a gunsmith or call the range officer to remove the bullet.Ī failure to feed is when a cartridge will not load into the chamber. You may be able to remove the bullet with a barrel cleaning rod. Squibs occur most commonly with hand loads, but factory ammunition can produce one as well.Ĭlearing a squib with tap-rack-bang! is not possible. Clear the action, make your gun safe and check the barrel. If you suspect you have a squib, stop shooting. If you do not notice a squib, you might be able to load and fire another round.īut that can really damage your gun. A squib will only go “pop” as opposed to “bang ,” and you most likely will feel less recoil than normal. It is important that you are aware of what happens after you pull the trigger. A squib can be a danger to you and your firearm.

Therefore, the bullet gets stuck in the barrel. Here are the different types of gun malfunctions and what to do about them: SquibĪ squib is a round that does not have enough powder charge to send the bullet down the chamber and out the barrel. Malfunctions Due to Ammo or Gun Mechanics

Rack - Rack the slide a few times to clear the chamber and load a new round.Tap - Slam the bottom of the magazine with the palm of your hand to make sure it is seated properly.

Why do guns jam