What do you do with the bullet if you have a misfire at the range

Posted by Nihlathakk@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 18 comments

Is it safe after 20 seconds? I waited then I popped a .270 out that had been struck nice and clean but not fired and I got spooked it was gonna cook off in my hand still and threw it in the grass in front of me…what do?

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Sensitive_Box_@reddit

You mean "hangfire", not misfire. Just to clarify. (We're on reddit after all.)

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Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit

Misfire is correct for a failure to fire, which is what they're having, hangfire is when is does go off after a delay. Hangfire would replace "cook off" in their statement, not misfire.

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Sensitive_Box_@reddit

OP is literally asking about a hangfire.

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Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit

They are literally asking about what to do after a misfire, because they're worried about hangfires.

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joelfarris@reddit

Here's the kicker: If you're in a firefight, and a round does not go boom when you desired that it should go boom, you're taught to immediately eject it from the chamber and get a fresh round in there. But what happens to that unspent round?

Yes, it lands with the other spent brass, right over there.

So do you move your feet? Or do you just stand there and hope it doesn't eventually go boom?

Now, at a close, controlled range with lanes, suddenly moving your feet sideways while loading a weapon might be frowned upon. But, if you calmly stand there for a minute, counting in your head, while motioning for the RSO and explaining that you're keeping it pointed safely downrange, they can and will handle this situation for you. They've done it a few times before.

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seattleforge@reddit

Don't forget that a round that goes off outside of the chamber doesn't do much more than a firecracker. It takes the chamber and barrel where the round is under pressure to send the bullet off in any direction with much force.

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Diligent-Parfait-236@reddit

You also should be careful to not open the action with your hand near the ejection port or pick up the round right after, firecrackers aren't terribly safe.

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joelfarris@reddit

I popped a .270 out that had been struck nice and clean but not fired

Yes, correct you are, however OP said that the round was already out of the chamber.

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snhar15@reddit

Wait 60 seconds before ejecting. Most ranges have a "dud box" to put it in

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BeenisHat@reddit

Wait in case of hangfire. If it doesn't go, recock and drop the hammer on it again. If it doesn't, wait 30 seconds and then dump it.

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civilized_starfish@reddit

I put it back in and it usually fires the second time. Some rounds have taken multiple strikes to finally fire. Probably not the safest so do as you will.

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Stewart_Duck@reddit

The range I frequent the most has a steel disposal barrel to drop them into. I'll give it a minute just in case before ejecting.

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shoyorollplayboyy@reddit

Fuck good question. I learned something today. I always immediately eject it. I’ll wait at least a minute now.

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Independent-Exit7434@reddit

Tap, rack, bang. Maybe just pull the trigger again if it’s ammo giving me light strikes, but I don’t usually have that problem with the magtech/blazer I’m shooting.

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MaxiumPotential777@reddit

First Wait to see if its a hang fire. Hangfire is a delay in it going off. If after about 30s you can take it out check for a light primer strike and try shooting it again sometimes although rarely it won't go bang on the first primer strike. No need to be scared of it or toss if you get a failure to fire. Just toss it in the trash. It extremely unlikely for it to go off outside of a rifle do how primers are made. In that they are make of a shock sensitive compound.

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