Help. My Gun Jams!

[federali]

Now that I have your attention, I realize that the experience level ranges from members acquiring their very first handgun to others with tens of thousands of rounds down range.

Those of us with the experience would like to help those who are somewhat auto-pistol challenged. It would help if you told us more than "my gun jams."

Following is a list of basic stoppages which, would probably cover just about everything that might go wrong with your auto-pistol, starting from the magazine.
They are:
Failure to advance: slide overriding round to be chambered.
Failure to feed: possible feed ramp issue
Failure to chamber: Feeds but doesn't fully chamber
Failure to fire
Failure to extract:
Failure to eject
Weak or erratic ejection
Slide-stop-early: Slide stop engages slide with rounds in magazine
Double feed: Two versions: live round against fired casing,
live round nose-to-tail with chambered live round.
Bullet lodged in bore.
Ejected shell casings hitting you in face.

There are others. However, these are the most common stoppages and this will hopefully assist you in diagnosing what's wrong with your new handgun. To give all the reasons that might cause each listed stoppage would probably get me banned from the forum.

 

[jimbo728]

Very good advise.
Jim

 

[Doug M.]

A stoppage in the cycle of operation is a "malfunction". "Jam" goes on toast.

 

[Printer]

Hi Federali,
That has to be the most frustrating thing you can hear on the firing range because it tells you NOTHING!! except your gun stopped. During the early 90's I was an instructor for the International Assoc. of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (I.A.L.E.F.I.) annual training seminars. One of my classes was "Range Malfunctions" in which I discussed malfunction problems on the range and how to educate shooters on how to recognize them. I gave a quick class on the cycle of operation then showed a still photo of a malfunction and asked the class to identify it. After some discussion I then showed a high speed video taken at 5000 frames per second showing the actual malfunction. They were amazed. The class received rave reviews and I had many requests on getting a copy of the video (which I still have). When I got back to S&W I suggested that we should sell the video as a training aid but they were worried about liability and said NO. Its too bad. It was a most helpful training aid.
Bob St.George, Chief Armorer Instr. S&W Academy

 

[Big Shrek]

My first question is almost always, "What ammo are you using?"...
95% of the time, cheap/unreliable ammo is the problem, the rest of 'em are sporadic

 

[Doug M.]

The analysis acronym I was taught by Dean Caputo, directed at the AR platform but I think generalizable, is MEAL. Magazine, Extractor, Ammo, Lube. Check them in that order.

Magazines are a wear item. Any real indication that the mag is flawed or worn out: hammer therapy or use as a target.
Extractor tension and geometry are vital.
Don't use crummy ammo. The frustration alone is too much to tolerate.
Lube: Use the right type and amount for the platform. Most pistols don't need a lot, but they do need it in the right places. ARs don't need to be clean, but they MUST be wet.