How to Handle 3 Common Pistol Misfires

Another way to train is using dummy rounds. Have someone else load your mags so you don’t have a clue when the dummy round or rounds is due. Then go through the proper method for clearing the stoppage due to a dummy round or rounds are due.

Practice, practice, practice on how to handle misfires. Just as importantly, maintain your weapon in top shape and avoid the majority of misfires.

While an NRA instructor I made a point to go over three different types of malfunctions caused by ammunition: an actual misfire, a hangfire, and a squib load.

Misfire: round doesn't go off for a number of reasons. Faulty firing pin, faulty primer, powder, etc. Wait at minimum thirty seconds before taking the firearm barrel from pointing downrange, removing the round, and continuing on.

Hangfire: why we wait the thirty seconds. Hangfire is a delayed ignition.

Squib load: round fired, but there wasn't enough powder to force the bullet out of the barrel. Rarely this happens with factory ammo, but is something to watch out for whether firing factory ammo or rounds you loaded yourself.

Regardless...

You keep the weapon pointed downrange at all times during the malfunctions, and always observe before acting on any remedial action.