RSO Firearm Stoppages and Malfunctions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A shooter experiences a 'squib load' where the bullet lodges in the barrel. What is the RSO's immediate concern if the shooter fires another round?
- The gun will jam permanently
- A catastrophic barrel obstruction and possible firearm destruction (Correct answer)
- The bullet will dislodge on its own
- The magazine will drop free
Correct answer: A catastrophic barrel obstruction and possible firearm destruction
Firing a round into an obstructed barrel can cause catastrophic pressure buildup, destroying the firearm and injuring the shooter and bystanders.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes a 'double feed' malfunction?
- Two rounds fired simultaneously
- A live round and an unfired case both present in the chamber area (Correct answer)
- The trigger resets twice per pull
- Two magazines inserted at once
Correct answer: A live round and an unfired case both present in the chamber area
A double feed occurs when a live round tries to enter the chamber while an unfired case is still there, typically requiring a lock-rip-rack-reload clearance.
Question 3: During a range exercise, a semi-auto pistol fires but the slide does not return to battery. What should the RSO instruct the shooter to do first?
- Pull the trigger again
- Keep the firearm pointed downrange and assess the situation (Correct answer)
- Immediately rack the slide forcefully
- Remove the magazine first
Correct answer: Keep the firearm pointed downrange and assess the situation
The first priority is maintaining muzzle direction downrange while assessing what caused the slide to remain out of battery.
Question 4: A revolver fails to cycle to the next chamber after firing. What is the most likely cause?
- Overpressure ammunition
- A spent case protruding from a cylinder chamber blocking cylinder rotation (Correct answer)
- A broken firing pin
- Excessive barrel fouling
Correct answer: A spent case protruding from a cylinder chamber blocking cylinder rotation
A high primer or protruding spent case can catch on the recoil shield and prevent the cylinder from rotating.
Question 5: Which clearance procedure is commonly called 'Tap-Rack-Bang' (or Tap-Rack-Assess)?
- Type 3 double-feed clearance
- Type 1 failure-to-fire / failure-to-feed clearance (Correct answer)
- Squib load clearing procedure
- Stovepipe clearing procedure
Correct answer: Type 1 failure-to-fire / failure-to-feed clearance
Tap-Rack-Assess is the standard Type 1 clearance for a failure to fire or failure to feed: tap the magazine, rack the slide, assess before firing.
Question 6: A 'stovepipe' malfunction is most accurately described as:
- A bullet lodged in the barrel
- An empty case caught vertically in the ejection port preventing slide closure (Correct answer)
- Simultaneous discharge of two rounds
- A magazine that fails to lock in place
Correct answer: An empty case caught vertically in the ejection port preventing slide closure
A stovepipe occurs when an ejected case is not fully cleared and stands upright in the ejection port, resembling a stovepipe.
Question 7: When an RSO observes a shooter experiencing repeated malfunctions with the same ammunition in multiple firearms, what should the RSO suspect?
- Poor shooting technique
- Defective or non-standard ammunition (Correct answer)
- A range humidity issue
- Improperly cleaned firearms
Correct answer: Defective or non-standard ammunition
Malfunctions that occur across multiple firearms with the same lot of ammunition strongly indicate a defective or non-compliant ammunition batch.
RSO Firearm Stoppages and Malfunctions 3
A shooter experiences a 'squib load' where the bullet lodges in the barrel.
What is the RSO's immediate concern if the shooter fires another round?