Now, a lot of people will tell you about type 1, type 2, or type 3 malfunctions... I'm not one of them. I really don't care what number they are given. Also, different people give them different numbers. Either way, that number does nothing to tell me what the problem actually is or how to fix it. For the purposes of this article, I'm just going to list them in the order i feel. Got a problem with it? Tell me. We're men. Discussion is always welcomed.
No matter how good you are, what brand you use, or how many upgrades you make, if you shoot enough, your gun will have problems. It's just the way it is. Guns are machines, machines break. There are certain things that can be done to minimize this, but not prevent it. For example, cheap guns are cheap for a reason. Notice i said cheap. There is a difference in a cheap gun, an inexpensive gun, and a good deal. Too good to be true usually is, but even quality firearms can have problems. Let's say you do everything you're supposed to, buy the right ammo, clean regularly, all that stuff. One day on the range, you press the trigger and nothing happens. That's called a malfunction and what we will be discussing today. Every time someone says, "My gun jammed," what they are referring to is a malfunction. There a four common ones that we will cover today, but I have seen a few more that just make you shake your head. Remember, the consequences of human error can be shockingly amazing. Now, a lot of people will tell you about type 1, type 2, or type 3 malfunctions... I'm not one of them. I really don't care what number they are given. Also, different people give them different numbers. Either way, that number does nothing to tell me what the problem actually is or how to fix it. For the purposes of this article, I'm just going to list them in the order i feel. Got a problem with it? Tell me. We're men. Discussion is always welcomed. This is exactly what it sounds like, literally. You press the trigger and hear a "click". The chamber is empty. This is most commonly caused by not loading the gun properly. Either you didn't rack the slide after inserting the magazine, or the magazine wasn't fully inserted into the mag well. In both cases, the same process is used to remedy this. Tap the magazine firmly to properly seat it, rack the slide, get your gun back on target. Tap, Rack, Back. Very simple to remember & just as easy to perform. For reasons that can be seen in the picture, this malfunction is known as a stovepipe. It happens when a spent casing fails to fully eject from the ejection port before the slide closes on it. It is commonly caused by the slide not going all the way back due to under-powered rounds. This is usually seen with hand loads. To fix it, we do the same as the first time. Tap, Rack, Back on target. Again, you can probably guess from the name what the issue is, there are 2 rounds trying to go into the chamber. And that's probably where the easy part ends... It isn't rocket science or anything, just a bit more involved that the previous 2. First thing you want to do is lock the slide back to the rear. You will see something similar to the picture above. Next, rip the magazine out. No, literally, rip it out. That sucker is gonna be in there good! Now rack the slide a few times, Insert a new magazine, and you should be ready to continue. For this malfunction, the "Tap, Rack, Back" method will not work. If you try it, you'll notice that and probably take a look at the gun. Now you know what to do when you see it. Just take a look at the pictures. We all know what catastrophic means. It's over. Time to pack up and leave the range. This is a malfunction where the importance of a GOOD warranty is realized. It can happen, it does happen, I just pray it doesn't happen to you.
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If you own firearms and shoot them regularly, cleaning them is a part of life. You don't want your guns to not work properly when you need them. The best way to minimize malfunctions, is to minimize possible causes. One of the easiest causes to eliminate is a dirty firearm. Sometimes people, especially new gun owners, are unclear on how, when, and where to clean their guns. Don't worry, every one of those questions is about to b answered. Keep in mind, guns are simple machines. Their maintenance is simple too. If you don't overthink it, you will have no problems at all. A few things to keep in mind:
Now I've cleaned many guns in my life, and could tell you step-by-step how to sufficiently remove any debris and fouling from yours, but I think that a short video would be much better. I would suggest having your pistol (AND NO AMMUNITION) in front of you while watching. Go along with the video, pausing where needed, and try to learn the process. If you don't get it, watch it again. No worries. Remember, simple machine. Don't overthink this. BONUS:
I previously stated that you probably have most of the things you need at your home already to properly clean your firearm. Now I'm going to tell you what I have in my personal cleaning kit. Feel free to use it as a starting point for making your own. Pistol Cleaning Kit:
*The shoe string is fished through the barrel and the end with the knots is pulled through to remove any fouling from its inside. This is used to mirror the job done by a bore snake. It is not necessary if the patches (t-shirt) properly clean the barrel. Make sure that the knots are large enough to barely fit through the pistol's barrel. This past weekend the NRA Annual Meetings took place in Nashville, Tennessee. Firearms enthusiasts from all over convened to discuss and exhibit the latest and greatest. One highly anticipated exhibit was that of the new, single stack 9mm, Glock 43 pistol. Since the launch of the Glock 42 in .380 ACP, the firearms community has been asking for the development of a similarly sized pistol that fires the more prevalent and powerful 9mm cartridge. Well now we have it! The Glock 43 is a 6.26 inch long, 4.25 inch tall, semiautomatic pistol that allows the user to carry 6 +1 rounds (a six round magazine capacity with one round in the chamber). This pistol was developed to offer Glock lovers a slimmer, more compact 9mm option for concealed carry. It is expected to give the Ruger LC9, Smith & Wesson Shield, Beretta Nano, and other sub-compact 9mm pistols some pretty stiff competition. The internet has been buzzing about this for a while, but has picked up since a select few have been given pistols to review. I have not personally fired this gun, but there are several videos floating around. I'll include a pretty good one below. As far as the dimensions of this firearm, small is the best way to describe it. It is thinner, lighter, and shorter in height than the current favorite, Smith & Wesson Shield, while being just a touch longer. Although it does offer a few less rounds, I am sure it will sell out in no time at gun shops across the country. Whether it's used for concealed carry or as a backup, if it has the reliability that Glock has become known for, people will snatch it up faster than free protein samples. As for me, I'm going to sit back and listen for a while. I may not be the biggest fan of Glock guns, but there is no denying that they work. Well! There were a few reliability issues with the Glock 42, but it has been said that they have been worked out in the 9mm version. Still, the Shield is going to be pretty hard to beat. I have actually fired that gun and instantly fell in love. Plus, it has a larger magazine capacity. Maybe I can get Glock to send me one of the 43s to do a comparison (feel free to write them). Until then, here is some footage of the all new, Glock 43 in action. Enjoy. To be perfectly honest, knowing the parts of a bullet isn't all that important. It will not make you shoot any better and you will not be tested on it later. This is more of an "FYI" type of thing. Just some useless knowledge that is fun to know.
First of all, when referring to bullets, most people actually mean cartridge. The cartridge is the entire object that is placed into the magazine or directly into the gun. Many different types of cartridges have been used throughout history, but today we will be discussing the modern, centerfire cartridge. This is what will be used in most semiautomatic handguns. The first part that we want to identify is the primer. Think of it as a starter for a car. It is located at the rear end of the cartridge and is engaged by the hammer or striker, causing a small explosion of the priming compound upon impact. This explosion begins a chain reaction that will eventually make the gun go "bang". The next component is the propellant or gunpowder. It is a substance, ignited by the primer component, that forces the bullet to be pushed out of the gun. It was first invented in China sometime in the 9th century AD. It has changed some over the years, but its intended purpose has remained the same. We all know that the main objective of a gun is to fire the projectile or bullet. This is the metal object that leaves the barrel of the gun and hits the target. There are many different compositions of metal that bullets can be made. The most common types for handguns are full metal jacket (FMJ) and jacketed hollow point (JHP). FMJ bullets are composed of a core, usually lead or steel, encased in a coating of a harder metal, usually copper. The case can cover the entire bullet or just the sides & nose. In JHP bullets, the objective is to maximize the energy exerted on a target. They are designed to spread apart on impact, therefore limiting penetration and remaining in the target. The rim of the cartridge is where the primer is housed and is designed to give the extractor a place to grab onto in order to pull the spent casing out of the firearm. Finally we have the bullet case. This is the metal that holds all the other components together. Once the cartridge is fired, the case will be ejected from the firearm in order to make room for the next cartridge to be inserted. |
AuthorKeep in mind that I am by no means a gun expert. I have had some safety, handling, and shooting training, but nowhere near the amount I feel is needed to claim the "expert" title. With that being said, I am a man that owns a LOT of firearms, knives, and gear! I have been shooting since I could hold a rifle and have even competed in and won a few competitions. The advice and tips that I give are based on personal experience, but are by no means to be taken as law. Please consult a trained, certified professional for all your firearms needs. Enjoy! Archives
May 2016
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