Last week sunday I was shooting next to a guy who was shooting 3 different 1911's. One of his guns wouldn't fire and the slide wouldn't open but there was a live round in the chamber. He pulled the hammer back and pulled the trigger many times but nothing. The only thing he was able to do was release the mag.

I went to use the restroom while my cousin watched the my pistol, while I was walking back I saw the guy pull out and drive off. I asked my cousin if he was able to unjam his gun and or fire it. He didn't do either, he just packed it up and left.


What would be the proper procedure for a situation like this?

If you hear click but no bang, first keep the gun pointed down range for at least 30 seconds in case it's a hang fire.  What is a hang fire?  See this link...

Then call a RO for assistance.  The ROs should be able to assist with these.  They would even show you how to unjam then pistol... a good learning opportunity!

Yep, Hangfire procedure, then call the RO for assistance.  The bullet is probably stuck in the lands, or the case not sized properly jammed in the chamber.  Got to tap it out with a dowel.  Maybe the guy didn't want them to stick the metal rod they usually use down the barrel.  In any case good thing it didn't go off, might have been a kaboom. 

Good reminder to size cases properly and check OAL's of finished rounds.

I was also going to suggest seeking the help of the range officer, if any.  My general rule is if anything is goofy with a shot, stop and investigate throughly --which includes dropping the hammer on the round a couple of times.

I would have packed up the gun after that test and and if I was done shooting, bring it home.  The fact that he left at that point may be coincidental.  On getting it home, I would tap out the mainspring housing pin and remove the mainspring housing before going any further in my investigative disassembly or whatever.

Odd that both a misfire and an action lockup occured at the same time.  Could it have been a failure of any firing pin blocks in the action which would have both blocked the slide and prevented the gun from firing?

Other possible causes:  bad safety, where it was actually "on" but did not prevent the sear from releasing, bad loading with the bullet jammed in both the rifling and the case at the same time  broken link, dirt in the locking grooves or under the link, both of which could have prevented a complete return to battery and an action lockup.  In both these cases, the firing pin might not be in line with the primer's anvil....  just "blue-sky-ing" the problem.

Anyone got any other diagnoses?

Terry, 230RN

Good video! Good reminder! Dang that was crazy! You gotta be retarded to look down the barrel as PlanA

My very first INSTINCT in a misfire is to face the barrel away from people as well as myself! Strange.....

Good video! Good reminder! Dang that was crazy! You gotta be retarded to look down the barrel as PlanA

My very first INSTINCT in a misfire is to face the barrel away from people as well as myself! Strange.....

I saw someone do that at silhouette side once.  I tried to stop him and advised him to try and leave it pointed downrange and the girl he was with made some comment that I couldn't hear because of my ears. 

If you hear click but no bang, first keep the gun pointed down range for at least 30 seconds in case it's a hang fire.  What is a hang fire?  See this link...

Then call a RO for assistance.  The ROs should be able to assist with these.  They would even show you how to unjam then pistol... a good learning opportunity!

times million!

Ok, the guy in the video deserved to die for doing that.  As for a misfire, it depends on what you are training for.  Waiting 30 seconds for a bullseye shooter is a good idea.  For most other people, we almost immediately just go to racking the slide and onto the next round.  Without the ability to funnel pressure, your round is not likely to do any damage to anyone or anything.

As pointed above though however, I'm always interested in *why* did it fail? Was it a light primer strike? Was there something wrong with the gun? The round? etc.  I pick it up afterwards and try to inspect it.

Chris

That guy was staring STRAIGHT DOWN THE BARREL!! 
Lucky it recoiled just enough to clear his face!

I had quite a few reloaded rounds that were way too underpowered.  I made maybe twenty-five of .45 LSWC rounds with powder charges getting lighter every 5 rounds.  The first 5 were plenty light enough already, and I didn't want anything stuck, so I didn't fire off the other 20.  I took them down to the local police station later and asked them to dispose of them (didn't know I could've given them to the RO).  Next time I do, though, I'm gonna ask them to take it off my hands and decline giving them all my personal information..

Yeah it seemed the shotgun just moved enough to clear his head. The guy must have a guardian angel. Would never want to look down any firearm barrel!

...............Odd that both a misfire and an action lockup occured at the same time.  Could it have been a failure of any firing pin blocks in the action which would have both blocked the slide and prevented the gun from firing?...................

I'd be really interested to know if it was locked in battery or if it was locked slightly out of battery.

^ Yeah, that's what I was getting at with my dirt and broken link comments.

By the way, Jl808, last week I was firing my M4gery at the range and a round felt "funny."  Pursuant to my "Investigate anything 'funny' about a shot" Rule, I investigated.

I pulled the mag, locked the bolt back, inspected the chamber and mag well, inspected the muzzle/flash hider, stuck my finger in the receiver to reflect the light back up the barrel and looked directly down the barrel to verify that it was clear for just about 500 milliseconds. 

This, right in front of G-d and everybody.  No comments were made. By G-d or anybody else.

Anyone see anything wrong with that?

Terry, 230RN

^ Yeah, that's what I was getting at with my dirt and broken link comments.

By the way, Jl808, last week I was firing my M4gery at the range and a round felt "funny."  Pursuant to my "Investigate anything 'funny' about a shot" Rule, I investigated.

I pulled the mag, locked the bolt back, inspected the chamber and mag well, inspected the muzzle/flash hider, stuck my finger in the receiver to reflect the light back up the barrel and looked directly down the barrel to verify that it was clear for just about 500 milliseconds. 

This, right in front of G-d and everybody.  No comments were made. By G-d or anybody else.

Anyone see anything wrong with that?

Terry, 230RN

Maybe they were just hoping a bench would open up.

^ Yeah, that's what I was getting at with my dirt and broken link comments.

By the way, Jl808, last week I was firing my M4gery at the range and a round felt "funny."  Pursuant to my "Investigate anything 'funny' about a shot" Rule, I investigated.

I pulled the mag, locked the bolt back, inspected the chamber and mag well, inspected the muzzle/flash hider, stuck my finger in the receiver to reflect the light back up the barrel and looked directly down the barrel to verify that it was clear for just about 500 milliseconds. 

This, right in front of G-d and everybody.  No comments were made. By G-d or anybody else.

Anyone see anything wrong with that?

Terry, 230RN

Next time pull the bolt carrier and look from the back.

I dunno 230RN.... I don't think I'd want to develop potentially unsafe habits for myself and anyone watching...

That said, I don't have a rifle so I have no idea if what you did is safe or not!