If you own a firearm, chances are you’ve had to learn how to fix a gun jam. Sometimes the fix is as simple as a proper reload, but other times the fix may be a bit more complex. Even with the remarkable reliability of modern firearms, they can still fail due to manufacturing or user error.

Obviously, a malfunctioning firearm needs to be fixed before it can be used again to ensure safety and an accurate shot. Magged Supply has years of experience when it comes to firearms, magazine rebuild kits, and malfunctions, and we’re here to help you fix some of the most common types of gun jams to get you back at the range!

What is a gun jam?

Before you know how to fix a gun jam, you have to know what it is. There are many different kinds of gun jams and each one is caused by different malfunctions with the firearm, magazine, or ammunition:

Misfire

This is the most common gun jam, and a majority of people are at least familiar with the term. When you pull the trigger and nothing happens, that is called a misfire. There are multiple things that can cause a misfire, but these types of gun jams are typically caused by a faulty round. You can identify this by looking for damage on the back of the round. If there is no damage to the round, chances are the failure has been caused by a faulty mechanism within the firearm itself.

How to fix it: Before doing any investigating of the firearm, be sure that it’s not a hang fire. A hang fire happens when the round is delayed in firing by a few seconds. To ensure this doesn’t happen, wait at least a full minute before investigating. To fix types of gun jams like this, remove the malfunctioning round and try to shoot again. If it still misfires, the malfunction is probably within the firing mechanism itself.

Failure to extract

Failure to extract is one of the more avoidable types of gun jams, and it’s easy to learn how to fix a gun jam like this. If you’ve fired a round and the casing is sitting empty in the chamber, then your firearm has failed to extract. This can be caused by a poorly maintained firearm or even improper form, often called “limp wristing.”

How to fix it: If you’re looking at your gun’s chamber and it looks dirty, a simple clean may do. Another culprit of failure to extract can happen through poor form, so be sure you’re providing enough hand and arm tension to let the firearm fully cycle through. A majority of these jams just need a magazine drop and a re-rack of the slide to get things running smoothly again. If your magazine is failing, be sure to watch some instructional videos on how to safely assemble a rebuild kit.

Stovepipe Malfunction (failure to eject)

Also known as failure to eject, a stovepipe malfunction is what occurs when a casing does not fully clear the chamber and get stuck in the ejection port. With these types of gun jams, the casing often gets stuck sticking up, giving it the illusion of a stovepipe or smokestack. This typically happens when there’s not enough force to fully drive the slide backward to cleanly extract the case.

How to fix it: The first thing to check are the recoil springs. These are crucial for keeping the firing mechanism in proper condition, so if you’re looking to learn how to fix a gun jam like this one, get familiar with your manufacturer’s guide. Typically, recoil springs should be replaced every 5,000 rounds, so if you’ve had your firearm for a while and this is happening often, it may be time to replace those recoil springs.

Our team gets loads of questions on the magazine rebuild process, but we also want to help you beyond your kit. Knowing some of the most popular types of gun jams is a great way to ensure safety and be prepared for anything when you’re at the range or out in the woods. Magged Supply is here to provide you with insight and information for a variety of firearm topics, and our collection of magazine rebuild kits is available in bulk pricing. So, you can take charge of your firearms and be more independent. Explore our firearm blog where we cover topics that range from types of gun jams to magazine rebuild kit information and shop Magged Supply today.