What should I do with a misfired round?

[dodgyrog]

Usually on the range they use a 6 second rule with a misfire if it has not gone off in that time its safe, I would just pull the bullet in the press tip out the powder push out the primer and put a new primer in and re load it.

Be advised it is a 30 second rule to be safe.
The round must not be re-struck as the primer has been weakened and may burst.
The round is the shooter's responsibility to make safe (dis-assemble usually with an inertia bullet puller).
This is the requirement for misfires recommended by the NRA

 

[kennyc]

had a "smokey" misfire on Sunday from a .223 round, left it for the 30 secs then worked the action and ejected the round, to my relief there was still a bullet in the case the primer had split and I am guessing the the flame came back rather than into the powder column, hence all the smoke whisping out from the action one of the guys with me pulled the round apart and dumped the powder. at least I didn't have to worry about a bullet stuck in the barrel

 

[Peri]

Thank you ALL for the adivce!

I ahd better go to the back yard and dig the round up...only joking.

I pulled it appart with two pairs of pliers, although doing so felt risky. If there is a next time I will take the round to an RFD

Cheers,
Peri

 

[Tackleberry270]

Agree with most thats been said, but if its irresponsible to bury a single round what about the millions of rounds buried
by the army, I know of an area that was a range during WW11 when the military left they buried everything
can still pick up 303 ammunition there today where it has found its way to the surface,though after this time lapse it would not be usable.

Remember building grouse butts there a few years back butts were built of turf, when removing turfs to build the butts you could have filled the back of a pickup truck with the ammunition found.

I'm good friends with a guy who brings back .303 rounds from battle sites in france and fires them through his enfield. Most if not all still perform despite being buried for over 60 years.

 

[finnbear270]

I'm good friends with a guy who brings back .303 rounds from battle sites in france and fires them through his enfield. Most if not all still perform despite being buried for over 60 years.

MMMNNnn!, froggie plod must turn a blind eye then!

 

[AndyH]

If you have a misfire you should hold the rifle steady with muzzle pointed at a safe back stop for at least 30 secs. Sorry Sikadog but 6 secs is no where near long enough to deal with a hangfire (delayed ignition) then after the 30 secs you should lower the rifle and once down carefully open the breech exposing as little of as possible and using just one finger and thumb to operate the bolt if bolt operated so if the round goes off as you open there is less of you to get injured. With just fingers tips holding top and bottom of knob the bolt should be able to fly past with taking fingers off.

Good to know.

 

[matt_hooks]

I think Sika might have made a typo, and missed the 0 from 60 seconds. 6 seconds definitely isn't long enough.

 

[Jimbo 30 06]

The problem is that you do not know the basic safety drill to deal with a missfire. That is worrying.

If you have a misfire you should hold the rifle steady with muzzle pointed at a safe back stop for at least 30 secs. Sorry Sikadog but 6 secs is no where near long enough to deal with a hangfire (delayed ignition) then after the 30 secs you should lower the rifle and once down carefully open the breech exposing as little of as possible and using just one finger and thumb to operate the bolt if bolt operated so if the round goes off as you open there is less of you to get injured. With just fingers tips holding top and bottom of knob the bolt should be able to fly past with taking fingers off.

Once the round is clear of the breech you can eject it as per normal.

if you are worried about the round and wish to dispose of it drop it into your local plod shop. They won't thank you of course but it's the way the licensing folks would want it dealt with.

The missfire drill is part of the NRA RCO instruction course and ALL RCO's should be familiar with this.

Spot on Brithunter the 30 seconds wait with the muzzle pointed at a safe backstop is the minimum amount of time before you even think of carefully ejecting the round. Also well said 8 x 57 the round should be disposed of/dismantled in a manner that is not going to injure anyone.


Jimbo

 

[jon2]

Please don't joke about it bob because some naive person who doesn't know any better will see your comment think you are serious and then go and do exactly as you have said.

Agreed and unfortunately all too common on internet forums.

 

[nthor]

The problem is that you do not know the basic safety drill to deal with a missfire. That is worrying.

If you have a misfire you should hold the rifle steady with muzzle pointed at a safe back stop for at least 30 secs. Sorry Sikadog but 6 secs is no where near long enough to deal with a hangfire (delayed ignition) then after the 30 secs you should lower the rifle and once down carefully open the breech exposing as little of as possible and using just one finger and thumb to operate the bolt if bolt operated so if the round goes off as you open there is less of you to get injured. With just fingers tips holding top and bottom of knob the bolt should be able to fly past with taking fingers off.

Once the round is clear of the breech you can eject it as per normal.

if you are worried about the round and wish to dispose of it drop it into your local plod shop. They won't thank you of course but it's the way the licensing folks would want it dealt with.

The missfire drill is part of the NRA RCO instruction course and ALL RCO's should be familiar with this.

+1

 

[nell]

Agree with most thats been said, but if its irresponsible to bury a single round what about the millions of rounds buried
by the army, I know of an area that was a range during WW11 when the military left they buried everything
can still pick up 303 ammunition there today where it has found its way to the surface,though after this time lapse it would not be usable.

Remember building grouse butts there a few years back butts were built of turf, when removing turfs to build the butts you could have filled the back of a pickup truck with the ammunition found.

WE have an old army camp couple of miles up the road, there was two small resevoirs where or are full of old ammo, as kids we would collect bags of 303 blanks from the mud as far as we could reach, we spent hours cutting the crimp off and making powder chains,these rounds had been in the water for at least 30 years ,but still fizzld away when liten. Whilst working in the forestry in the 80s when a lot of hill ground was ploughed up i remember a couple of jobs that where littered with all sorts of military debris, was common to go back to the car for lunch to find tail fins poking out from under the seat....

 

[Jimbo 30 06]

Agreed and unfortunately all too common on internet forums.

+1 you only have to read the JESTER'S replies on this thread REMEMBER you can not send your dog after a delayed discharge. SOME POOR SOD MAY BE DEAD

Jimbo

 

[mudman]

Well back in the real world, I think most folk will a: think that they have forgotten to chamber a round if all they hear is a click, b: if they have a deer still stood there will work a/ another round into the chamber asap, c: take offending round and lob into the nearest pond/river or tread it into soft ground.

 

[8x57]

Mudman what you describe is not the real world it is the actions of an unsafe irresponsible person.

a) When you load a rifle you check that you are actually chambering a round.

b) Actions like this with missfires or squib loads have resulted in numerous accidents in the past including many incidents with .17hmr "blowups" for instance.Follow the correct missfire procedure.

c) Then not only would they be totally irresponsible but also be in breach of the conditions on their firearms certificate namely not ensuring unauthorised access to firearms or ammunition. So this so called shooter is going to leave a live round lying around to possibly be found by a child or at least an unauthorised person. Dispose of missfires correctly either by dismantling which is now quite legal, or by surrendering the missfire to a RFD or the local police station.

 

[Jimbo 30 06]

Mudman what you describe is not the real world it is the actions of an unsafe irresponsible person.

a) When you load a rifle you check that you are actually chambering a round.

b) Actions like this with missfires or squib loads have resulted in numerous accidents in the past including many incidents with .17hmr "blowups" for instance.Follow the correct missfire procedure.

c) Then not only would they be totally irresponsible but also be in breach of the conditions on their firearms certificate namely not ensuring unauthorised access to firearms or ammunition. So this so called shooter is going to leave a live round lying around to possibly be found by a child or at least an unauthorised person. Dispose of missfires correctly either by dismantling which is now quite legal, or by surrendering the missfire to a RFD or the local police station.

+1 100% correct 8 x 57 i can not believe that any one chambering a round does not observe the round leaving the clip and entering the chamber. Not only are you taught safety be it at a club during six month probationary or DMQ Level 1 etc you are also taught to inspect your ammo before using. The club i am a member of is very strict on safety CCTV everywhere as well as RCO and any member observed not complying with safe practices recieves a written warning. But as always there are NUMPTIES that seem to be oblivious to there actions and have no common sense. Even the very highly well educated. I could write a book on what i have seen on ranges, clay shoots and driven days.

Jimbo

 

[Tackleberry270]

Very 'entertaining' thread. Putting aside the issue of disposal of faulty ammo. The safety procedures on ranges can differ from range to range and also depends on who is shooting and the qualifications and experience.

For example, an NRA shoot would prohibit any kind of movement with a weapon made ready but trained soldiers on a field firing range would practice pairs fire and maneuver with live firing. An informal range run by experienced military guys can be much more relaxed than a civvy club range. They are just different circumstances.

As for a round failing to fire. The probability of it going off becomes increasingly unlikely for every second that passes. If you are not on a range where there is a set procedure then it is completely up to you when you want open the bolt.

Its one thing to make people aware of the risk but quite another to think everyone should apply NRA rules to the letter when they are out in the field. Some of us think for ourselves and don't need an RCO to think for us.

Incidentaly, the immediate action on a fail to fire with a service rifle would have the action pulled back to the rear within a few seconds. There may be differences with a bolt action and a semi-auto but the round is still a live round.

 

[mickey308]

Hi All,

If you do have a miss fire and wait the minimum of 30 seconds please make sure that you open the bolt with finger and thumb or, the underside of your fingers if at all possible forward of the bolt handle or knob, keeping your whole hand away from it as if it should "Fire" while opening the bolt it will, at the very least result in severe bruising from the bolt's untold speed opening along with that of your hand.

Also, make sure you keep your face well away from the chamber and spectators if any, well clear in all directions.

Be safe.

mickey308