Delayed fire 20-30 seconds

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mjbek11

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I was at the range tonight shooting some cheap 9mm target ammo. (Winchester 100 round value box 9mm Luger FMJ) I had a fully loaded 17 round clip shooting at about 2 second intervals. bang, bang, bang, etc, click at 16 FTF? I wish! Pulled the gun to my chest (aiming down range) and looking down at it to figure my next move. This is the first FTF I have had in this gun (1500+ rounds) or with this ammo (400 rounds). my gun has infinite strike capabilities, but, I decide just to clear the gun and go on. As I am reaching to pull back the slide BOOM!!!!! My Father ,who was not there, saved my life. He taught me very early in life to NEVER aim your gun anywhere but down range and at 41 I still fear getting my ass kicked if I do. First scary moment in many years of shooting. Always think delayed fire before FTF be careful people. I learned my lesson and now I have to go clean my pants out.

P.S. the pants cleaning part was a joke
 
It's called a hang fire, and it's a good reminder that even modern ammo can have it happen. I bet most modern shooters have never seen it happen.
 
...hang fire, and it's a good reminder that even modern ammo can have it happen. I bet most modern shooters have never seen it happen.
Click to expand...

I've seen it with military ammo (many years ago!), but never with commercial ammo. Can anyone explain exactly how it occurs? Does the primer just burn slowly for some time instead of popping instantly when the firing pin strikes?
 
My experience with hangfires is with older military ammo from the 40s and the 50s. Some old British Mk7 303 Ball comes to mind as well as some South American 8mm Mauser. Delay was usually only a second or two before the rounds would fire. It was a good "flinch" check! There were enough hangfires in the two batches of ammo that in the end, I broke down the offending lots of ammo for the bullets and called it good.

I've never had a recently manufactured round hang fire, but I have had a couple of issue rounds (M118 and M852) fail to fire in an M-14 match rifle several years ago.

I'm no ballistic guru, but I guess you are correct in assuming the compound must just sit there and fizzle for a bit before its brizance is enough to ignite the powder charge.

When I was a recoiless rifle gunner, we practiced both hangfire and misfire drills ad naseum as in a larger gun they can be quite devestating. In fact, had you cracked open your slide just as the round was igniting, you could have had some serious injuries from high pressure gas from a partially contained ignition.

Thank goodness it fired prior to your opening the action and your Dad tought you the proper procedure for a "hang fire drill."
 
Happened to me once while shooting a black powder muzzle loader. Something you’d expect from black powder, but I’d never expect it from modern ammo. Anyhow, I kept the rifle aimed down range for about 20 seconds. Nothing, so I thought it was safe. Lowered the gun to hip level, and BOOM. Glad it was still pointed down range.
 
Do the Winchester white box 9mm have a flat tip instead of rounded like the .380 do? The only time I've experienced a FTE in my PT738 was with the same value size white box stuff. I won't buy them any more.
 
I've had it happen a few times over the years with front stuffers and cartridge guns...Never had it take more than a few seconds...

Back when I was a Hunter Safety Instructor, we taught to wait for 1 minute before lowering the weapon...
 
hmm, thought count to 30 was pretty common training. Wonder if I picked it up in scouts or military.

Even if I miscount, or the slide closes empty if I pull the trigger and nothing happens, I count to 30 pointed down range, then clear.

since I mostly ues that WWB, I am glad I do that now more than ever.
 
A hang fire is bad juju.

Its why I always try to give a dud round at least 30-60 seconds to make up it's mind when I am in a range setting.
 
Delayed

I've seen it with old WWII military ammo in high powered rifles. Rifle misfired while target shooting from the gentleman's front porch (in the country). After the misfire he waited a few seconds and then leaned the rifle up against a column on the porch and turned away to do something. It then fired, damaged the column it was leaned against and pierced the ceiling and roof. I've not seen it with commercial ammo. I've seen and had many misfires but no hang fires.
 
I have had some duds over the years, but the only true hangfire with modern weapons was my Lee Enfield MKIII with Paki surplus ammo. It was a good 2 or 3 seconds on some so I threw the rest of the crap ammo away.
 
Happened to me today. I was shooting some old 45 ACP rounds I had loaded in 1972. According to the label on the box they were 230 gr FMJ with 8.5 gr of Bullseye. There were 7 rounds left in the box, dark with age but looked okay. Loaded them up and they worked fine till I got to shot #4. There was a little pop, some flash came back into my face then maybe a half second later the round goes off. The case looked good the primer was normal. I fired the rest of the rounds and out of the 7 shots 5 were in the bull at 25 yards and one in the 9 ring, The 7th shot? I have no idea where that bullet went because I took my eyes off the sight and backed my head away keeping the gun arm extended. It went down range but where I don't know. 50+ years of plinking and competition and today was my first hangfire. I'm glad it was a quick one because I would have dropped the magazine and tried to eject it in about 30 seconds. That is my usual routine when I have a dud. It is always in the back of my mind that it could be a hangfire but had never experienced one.
 
Thanks for posting this as a reminder. My dad taught me a long time ago to count to 30 while keeping the gun pointed down range. I've used that lesson several times while shooting my .22.
 
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