What Do You Do After A Mis-Fire

K

kwhi43

New member
While shooting Sunday, the wife didn't have the cap pushed all the way down
on the nipple and had a mis-fire. Notice what happens, the pistol doesen"t
move at all. If that was me, I probably would have flinched a little, but not
her. Steady as a rock. What do you all do?
PauletteDryFire1.gif
 
I dive under the bench and yell for help.


Strangely, for me, it depends on the gun. My ROA doesn't move at all; neither does my carry gun. The Rogers & Spencer has only misfired once, and it moved a bit. My single shot pistols move the most. I have no idea why; I'm hoping the Pedersoli Harper's Ferry flintlock I just got will be better.
 
Depends on the day and the weapon actually, with pistols I'm steady, but I also spend the extra time to seat my caps with a piece of antler so it rarely happens. However, with my T/C Renegade after the 1st dozen shots I get occasional misfires, some day's I'm a rock and other's, for some reason I flinch like someone was trying to kick me in the nut's, at which point those also on the fireing line watching yell in unison "Nice Hold", once they stop laughing!! I can't think of anyone I've ever shot with that has escaped hearing that chant at least one or more times over the years.
 
Depends on the gun - either re-cap and try again or if it's a flinter, point it in a safe direction, wait a few minutes, re-prime after making sure the vent is clear and then try again. After a misfire, I usually sigh a big sigh, say a few naughty words (they help a lot) and try again. If it continues to misfire - I look for the nearest body of water and throw it as far as I can . . . I'm not worried about losing it . . . it will turn up in another 100 years as a "relic". If it's a revolver . . . I throw a spare cylinder in with it so three generations from now they can argue over the use of spare cylinders. :D Then I pull out a 38 spl. :)
 
I'd think to myself, "Misfire. Wait." I would keep it downrange and announce it so others are also aware. After a minute, then I would take corrective action (like re-cap or re-cock and check the pan), all the time keeping the muzzle pointed downrange.
 
I think most of you are missing the point.

I believe what he was trying to discuss is our discipline at holding the aim point when we pull the trigger, not what to do with an FTF.

When the gun misfires, do you notice the sights moving off the aim point? That suggests that some practice is needed in holding the sight picture.

My handgun training included frequent intentional but unexpected misfires just so I could see whether or not I was holding on target throughout the process. It's a good thing to include in your practice regimen.
 
^^^ This. It was what I was thinking, but mykeal beat me to it.

The first time I shot my ROA I tried using #10 caps; they were too small. The first hammer strike on every cap just pushed it down on the nipple. The first couple surprised me, but I was pleased to note that the sights stayed right on the target. Once I figured out what was happening, I cycled the action all the way around the cylinder, and on the second strike on each cap, they all popped. I think mykeal got kwhi's point ... gun misfired and shooter didn't flinch, duck, or otherwise move the gun away from its target. Even when bringing her hand down, notice that the muzzle stayed level and pointed safely down range.
 
Not as steady or diciplined as your wife !!

To a certain degree, I have to be honest and say that I flinch and then freeze and do as 4V50 Gary has posted. ..... ;)

Be Safe !!!
 
You are right Mykeal. That was what I was trying to show.
Click to expand...

I knew that. That's why I said 'after I probably flinch'

To tell the truth, I've never paid any atention to what I do in a circumstance such as that. I'd like to think that I was rock steady, keeping the sights aligned and muzzle on target; but, I'm not that delusional :o I think
 
I know, I buy em books, and buy em books. I posted this in a competition
shooting fourm, and nobody got it. What can I say?:confused:
 
I got it . . . . I just chose to be stupid . . . . :D

I think Hawg probably described what my reaction usually is . . . I will admit it . . . I "FLINCH" and then usually the muzzle drops a little . . doesn't matter if it's a pistol or long gun . . . then I say to myself, "What the hey?"

As mentioned though . . . the muzzle ALWAYS stays pointed down range and I wait a respectable length of time before addressing the issue . . . in fifty years of shooting, I have had a number of "hangfires". . . . they DO happen!

If a person has a misfire and is still able to maintain their aim and not be affected by it . . . I admire 'em.

I know this is a BP and ML site . . but will say this anyway . . . I know I react the same way to a misfire . . . i.e. . . . flinch and muzzle drop . . . regardless of what I am shooting. I react the same way when shooting cartridge handguns that I do when shooting BP . . . . . I just try not to show it! :D
 
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