If a misfire occurs, what is recommended before retargeting?

• A. Immediately fire again without checking.
• B. Remove the magazine and replace with a new one, then continue.
• C. Hand the weapon to another person.
• D. Keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction, wait a moment, then attempt TAP-RACK-BANG if needed.

Answer: (D)

When a misfire happens, safety and proper clearing are the priorities before continuing your shooting. The recommended approach is to keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction, pause for a moment to see if ignition occurs (some misfires are delayed), and then use the TAP-RACK-BANG drill if needed. This sequence helps ensure a chambered live round is ready and clears potential issues like a dud primer or light strike.

TAP-RACK-BANG means: tap the base of the magazine to ensure it’s seated, rack the slide to eject the misfired round and chamber a fresh one, then attempt to fire again. If it still doesn’t fire after this, continue to handle the situation safely and retarget only when you’re ready and sure the firearm is functioning.

Firing again immediately ignores the possibility of a delayed ignition or other malfunction. Replacing the magazine without addressing the potential misfire can mask the problem or cause new malfunctions. Handing the firearm to someone else is unsafe and outside proper procedure.