It’s one of the worst feelings in the world. No, we’re not talking about when the Patriots came back from a 28-3 deficit to beat the Falcons in the 2017 Super Bowl. It’s hard to get worse than that.

This is a much more common problem: We’re talking about when your gun jams.

A jammed gun can be a huge problem for gun owners. At best, you need to concoct an excuse to avoid getting razzed by your range buddies. At worst, you’ve just botched a self-defense scenario, and now there’s nothing standing between you and an emboldened attacker.

Either way, you need to know how to clear a malfunction and reload your weapon as quickly and safely as possible. In this post, we’ll look at some of the main reasons guns jam, along with preventative measures you can take to ensure you hardly ever hear that terrifying “click” when you pull the trigger.

Top 5 Reasons Guns Jam

Uncertainty is one of the biggest issues a shooter faces when a gun jams. For a moment, a jammed gun is the greatest mystery in the world. Here are some of the most common reasons guns jam, along with how to diagnose the problem.

1. Maintenance and Lubrication

Make no mistake: improper maintenance causes the vast majority of firearm malfunctions. It often boils down to one of two situations. Either your gun is dirty from previous use, or it’s poorly lubricated.

Cleaning

Shooting a gun is dirty business. Every time you do it, you generate grime that can build up and prevent your gun from functioning properly.

Some of the most important places to clean are any slide grooves where metal contacts metal. You should also keep the bore (the inside of your barrel) clean. If you don’t clean your gun regularly, you’re playing a game of Russian roulette — pun intended.

Your gun isn’t the only thing that can get dirty. Mags collect plenty of lead and carbon fouling as well, and can easily cause a misfire.

Lubrication

If you want your gun to function like a well-oiled machine, you need to treat it like one. Apply lubrication to any parts of your gun that experience metal-on-metal contact. The general rule is grease for anything that slides, oil for anything that rotates.

Cleaning and lubrication is a huge part of proper care for any semi-auto pistol. But it’s particularly important for big-name brands like Glocks and Berettas. Glocks have a reputation for running well regardless of how dirty they are. However, even the mighty Glock will eventually jam if you don’t take care of it. Firearms are tools — keep them well-maintained!

2. Magazine Malfunctions

Aside from a dirty gun, a magazine malfunction is another common reason that semi-automatic weapons jam.

A main failure point in a magazine is its follower spring. When this spring is under tension, it pushes fresh cartridges up into the chamber, feeding your gun. But if a magazine’s follower spring is worn out, it won’t apply enough force to get a new cartridge into the chamber. If the first few rounds through a magazine feed perfectly and your gun only jams towards the end of the magazine, chances are the follower spring is the culprit.

Old, worn-out magazines may also cause a double-feed. This happens when an extractor fails to pull a spent casing out of a chamber (more on that later). But it can also arise when a magazine’s feed lips begin to wear down. In this case, they can start allowing multiple cartridges to slide from the mag into the chamber.

If you carry a concealed gun for self-defense, check your magazines’ functionality on a weekly basis to prevent jams.

3. Ammunition Issues (From Quality to Compatibility)

Ammunition is another huge factor that determines whether a gun functions properly. Have you ever handled ammo that left your fingers covered in lead and carbon fouling? If so, you’ve already run into some sub-par ammo.

Using low-quality ammo leaves you open to a host of problems. Cheap cartridges are a common cause of stoppages like:

• Misfires: When a cartridge's primer or powder don’t ignite or cause a delayed ignition. This can be extremely dangerous. When an inexperienced shooter pulls the trigger and the gun doesn’t fire, they often look down the barrel for an explanation and can shoot themselves in the face.
• Squib: When a cartridge doesn’t have enough powder, or if the powder gets damaged. This causes the bullet to fire, but doesn’t give it enough energy to clear the barrel. If the operator fires again, the second bullet impacts the first one lodged in the barrel, which can cause the gun to explode.

Avoid both squibs and misfires by purchasing factory-made ammo from a reputable source like Pro Armory.

4. Mechanical Failures

So far, the problems we’ve covered haven’t had anything to do with a gun itself. Although less common than the errors we’ve listed already, problems with a gun can lead to jams, too. Some of the most common points of failure in a firearm are:

• Recoil Spring: We’re just going to come out and say it: recoil springs are consumable. If you shoot your gun enough (especially a pistol), it’s not a matter of “if” you’ll have to replace a recoil spring — it’s “when.”
• Extractor: These have one of the highest failure rates of any gun component. If your gun is trying to feed a live round into a chamber already occupied by an empty casing, the extractor is likely the issue. To prolong the life of your extractor, don’t load the chamber directly. Instead, load ammo into the chamber from the magazine.
• Ejector: The ejector has a similar job to the extractor, but generally offers a longer service life. Ejectors cause a variety of “failure to eject” (FTE) jams, including double feeds and the infamous stovepipe. Since they don’t cause any specific sort of problem (and can contribute to a lot of different ones), a faulty ejector can be a difficult problem to diagnose.
• Feed Ramp: This is mostly an issue for 1911 aficionados. This curved metal section is part of the gun’s frame and helps deliver fresh cartridges from the magazine into the chamber. If you have a 1911, keep your feed ramp glistening, shiny, and clean. Carbon fouling loves to build up on the feed ramp and can prevent the gun from feeding properly.

If your gun is jamming because of a broken component, never fear. In most firearm designs, these parts are fairly common and easy to replace.

5. External Factors and User Error

Finally, some causes of gun jams don’t fit into any of the previous categories. For example, your gun may fail to fully chamber a round before firing, resulting either in the round not going off or firing out of battery. This can result from a variety of factors, and can be difficult to diagnose.

When outside debris makes its way into your gun, it can also be a problem. This often happens through the ejection port and the barrel. If you notice either a barrel or ejection port obstruction, stop and reassess your gun. If you shoot it, things could end badly.

User Error

Finally, user error can play a factor in gun jams, too. In particular, the way you grip a semi-auto handgun may not allow it to cycle correctly during a trigger pull. Known as “limp wristing,” this arises when a pistol’s slide moves more distance than it should, resulting in an improper ejection and gun jam. Fortunately, once recognized, it’s an easy problem to train out.

How To Clear a Gun Malfunction

Let’s say you’ve been training with your firearm at the range (like a responsible armed citizen). Suddenly, your flow is interrupted. You try to pull the trigger but nothing happens — but you’re sure you should have another round. Maybe the gun didn't fire or the slide didn’t operate properly.

Then it dawns on you: Your gun is jammed.

Don’t panic. Your first reaction might be, “What the heck do I do?” but remember this is a common occurrence. Sure, jams are dangerous, but panicking will only make the situation worse.

Many weapon malfunctions (especially with pistols) can be fixed the same way. Here are some tips:

1. First, point the gun in a safe direction. If you’re at an indoor range, that means pointing it downrange. Otherwise, point the firearm at the ground, away from anyone’s feet, and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Remove the magazine (if any).
3. Pull the slide back (or bolt open) to free any trapped cartridges or empty casings. Then remove the obstructive cartridge or casing either with your fingers or using gravity (turning the gun over so the obstruction simply falls out).
4. Once you’ve cleared the obstruction, function check your gun.

This should clear 90% of jams.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Is My Semi-Auto Pistol More Prone to Jams Than Other Firearms?

Because they rely on recoil energy, semi-automatic pistols jam more frequently than other types of guns. Many of their parts (like feed ramps, extractors, and ejectors) also have more failure points than revolvers. But if you keep them clean and well-maintained, your semi-auto pistols shouldn’t fail you.

One type of jam more common in semi-auto pistols than other types of firearms is the notorious stovepipe. These malfunctions are instantly recognizable since the obstructing casing appears like a chimney or stovepipe protruding from the top of the gun. The slide closes on the spent casing before it ejects completely, which prevents the gun from cycling properly. To clear a stovepipe, drop your magazine and rack your slide.

How Often Should I Clean My Handgun To Prevent Jams?

This is a more controversial assumption than you might expect. While some shooters insist on cleaning their guns every time they’re fired, others are a little more cavalier.

We’ll admit that cleaning your guns every time you shoot them may be overkill. But you should definitely clean your handgun at least once every 500 rounds or every financial quarter, whichever comes first.

Is Limp-Wristing More Common With Certain Types of Guns (Beretta, Glock, etc)?

There’s a rumor that certain types of guns (like Glocks and Berettas) are more susceptible to limp wristing. That’s only sort of true. Any gun with a slide heavier than its frame can lead to limp wristing. That includes pretty much every polymer gun, like the P320 line, Glocks, Smith & Wesson’s M&P pistols, and Springfield’s XD.

However, it's important to note that limp wristing is a form of user error. You can fix a weak grip through proper training.

How Can I Ensure My Reloaded Ammo Doesn’t Cause a Gun To Jam?

The general rule of thumb is that you just shouldn’t use reloaded ammo if you haven’t made it yourself. Reloading your own ammo is a bit of an undertaking, but when done right can save you a lot of money. The key phrase here is “when done right.”

To ensure your gun cycles properly with reloaded ammo, be sure to use enough powder. However, don’t use too much powder, or your ammo may get a little too spicy (and blow up your gun). If you reload your own ammo, use a powder measure to calculate your powder requirements.

Final Thoughts

In reality, it’s only a matter of time before your gun jams. But by taking preventative steps you can significantly minimize jams. It’s equally important to be able to diagnose a jam to get back to shooting again as quickly as possible.

One of the best ways to prevent a jam is by feeding your gun quality ammo. At Pro Armory, we provide ammo you can trust for your handguns, rifles, and shotguns — all at an affordable price.

Want a better grip to avoid limp-wristing? We’ve got you covered with online training. Learn proper handgun grip, accuracy tips, tactical maneuvers, shooting drills, and much more from highly skilled veterans and trained shooting professionals. Subscribe to our email newsletter to be notified when training officially launches.