Which term describes a weapon malfunction that occurs when the trigger is pulled, but the round fails to detonate?

• A. Failure to eject / Stovepipe
• B. Failure to feed
• C. Failure to extract
• D. Failure to fire

Answer: (D)

When a firearm fails to discharge after the trigger is pulled, the issue is categorized as a failure to fire. This means the round did not ignite or detonate despite pulling the trigger, which is why no shot leaves the chamber. It’s fundamentally about ignition—the cartridge didn’t fire even though the firing mechanism was activated. In practical terms, a failure to fire is a misfire, separate from problems with feeding, extracting, or ejecting the cartridge.

The other malfunctions involve different stages of the cycle. Failure to feed means a round never makes it from the magazine into the chamber, so the gun can’t be fired. Failure to extract occurs when the spent case isn’t removed after firing, leaving the chamber. Failure to eject, or a stovepipe, is when the spent case isn’t expelled properly through the ejection port. These issues block firing for reasons other than the ignition of the cartridge.