Hang fire...Scary.

It is scary to hear the *click* and nothing happens. I can imagine it is much worse when something does happen a few seconds later. Good thing you hadn't opened the gun right away. In my last flat of GC shells, I had 2 scrunched so bad they would not chamber and one FTF after several primer hits. Fortunately, no hang-fires.

Real scary is when that happens with a 155mm howitzer. You think "What the... ?" and before you step up you remember the admonition to wait, and then "WHAM!" the world moves. Man am I glad I didn't reach down and unlock that firing lock.

The bad thing is that in the world of Mis Surps, a hang fire with an Enfield or Mauser is not that uncommon. But, that is old poorly stored military ammo. I agree that I would not expect a hang fire with modern shotgun ammo in a good condition shotgun.

My fathers rule of thumb for hang fires, "When the gun goes click and there is no bang, keep it pointed downrange, count to 30 slowly, if it hasn't fired by then, eject the cart. and push it (bullet first) into the ground away from people.

I guess that way even if it does fire later it will send the shell into low orbit, or just blow a hole in the earth.

I will wait a full minute. I used to wait 30 seconds, but a friend had one go off at about 45 seconds a year or two ago. He was working at a Boy Scout camp and was making a point of waiting. While he was talking about why it was important, the gun discharged downrange.

FTF

Thanks for the post. I had 2 FTF today with a .22 rimfire and probably didn't wait long enough. I was lucky!

Haven't had that happen to me yet, but a month ago I'm at the range, drop the slide on one of my 1911's, and it goes off. Of course, I had it pointed in a safe direction, finger was not on the trigger (actually impossible to have my finger on the trigger and drop the slide with the slide release at the same time, my hands aren't big enough) ... that made me jump, for sure. I wasn't able to reproduce it at the range that day, but it did it again the next trip. I unloaded it, and stuck it in a drawer in my workbench. It finally did it in testing (no rounds in it, of course), and I fixed it... but that sure made me jump.

I have been taught in my firearms training, that in case of pulling the trigger and nothing happened, always keep the muzzle at a safe direction and wait for 60 secs.

Does anyone know what exactly causes this? Is it the powder that somehow remains hot, and ignites later, or is it a primer which decides to burn like a fuse?

I've had it happen a couple of times but I was luckier than you. Both times there was only a fraction of a second between click...boom. Just barely enough time for me to hear the firing pin drop. You did good keeping your muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

I've had hangfires with some SMG 7.62x25 ammo in my CZ 52. But it was really quick, only about a second or two.

I'd like to know how a long time duration hangfire works. Does the primer just simmer for a while?

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I've seen a hang fire twice -- fortunately, I wasn't at the trigger.

1) 30.06 mil-surp out of a commercial bolt action: Trigger pulled with no result, action immediately worked to eject the bad round - which cooked off, probably in mid-air. The case fragmented and sprayed small pieces all around. No harm - no foul. Found the bullet at the shooter's feet. The web of the case was about 20 feet down the firing line.

2) Commercial load out of an EBR. The shooter, not known for his intellect, turned around to talk to a buddy about the misfire. His twist allowed the barrel to almost, but not quite, parallel the firing line - when the round cooked off. Fortunately, the bullet ended up in the berm, no sphincters were harmed in slamming shut, and Mongo was escorted off the premises.

Our "No Bang" drill now is to freeze, keep the barrel pointed down range, and wait 30 seconds. If nothing pops, rack the action, and let the round sit! We saw another brain-donor immediately snatch up the "dead" round and closely examine it. Even took his safety glasses off for a good look. We moved down the firing line, and kept a close eye on that idiot.
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Anyone else hear this story before, could be an urban legend/myth...

Guy robs WWII vet, taking the guy's old 1911 and it's mag/ammo. Goes down to gas station, starts to rob it and decides to shoot the clerk. The gun clicks, but doesn't fire, bad guy (an idiot) looks down barrel to see what is wrong.. hangfire.

Point is I can see a newbie/idiot doing this, I always make sure to tell everyone I shoot with to wait a minute or two if they get a round that doesn't go off.

I shoot a few different Enfields and I run surplus ammo through them for practice. Lots of hang fires with some of it, longest was a couple three seconds, most is pretty quick. Any time we have a FTF we always keep it pointed down range for a minute before clearing. Sure would not be much fun to unlock the bolt and it go off driving the bolt through your head.

All of the cautions mentioned above are correct, but I wonder...
Is it possible that the firing pin did not hit the primer when the trigger was pulled? Something hanging the hammer just off the sear, and let go a few seconds later? I know that's improbable, but so is a ~15 second hangfire.

Either way, the reminder on safety procedures is valid.

Had one yesterday in my arisaka using old ammo. Heard the firing pin hit then nothing then boom then a really warm sensation in my underwear. Smoked up the case pretty bad and I got a little powder on my face. I guess from the case not sealing. Round hit about 2" low if you can believe that!!!!

I've only been shooting .22 lately and have had more than a few FTF.

Usually I lift the bolt handle to re-cock the gun and try again. If no pow I eject the round, generally leave it where it falls for a minute or more and then I'll put it in the mag so the FP will hit somewhere else on the rim and all have gone pow after that.

Seems like it must be a PITA to get primer all around the rim on a .22