Misfires... how to deal with?

[1911 guy]

Rack with authority.

The "flip" mentioned in the previous post probably doesn't hurt anything, but racking the slide like you mean it will clear a round. If it doesn't clear that way, you've got bigger problems and it's time to rip/strip/reload anyway.

 

[DMK]

The real risk of a hangfire is that the muzzle will not be pointed in a safe direction when the cartridge DOES go off. Remember, a cartridge without a gun around it that goes off normally will just push the bullet out a fraction of an inch, then sit there and burn.

My biggest fear is the round will go off while chambered but just as I unlock the bolt.

After waiting 30 seconds or more, I try to cycle the action away from my face, as fast and vigorously as I can. Once it's on the ground a few feet away, I leave it alone for a while.

Never had a hangfire with modern ammo, just old surplus .303 Brit. I've had some bad primers with modern ammo though. I assumed they were hangfires until they didn't go off for 30 sec.