What is the recommended action to clear a stovepipe malfunction on a handgun?

What is the recommended action to clear a stovepipe malfunction on a handgun?

• A. Rack the slide repeatedly until the chamber is cleared.
• B. Remove the magazine and clear the chamber, then reinse​rt.
• C. Tap the magazine to ensure seating, then rack the slide to chamber a round.
• D. Inspect the barrel for obstructions.

Answer: (C)

Stovepipe clears best by addressing the feed first. When this stoppage happens, the spent casing didn’t clear and the next round hasn’t fully chambered. The quickest, most reliable fix is to tap the magazine to ensure it’s fully seated, then rack the slide to chamber a round. Tapping the magazine helps the next cartridge feed correctly from the magazine into the chamber, solving the misfeed that caused the stovepipe. After seating the magazine, racking the slide chambers a round and ejects the spent casing, restoring normal operation. Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger during the process. Other options don’t address the magazine seating step, or involve unnecessary actions for a stovepipe, and inspecting the barrel for obstructions isn’t the typical remedy for this stoppage.

Stovepipe clears best by addressing the feed first. When this stoppage happens, the spent casing didn’t clear and the next round hasn’t fully chambered. The quickest, most reliable fix is to tap the magazine to ensure it’s fully seated, then rack the slide to chamber a round. Tapping the magazine helps the next cartridge feed correctly from the magazine into the chamber, solving the misfeed that caused the stovepipe. After seating the magazine, racking the slide chambers a round and ejects the spent casing, restoring normal operation. Always keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction and your finger off the trigger during the process. Other options don’t address the magazine seating step, or involve unnecessary actions for a stovepipe, and inspecting the barrel for obstructions isn’t the typical remedy for this stoppage.