MCSO Basic Fire Arms Training Practice Test 2026 - Free Fire Arms Training Practice Questions and Study Guide

A stovepipe jam is a cartridge case that didn’t eject properly and is left standing in the ejection port. The standard immediate action to clear this is to perform tap, rack, and reload.

Tap the bottom of the magazine to ensure it’s fully seated and feeding properly. If the magazine isn’t seated, the next round may not feed reliably, which can contribute to feeding jams like stovepipes.

Rack the slide firmly to eject the stuck cartridge and chamber a fresh round. This cycling action clears the jammed piece and brings a new cartridge into the chamber.

Reload to restore the firearm to ready status. After the slide cycles, a round should be chambered and the gun ready to fire again.

Pushing the slide forward and firing again is unlikely to clear the jam and can push a stuck case further or leave the firearm unsafe to fire. Simply racking the slide without addressing the magazine seating may not fix the issue. Disassembling the pistol and replacing the barrel is not part of the immediate-action drill and isn’t appropriate for a basic stovepipe clearance in the field.