What is a stovepipe jam and how do you clear it?

What is a stovepipe jam and how do you clear it?

• A. A stovepipe jam occurs when a spent cartridge fails to clear the ejection port and ejects upward; clear by safely clearing, racking to eject, and reseating.
• B. A stovepipe jam occurs when the bolt locks open after firing; clear by cycling the charging handle.
• C. A stovepipe jam is a failure to feed from the magazine; clear by removing the magazine.
• D. A stovepipe jam is caused by a double-feed; clear by removing the magazine and clearing the chamber.

Answer: (B)

A stovepipe jam is when a spent cartridge case fails to eject cleanly and remains standing upright in the ejection port, blocking the cycling of the firearm. The bolt may still move, but the case sticks in place as if it’s stuck in a stovepipe, preventing the next round from chambering. To clear it, treat the weapon as you would for any malfunction in a safe direction: remove the magazine, then cycle the charging handle to eject the stuck case and reseat the bolt. Once the case is expelled and the action closes, reinsert the magazine and chamber a new round. If the bolt doesn’t close properly after cycling, inspect the chamber and the ejection port and clear any obstruction before attempting to fire again.

A stovepipe jam is when a spent cartridge case fails to eject cleanly and remains standing upright in the ejection port, blocking the cycling of the firearm. The bolt may still move, but the case sticks in place as if it’s stuck in a stovepipe, preventing the next round from chambering.

To clear it, treat the weapon as you would for any malfunction in a safe direction: remove the magazine, then cycle the charging handle to eject the stuck case and reseat the bolt. Once the case is expelled and the action closes, reinsert the magazine and chamber a new round. If the bolt doesn’t close properly after cycling, inspect the chamber and the ejection port and clear any obstruction before attempting to fire again.