How should you handle a gun with a misloaded magazine?

• A. Do not force; keep muzzle in a safe direction, remove magazine, inspect the firearm, and clear any jams or misfeeds.
• B. Force the magazine in to fix the issue.
• C. Pull the trigger rapidly to clear misfeed.
• D. Point the muzzle toward a colleague to reset.

Answer: (A)

When a magazine is misloaded, the priority is to bring the firearm to a safe condition and prevent any unintended discharge. The proper approach starts with muzzle safety: keep the gun pointed in a safe direction at all times and avoid forcing any parts. Do not try to force the magazine to seat or lock, because that can push a round into the chamber or worsen the misfeed.

First, remove the magazine to stop any live rounds from feeding. With the magazine out, inspect the firearm and clear any jams or misfeeds. Check the chamber to ensure it is empty, and look over the magazine for damage or obvious misalignment. If everything looks safe, reseat a properly functioning magazine and, if needed, rack the slide or cycle the action to eject any round and verify the chamber is still clear. Once you’ve confirmed there are no rounds in the chamber and the feed path is clear, you can reassemble as needed and proceed with a controlled, safe test.