Which malfunction corresponds to a stovepipe, where the ejecting shell lip catches and the case is ejected partway?

• A. Misfire due to a light primer.
• B. Double-feed due to two rounds.
• C. Failure to feed due to dirty magazine.
• D. Stovepipe: the ejecting shell lip catches and the case is ejected partway.

Answer: (D)

Stovepipe describes an ejection-stage malfunction. After firing, the case should be completely ejected by the slide. In a stovepipe, the ejecting shell lip catches on the edge of the ejection port or slide, so the case is ejected only partway and remains lodged in the port, giving the appearance of a “stovepipe.” This points to an issue with extraction or timing of the slide cycling, such as a weak extractor, a dirty/rough ejection path, or insufficient slide velocity, rather than a problem with firing or feeding.

The other failures involve different parts of the cycle. A misfire due to a light primer means the round won’t ignite, not that the spent case didn’t fully eject. A double-feed results from two rounds trying to enter the chamber at once, creating a feeding jam. A failure to feed because the magazine is dirty stops a round from entering the chamber from the magazine, also a feeding issue—not an ejection problem.