Which statement best describes a stovepipe malfunction?

• A. The spent cartridge case ejects normally
• B. The chamber is empty
• C. The spent cartridge case fails to eject completely and is ejected upward through the ejection port
• D. The gun fires twice in rapid succession

Answer: (C)

A stovepipe malfunction happens when the spent cartridge case doesn’t clear the ejection port and gets stuck at the top of the port, sticking upward like a stovepipe. This occurs because the slide didn’t fully eject the case or the rim didn’t release cleanly, so the case remains partly trapped as the gun continues cycling. You’ll see the case protruding upward instead of being flung out to the side, which interrupts the cycling and can prevent the next round from chambering.

Causes often include weak recoil effort, a dirty gun, a worn extractor, or marginal ammunition, all of which can reduce the force available to eject the spent case. To clear it, keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction, eject the magazine, and rack the slide firmly to eject the stuck case, then reinsert a fresh magazine and chamber a round. If the problem persists, inspect and clean the firearm or service worn parts.