Who has ever experienced a true "hang fire"? - Page 2

BitterTait · June 17, 2010, 12:59 PM

When I was younger I found a box of .22 ammo in my basement. It was old (no UPC code) and I don't remember the brand, and when fired would consistently take 3-4 seconds to fire after pulling the trigger. My thought then was "Cool, this'll help me practice keeping the rifle steady, how's that for a surprise break"

Of course, now I know that in addition to being dangerous (I was damn lucky none of the complete duds went off after the 30-count) and that the antique ammo probably had some collector value. Live, learn and remember to teach the hypothetical descendents your mistakes.

Webleymkv · June 17, 2010, 01:06 PM

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I had a whole bunch of them with some surplus .303 British ammo in a No. 4 Mk. I Lee Enfield. These, however, didn't give much delay between the striker falling and going off, about like firing a flintlock.

Precisely my experience. Pakistani .303 British, to be precise. Every 12th round or so, CLICK . . . BANG!

I didn't know where the ammo came from, but it was probably the same Pakistani stuff. I distinctly remember it coming in very light greenish color 32-round boxes.

HeroHog · June 17, 2010, 02:12 PM

I have experienced quite a few with surplus 8mm and .303 ammo. They ranged from hearing the "click" of the pin striking the primer followed VERY closely by the boom of the round going off but you COULD hear the delay between the click and the boom. Other rounds hung for several seconds. The longest I have personally experienced was around 5 seconds delayed.

droidw · June 18, 2010, 05:46 AM

I have experienced several misfires from rimfire ammo (.22). Re-strike usually solved the problem.

But one day, not long ago, with a friend at the range, we were shooting our .308 rifles. We usually watch each other during strings of shots, to provide some feedback.

Ammo was Santa Barbara (General Dynamics) current military ammo, 42 grains of powder and 142 grain FMJ bullet.

He operated the trigger and nothing happened. We looked at each other. I told him to wait at least one minute, as he was saying that he was going to wait for a while. He stood up from prone (the rifle was on the bipod, pointed downrange), and then BLAM!, it went off.

We stopped shooting that day.

Greetings.

Stevie-Ray · June 23, 2010, 07:28 PM

I was firing my AMT Govt. model with UZI ammo, as Israel Military Industries made the stoutest 230 gr ball, and it was suggested I use some hot stuff to "break the gun in."

As if that was going to work. I had fired 2 rounds from a mag and the third went click. I kept holding it pointed downrange and was actually about to eject the round when it went off. Scared the crap out of me. I estimate about 5 seconds. I learned that day why I had always been told to wait 10. Strange, but I had forgotten about that for a lot of years, but it's probably because I had wanted to forget everything about that firearm, as much as possible.

chris in va · June 23, 2010, 08:43 PM

I experienced a few with some 'subgun' 7.62x25 in my CZ 52. Click...bang. Kinda interesting really.

MTT TL · June 24, 2010, 10:02 AM

I adjusted the trigger on my .45s to see how heavy I could make the pull. I fired a round and got a light primer strike that resulted in a delayed detonation of about half a second. Do not recall the ammo.

**Mike Irwin** · June 24, 2010, 10:46 AM

Yep, old military ammo.

A few with some VERY old US commercial ammo made, I estimate, between 1870 and 1900 or thereabouts, .56-56 Spencer carbine.

FM12 · June 25, 2010, 06:00 PM

Had a cold run (igniter that I improperly installed didnt actuate) on a Mark 14 practice torpedo once, does that count? Had lots of egg on my face after that.

Xfire68 · June 25, 2010, 11:08 PM

I have had it happen to me. I just started reloading back in 1992 and I went and tried something that I more then likely should not have. I loaded up (Can't remember it all) a 110g FMJ in 30.06 and I am not sure how much powder I used it was H414 but when I pulled the trigger it took about 2 seconds for the round to go off. My dumb self went and shot another one and the same thing happened! I pulled the rest of the loads I made.

Avenger · July 4, 2010, 08:20 PM

Once, with some Hungarian 7.62x54r...pulled the trigger and there was a peculiar *TING* from the bolt. I had enough time to mutter, "Ah, crud..." thinking that the firing spring or pin broke, and then it went off. It did NOT sound like the firing pin had hit ANYTHING.

BobR · July 5, 2010, 02:50 AM

Years ago there was some silver tip russian 7.62 x 54 out of factory 188 (I believe) that was infamous for hangfires. There were enough click...........booms in the can that I took down all of the ammo except for about 25 rounds and kept the bullets, threw the powder on the grass and WD40'd the cases before tossing them.

That was the only surplus ammo I have ever had a problem with.

bob

HeroHog · July 5, 2010, 03:01 AM

I bought a case of "loose" 8mm from Cheaper Than Dirt that looked like it had been shoveled out of a ships bilge! :barf: It was FILTHY and rusty/corroded beyond belief! We tumbled a batch of it to see if we could salvage any after CTD told us to "get bent" when we demanded a refund. Of the ones that we were brave enough to actually chamber, about ½ went off... eventually.

The rest were duds. Threw better than half away. Mixed in there were several other odd calibers that ya had to look out for as well!

Zudd · July 10, 2010, 02:07 AM

I had one round of 7.62x39 hang out of an SAR-1 I used to have. <CLICK>.....bang. Freaked me out. It was old crappy ammo I got from a friend. I didn't shoot any more of it after that.

gyvel · July 10, 2010, 03:24 AM

Yep, and always with old military surplus ammo. Fortunately, the longest was only about 1 second.

KMG5402 · July 10, 2010, 10:46 AM

"I pulled the trigger and heard a pop." -claymore1500

So the popping of the primer is something you'll always hear with a hangfire? Never experienced one.

brickeyee · July 10, 2010, 01:12 PM

The only one I recall is some .50-70 government ammunition that was at least 100 years old.

Of ten rounds, three never did go off, 3-4 had noticeably delayed ignition (one about 3 seconds) and the rest worked fine.

SamW · July 10, 2010, 02:05 PM

I had a Remington UMC .45 Auto round take about five seconds. It was the first round I put in the magazine. I thought maybe because I cleaned it, maybe I put it back together wrong.

I waited for safety, and right when I exhaled from nervousness it went off! The round was messed up when it did fire. The round didn't seem like it had the correct powder amount because it wasn't louder than of .45 Auto's. The shell casing was split right down the side.

I disassembled and examined my firearm, and everything was in order. I fired the other rounds in that box and didn't have a problem.

I've fire countless rounds (10K+), and I've never had any problems with the exception of this one.

jglsprings · July 11, 2010, 08:17 AM

Not one, ever, in 38 years of shooting.

I also don't use surplus ammo.

DT Guy · July 11, 2010, 09:12 AM

Only with some old, suspect 7.62x25 ammo in a CZ52.

Certainly not enjoyable in any way-discontinued after the second instance of it in about 20 rounds, and threw the rest away.

Checking the brass afterward, we found about half had serious splits in the case neck.

The whole concept of a handfire is pretty scary, if you consider that for something like that to occur, the propellant has to be breaking down in some unpredictable way.

Larry

Catfishman · July 11, 2010, 12:34 PM

These stories are kind of scary.

I had a Federal .308 that was a dud with two heavy strikes last year. I was busy shooting a muskrat so I reloaded after a 3 or 4 seconds. How long should I have waited.

What is the longest hangfire anyone has experienced first hand?

June 17, 2010, 12:59 PM	#26
BitterTait Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 144	When I was younger I found a box of .22 ammo in my basement. It was old (no UPC code) and I don't remember the brand, and when fired would consistently take 3-4 seconds to fire after pulling the trigger. My thought then was "Cool, this'll help me practice keeping the rifle steady, how's that for a surprise break" Of course, now I know that in addition to being dangerous (I was damn lucky none of the complete duds went off after the 30-count) and that the antique ammo probably had some collector value. Live, learn and remember to teach the hypothetical descendents your mistakes. __________________ Powered by VI!

June 17, 2010, 02:12 PM	#28
HeroHog Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 486	I have experienced quite a few with surplus 8mm and .303 ammo. They ranged from hearing the "click" of the pin striking the primer followed VERY closely by the boom of the round going off but you COULD hear the delay between the click and the boom. Other rounds hung for several seconds. The longest I have personally experienced was around 5 seconds delayed. __________________ Speedy AKA: Hero Hog, Dr. Speed, "That fat, old, balding, Grey-bearded gimpy guy" *I don't have NEAR enough ammo on hand. `Nuff said.* Last edited by HeroHog; June 17, 2010 at 02:19 PM. Reason: my speeling sax

June 23, 2010, 07:28 PM	#30
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,783	I was firing my AMT Govt. model with UZI ammo, as Israel Military Industries made the stoutest 230 gr ball, and it was suggested I use some hot stuff to "break the gun in." As if that was going to work. I had fired 2 rounds from a mag and the third went click. I kept holding it pointed downrange and was actually about to eject the round when it went off. Scared the crap out of me. I estimate about 5 seconds. I learned that day why I had always been told to wait 10. Strange, but I had forgotten about that for a lot of years, but it's probably because I had wanted to forget everything about that firearm, as much as possible. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.

June 24, 2010, 10:02 AM	#32
MTT TL Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2009 Location: Quadling Country Posts: 2,780	I adjusted the trigger on my .45s to see how heavy I could make the pull. I fired a round and got a light primer strike that resulted in a delayed detonation of about half a second. Do not recall the ammo. __________________ Thus a man should endeavor to reach this high place of courage with all his heart, and, so trying, never be backward in war.

June 24, 2010, 10:46 AM	#33
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,380	Yep, old military ammo. A few with some VERY old US commercial ammo made, I estimate, between 1870 and 1900 or thereabouts, .56-56 Spencer carbine. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

June 18, 2010, 05:46 AM	#29
droidw Member Join Date: February 20, 2009 Location: Sunny Canary Islands, Spain Posts: 21	I have experienced several misfires from rimfire ammo (.22). Re-strike usually solved the problem. But one day, not long ago, with a friend at the range, we were shooting our .308 rifles. We usually watch each other during strings of shots, to provide some feedback. Ammo was Santa Barbara (General Dynamics) current military ammo, 42 grains of powder and 142 grain FMJ bullet. He operated the trigger and nothing happened. We looked at each other. I told him to wait at least one minute, as he was saying that he was going to wait for a while. He stood up from prone (the rifle was on the bipod, pointed downrange), and then BLAM!, it went off. We stopped shooting that day. Greetings.

June 23, 2010, 08:43 PM	#31
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 13,806	I experienced a few with some 'subgun' 7.62x25 in my CZ 52. Click...bang. Kinda interesting really.

June 25, 2010, 06:00 PM	#34
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Had a cold run (igniter that I improperly installed didnt actuate) on a Mark 14 practice torpedo once, does that count? Had lots of egg on my face after that.

June 25, 2010, 11:08 PM	#35
Xfire68 Senior Member Join Date: March 31, 2010 Location: Communist State of IL. Posts: 1,562	I have had it happen to me. I just started reloading back in 1992 and I went and tried something that I more then likely should not have. I loaded up (Can't remember it all) a 110g FMJ in 30.06 and I am not sure how much powder I used it was H414 but when I pulled the trigger it took about 2 seconds for the round to go off. My dumb self went and shot another one and the same thing happened! I pulled the rest of the loads I made.

July 4, 2010, 08:20 PM	#36
Avenger Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Posts: 274	Once, with some Hungarian 7.62x54r...pulled the trigger and there was a peculiar TING from the bolt. I had enough time to mutter, "Ah, crud..." thinking that the firing spring or pin broke, and then it went off. It did NOT sound like the firing pin had hit ANYTHING.

July 5, 2010, 02:50 AM	#37
BobR Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2000 Location: The Dry Side of WA Posts: 561	Years ago there was some silver tip russian 7.62 x 54 out of factory 188 (I believe) that was infamous for hangfires. There were enough click...........booms in the can that I took down all of the ammo except for about 25 rounds and kept the bullets, threw the powder on the grass and WD40'd the cases before tossing them. That was the only surplus ammo I have ever had a problem with. bob __________________ Sarcasm.....just one more service I offer.

July 5, 2010, 03:01 AM	#38
HeroHog Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Shreveport, LA Posts: 486	I bought a case of "loose" 8mm from Cheaper Than Dirt that looked like it had been shoveled out of a ships bilge! :barf: It was FILTHY and rusty/corroded beyond belief! We tumbled a batch of it to see if we could salvage any after CTD told us to "get bent" when we demanded a refund. Of the ones that we were brave enough to actually chamber, about ½ went off... eventually. The rest were duds. Threw better than half away. Mixed in there were several other odd calibers that ya had to look out for as well! __________________ Speedy AKA: Hero Hog, Dr. Speed, "That fat, old, balding, Grey-bearded gimpy guy" *I don't have NEAR enough ammo on hand. `Nuff said.*

July 10, 2010, 02:07 AM	#39
Zudd Member Join Date: April 1, 2010 Location: Iowa Posts: 70	I had one round of 7.62x39 hang out of an SAR-1 I used to have. <CLICK>.....bang. Freaked me out. It was old crappy ammo I got from a friend. I didn't shoot any more of it after that.

July 10, 2010, 03:24 AM	#40
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	Yep, and always with old military surplus ammo. Fortunately, the longest was only about 1 second.

July 10, 2010, 10:46 AM	#41
KMG5402 Junior member Join Date: April 28, 2008 Posts: 96	"I pulled the trigger and heard a pop." -claymore1500 So the popping of the primer is something you'll always hear with a hangfire? Never experienced one.

July 10, 2010, 01:12 PM	#42
brickeyee Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2004 Posts: 3,351	The only one I recall is some .50-70 government ammunition that was at least 100 years old. Of ten rounds, three never did go off, 3-4 had noticeably delayed ignition (one about 3 seconds) and the rest worked fine.

July 10, 2010, 02:05 PM	#43
SamW Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Posts: 18	I had a Remington UMC .45 Auto round take about five seconds. It was the first round I put in the magazine. I thought maybe because I cleaned it, maybe I put it back together wrong. I waited for safety, and right when I exhaled from nervousness it went off! The round was messed up when it did fire. The round didn't seem like it had the correct powder amount because it wasn't louder than of .45 Auto's. The shell casing was split right down the side. I disassembled and examined my firearm, and everything was in order. I fired the other rounds in that box and didn't have a problem. I've fire countless rounds (10K+), and I've never had any problems with the exception of this one.

July 11, 2010, 08:17 AM	#44
jglsprings Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2009 Posts: 1,827	Not one, ever, in 38 years of shooting. I also don't use surplus ammo. __________________ Let's eat Grandma. Let's eat, Grandma. Commas save lives...

July 11, 2010, 09:12 AM	#45
DT Guy Senior Member Join Date: February 4, 2001 Posts: 959	Only with some old, suspect 7.62x25 ammo in a CZ52. Certainly not enjoyable in any way-discontinued after the second instance of it in about 20 rounds, and threw the rest away. Checking the brass afterward, we found about half had serious splits in the case neck. The whole concept of a handfire is pretty scary, if you consider that for something like that to occur, the propellant has to be breaking down in some unpredictable way. Larry __________________ He who fights and runs away had better run pretty damn fast. Government, Anarchy and Chaos

July 11, 2010, 12:34 PM	#46
Catfishman Senior Member Join Date: February 10, 2009 Location: Mississippi Posts: 727	These stories are kind of scary. I had a Federal .308 that was a dud with two heavy strikes last year. I was busy shooting a muskrat so I reloaded after a 3 or 4 seconds. How long should I have waited. What is the longest hangfire anyone has experienced first hand?