What Is It Called When a Bullet Doesn't Fire?

What Is It Called When a Bullet Doesn't Fire?

You've pulled the trigger. Click. Nothing happened. Now you're standing there wondering what the hell just went wrong.

When a bullet fails to fire, there are several terms people use—and they're not interchangeable. Getting these wrong could get you hurt.

The Basic Terms You Need to Know

Misfire

A misfire is the most common term. It means the firing pin struck the primer and nothing happened. The round didn't ignite.

This usually happens because:

• The primer was defective
• Moisture got into the cartridge
• The ammunition was old or poorly stored

Dud

A dud is essentially the same as a misfire—industry folks use both. Civilians tend to say "dud" more often. The round is dead on arrival.

Squib Load

A squib load is different. The bullet actually moved—just not with enough force. You hear a soft "pop" instead of a bang. The projectile may be stuck in the barrel.

This is dangerous. Firing another round without checking the barrel can cause a catastrophic blockage.

Hangfire

A hangfire is rare but serious. The primer ignited but the powder is burning abnormally slow. There's a delay before the round fires—sometimes several seconds.

This is why you never look down the barrel immediately after a click.

Quick Comparison Table

Why Does This Happen?

Ammunition fails for several reasons:

• Manufacturing defects — primer compound issues, inconsistent powder charges
• Improper storage — humidity, temperature extremes, corrosive environments
• Age — old ammo degrades, especially military surplus stored in bulk
• Corroded components — rusted or pitted brass affects sealing and ignition

Modern factory ammunition from reputable manufacturers fails far less often than reloads or old military surplus. If you're shooting handloads, your powder measurements and seating depth matter enormously.

How to Handle a Misfire: Step-by-Step

This is the part most articles skip. Here's exactly what you do:

1. Keep the firearm pointed downrange. Don't swing it around. Don't look in the chamber. Point it somewhere safe.
2. Wait 30 seconds. This accounts for hangfire delays. Yes, 30 seconds feels like forever. Do it anyway.
3. Extract the magazine or unload the chamber. Depending on your firearm, either drop the mag or use the charging handle/bolt release.
4. Inspect the ejected round. Look for a fired primer indentation. If the primer looks struck but flat, it's a misfire. If it has a normal firing pin dent, you might have a squib.
5. Check the barrel. Visually confirm nothing is lodged in the bore. Run a cleaning rod through if you're unsure.
6. Set the round aside. Mark it. Keep it away from live ammunition. Dispose of it properly later—many ranges accept misfires for safe disposal.

When to Throw Away the Ammo

Not all misfires mean the ammo is shot. But some rounds are just trash:

• Rounds with visible corrosion, green verdigris, or case damage
• Any ammo that's gotten wet and dried out
• Rounds with deeply recessed or bulging primers
• Anything that's been through a fire or extreme heat

If you're unsure, a gunsmith can sometimes disassemble and inspect the round safely.

The Bottom Line

When a bullet doesn't fire, it's called a misfire or dud in most cases. A squib load means the bullet moved but didn't exit properly. A hangfire means the round fired late.

Handle every failure the same way: point downrange, wait 30 seconds, unload carefully, check the barrel, and inspect the round. No exceptions.

Misfires happen. They're annoying but usually harmless if you follow basic protocol. The people who get hurt are the ones who immediately look down the barrel or flag someone else with the weapon.

Don't be that person.