Which term describes a delay between trigger pull and discharge?

Which term describes a delay between trigger pull and discharge?

• A. Misfire
• B. Squib
• C. Hang fire
• D. Ejecting

Answer: (C)

A delay between pulling the trigger and the firearm discharging is called a hang fire. This happens when the primer ignites and the main charge takes a moment longer to ignite, so the bullet doesn’t fire immediately after the trigger is pressed. It’s different from a misfire, where nothing fires at all, and from a squib, where the discharge is weak and the bullet may fail to exit the barrel. Ejecting refers to expelling the spent cartridge case after firing, not a delay before discharge. If a hang fire occurs, treat the situation as potentially dangerous and keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction while waiting briefly before taking further action.

A delay between pulling the trigger and the firearm discharging is called a hang fire. This happens when the primer ignites and the main charge takes a moment longer to ignite, so the bullet doesn’t fire immediately after the trigger is pressed. It’s different from a misfire, where nothing fires at all, and from a squib, where the discharge is weak and the bullet may fail to exit the barrel. Ejecting refers to expelling the spent cartridge case after firing, not a delay before discharge. If a hang fire occurs, treat the situation as potentially dangerous and keep the firearm pointed in a safe direction while waiting briefly before taking further action.