What should you do immediately after experiencing a misfire with a firearm?

After experiencing a misfire with a firearm, the appropriate action is to wait for a brief period before re-checking the firearm for damage. This waiting period, typically around 30 seconds, is crucial because it allows any potential hangfire—an ignition delay of the round—to occur. A hangfire can happen when the primer ignites but the propellant does not ignite immediately. If the shooter were to immediately check the firearm or attempt to fire another round before waiting, they could be at risk of injury from the delayed explosion of the misfired round.

This protocol is a fundamental safety measure to ensure that the shooter is not in the line of fire when a hangfire occurs. After the waiting period, the shooter can safely determine the state of the firearm, ensuring it is handled properly without risk of unintended discharge.

Other choices present unsafe or insufficient actions in response to a misfire. Unloading the firearm and leaving the range may neglect necessary safety checks, while firing another round quickly could lead to serious injury or damage. Ignoring the misfire altogether fails to address the potential risks associated with a malfunctioning firearm.