A Stoppage Reduction Overview...Tap, Rack...

[Paul Gomez]

In the video, I go over both the Diagnostic and NonDiagnostic approaches to dealing with a failure to fire.

Stoppage Reductions By Gomez-Training.com

The article below deals strictly with the NonDiagnostic model

Any interruption in the cycle of functioning is a ‘stoppage’. By this definition, an empty gun is a stoppage, no round in the chamber is a stoppage, a primer that fails to ignite results in a stoppage, a failure of the slide to go into battery is a stoppage, etc, etc.

Using a nondiagnostic model, all of these issues are addressed with a single skillset. Any ‘failure to go bang’ results in the gun being drawn back to a physical reference point [gun hand elbow indexed on torso, muzzle up, mag well turned in towards centerline, ejection port out], the mag base is struck to ensure that it is properly seated and the offhand continues its’ motion to end up grasping the slide, at the cocking serrations, and fully running the slide to the rear and releasing it at that point. If it is determined that the gun is at slide lock, a reload is conducted. Next, a proper two handed grip is established at Count Three of drawstroke and the weapon is driven straight to threat, shooting if needed.

In pic one, the gun is at extension, trigger has been pressed and there was no ‘bang’.

Pic Two, gun is returned to physical reference point previously described and the base of the magazine is ‘Tapped’ to ensure it is fully locked into place.

Slide is racked in the third picture.

Two handed grasp of the gun is reestablished and the gun is being driven back to appropriate extension.

 

[Al Thompson]

By this definition, an empty gun is a stoppage

Agree, but (IMHO) you have to look at where in the shooting cycle you are when the slide locks back. I'm not talking about counting rounds, but if I get a slide lock after shooting most of a magazine, things change. That would indicate to me that a speed reload is called for. I don't want my default to be a TRB, but instead a speed reload.

The other side of the equation is that I'm just not getting many malfunctions these days. For my training time, I want to focus more on improving my reloads than TRB as (to date) my training Glock has had very, very few problems.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

If it is determined that the gun is at slide lock, a reload is conducted.

What do you do when you diagnose that the gun is "at slide lock" but the problem is caused an unusual failure to feed/eject or a double-feed that looks and feels like it's "at slide lock"? What do you do with the fresh magazine that's already in your support hand?

IMO a Combat Reload should not be a separate process. It should be part of an integrated progressive series of robust immediate actions that will clear any stoppage quickly. If Tap, Roll & Rack fails to get the gun running, then the shooter immediately progresses to performing a Combat Reload (when time and conditions permit - as he/she may have to react to the danger to keep from being shot, stabbed, beaten, bludgeoned, stomped, etc). If the shooter cannot insert the magazine into the magazine well because the "depleted" one did not jettison, then the shooter simply progresses to clearing a double-feed:

1. The shooter immediately places the fresh magazine between the ring and pinky fingers of the firing hand (no wasted movement)
2. Retract and lock the slide open
3. Rip the "depleted" magazine from the pistol
4. Roll & Rack three times to clear the chamber
5. Retreive the fresh magazine and finish the Combat Reload (Seat, Roll & Rack, and Recover)

These immediate actions can be performed while on the move and in total darkness. They are truly "non-diagnostic".

Quickness in getting the gun back up and running is achieved by the tempo of using common manipulations and movements. Loading and unloading the pistol should use the same manipulations and movements as those used to clear stoppages. Why? Because different techniques are less efficient in terms of OODA loop decision-making and economy of motion. I use the tasks of loading and unloading as a training opportunity to exercise the same manipulations and movements I'll use to clear stoppages:

LOAD

1. After verifying the chamber is ready to be loaded I put the slide into battery (this conditions me to use the extra effort required to positively seat a magazine when the slide is in battery after clearing a double-feed or when performing a Tactical Reload)
2. I seat the magazine and perform Roll & Rack to chamber a cartridge
3. I perform a Tactical Reload
4. I put the magazine I just removed from the pistol into my magazine carrier
5. I holster my pistol
6. I top off the magazine I removed from the pistol
7. Lastly I perform a Battle Readiness Check (chamber check) as a positive measure to ensure the pistol is indeed loaded and ready to fight

UNLOAD

1. I remove the magazine and put it between the ring & pinky fingers of my firing hand
2. I Roll, Rack and Lock the slide open
3. I inspect and feel the chamber to answer the question "Is it loaded, yes or no?"
4. I retrieve the ejected cartridge and put it in with my training ammo

What if the slide lock disengages and the slide unexpectedly goes into battery after seating a magazine when performing a Combat Reload? Simple - I just drive-on and Roll & Rack as I normally do. It may cost me a cartridge but it is a positive measure to ensure the pistol is ready to fire when I need it. It eliminates OODA Loop reset hesitation and decision-making caused by an unexpected event, and I can get back into the fight quicker.

After "Tap", I simultaneously "Roll" the pistol to the right about 90-degrees at the same time I "Rack". This allows me to use centifugal force and gravity to help clear the action. When I "Rack" I also simultaneously retract the slide with my support hand and push forcibly forward with my firing hand - as if I'm trying to rip the slide off the frame. When the slide reaches its rearmost travel and stops my support hand just slips off.

Agree, but (IMHO) you have to look at where in the shooting cycle you are when the slide locks back. I'm not talking about counting rounds, but if I get a slide lock after shooting most of a magazine, things change. That would indicate to me that a speed reload is called for. I don't want my default to be a TRB, but instead a speed reload.

Tap, Roll & Rack takes about a second to perform. It clears the most common stoppages. You should train so that you instantly perform Tap, Roll & Rack as a conditioned response if the pistol doesn't fire when you press the trigger. Diagnosing that you should first attempt a Combat Reload slows you down and increases your vulnerability. Diagnostic techniques suck your attention into trying to solve the gun problem at the expense of diverting your attention from the tactical problem. If you're focused on the gun then you're not paying attention to the danger. Immediately performing Tap, Roll & Rack does not draw your attention into the gun. It's performed automatically. If it doesn't get the gun running, then you're free to immediately do what you have to do next to keep from being harmed and defer the Combat Reload until time and conditions permit, if necessary. Whereas if you attempt to perform a Combat Reload first - you're "down" and distracted for a longer amount of time - especially if you misdiagnose the problem and get sucked into fixing your pistol while one hand is holding a jammed gun and the other is holding a magazine.

Physical fatigue and injuries increase the probability of experiencing a stoppage during a fight.

I learned these ideas and techniques from former Navy SEAL Jeff Gonzales, who runs TridentConcepts.com I've been using them for over 10 years.

Just my two cents worth...

 

[Loosedhorse]

NonDiagnostic

I understand the attractiveness of a fast, one-method-for-all, I-don't-have-to-OODA-think-about-it approach.

But I probably won't do that.

if I get a slide lock after shooting most of a magazine, things change.

I agree.

If I've been firing a while, and I pull the trigger and nothing happens (trigger is not engaging the hammer), I will look at the gun to confirm it is at slide lock without a case in the port at begin to reload. If I press the mag release and nothing happens (which I do as I reach back for the mag, not after) I realize I've got a stoppage of some kind and I deal with that two-handed before getting the mag.

If I've just done a reload or just started shooting, I'll do a tap-rack-reacquire; if that doesn't work, I'll again look: if I'm empty and at slide lock, reload; if something else do, the two-handed stoppage clearence if it won't drop.

Somewhere in there is a realization that if I don't have time/cover to do a two-handed stoppage clearence, I reach for my back-up gun. Which will be needed anyway if I have a mechanical failure or some case-really-wedged-in-there jam that I'll need a tool to reduce (Massad Ayoob used to sell this kubotan-like Dejammer...)

Anything can happen, but one of the reasons I carry the gun and ammo I do is that I don't get double-feed jams with it (unless I set them up for training) or fail to seat the mag correctly, or press the mag release or slide lock inadvertently with my grip. So most FTFs are going to be "I'm empty"; after that, a mechanical failure or a jam.

Again, I understand that if I stop and decide what to do while shooting, the Earth will gape open and swallow me whole, and I'll never be seen again. But I am going to have to decide whether to reduce the jam or go to my back up gun anyway; and whether to try to reload or reduce the gun's jam one-handed if that's needed. Sometimes the need for a quick decision leads to a quick decision, not a freeze.

Slide is racked in the third picture.

That would not be a great grip for me. Is that your "roll and rack" position? Easier for me to face the muzzle more forward.

 

[Paul Gomez]

Shawn,

The recognition that the slide is locked back occurs because I've tapped, racked [the roll, as you call it, occurs automatically as I bring the gun back to the manipulation position] and the slide has failed to return to its' in battery/forward position. I remove the magazine. There is no need to lock the slide to the rear for this, contrary to what is commonly taught. If the mag removes normally, I reload. If there is resistance, I rack x3 and reload.

Loosedhorse,

That is my gun manipulation position. I go into a bit of detail discussing why that is my default position in this video. The video is titled 'Positioning of the Gun for Reloads but it applies to any manipulation of the pistol.

 

[Loosedhorse]

I appreciate the explanation and insight.

 

[DFW1911]

Great - and oft overlooked topic - that we all should know. I've been practicing pistol failures for some time now.

What I've learned isn't earth-shattering, but to me it's important: you need to recognize what issue your firearm is having and if it's worth trying to clear and re-engage the weapon or draw your back-up gun and introduce it as the primary.

I know, it's basic, but the rule of "two is one and one is none" comes to mind. If you've not practiced with the transition of your primary to a secondary firearm, I highly recommend it.

I carry a Sig P250 in 9mm as my main CCW, with a light-weight Taurus .38 as my back-up. My reasoning is simple (I think ): I really have everything to gain without anything to lose. If the Sig has some catastrophic failure, I have a second ready to go.

The entire carry package is actually nice and reasonably lightweight. For those of you who only carry one firearm, I highly recommend a second. A NAA in .22 magnum makes a great pocket gun.

Thanks much for the insightful, informative, and thought-provoking posting.

Y'all stay safe.

Take care,
DFW111