Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following describes a class 3 malfunction?

1. Stovepipe

2. Double feed

3. Failure to fire

4. Misfire

The correct answer is: Double feed

A class 3 malfunction is characterized specifically by a double feed, which occurs when two rounds are presented to the chamber at the same time, preventing the firearm from cycling properly. This malfunction typically requires the shooter to take corrective action, such as removing the magazine, clearing the chamber, and inspecting the firearm to resolve the issue. In contrast, stovepipes, failure to fire, and misfires represent different types of malfunctions that do not involve multiple cartridges being fed into the chamber simultaneously. A stovepipe happens when a spent casing becomes jammed in the ejection port, a failure to fire means the primer does not ignite when the trigger is pulled, and a misfire refers to when a cartridge fails to fire as intended due to a problem with the ammunition. Thus, the classification of a class 3 malfunction specifically pertains to the double feed scenario.