love this channel coming from a HK lover! i have the 2020 vp its so nice thank you so much

The huge amount of ricochet marks on the wall behind you do not inspire confidence in the abilities of others John!

Thanks for the video. I do not necessary agree, but it is always good to learn about techniques from different people. Then I can evaluate all of them and choose what best works for me.

An interesting point however I have to go with the tap/ rack muscle reflex IA drill. Any number of things could've caused the magazine to dislodge.

If you are wrong and it's a seating issue, you've burned the clock and have to deal with it again. Strong point on dealing with the administrative side of the coin. This is why I always clean my gun BEFORE I hit the range... although I intellectually know that the click check after reassembly tells me it SHOULD work... emotionally, I want to KNOW it works so I'm always carrying a gun that has been shot since it was last cleaned.

*practices speedy malfunction clearance* *squib: hold my beer

Thanks brother

I also carry an H&K. It is .40 caliber and I was trained on it at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, NM and they taught tap, rack, reassess. However, I see good reasons for not tapping. The H&K is a very reliable gun and I have never (after thousands of rounds fired had a lose mag which required a tap to clear a malfunction.

Last weekend I was shooting at the outdoor range and I had a malfunction as we did speed drills. As soon as I saw my slide (Glock) lock to the rear I knew to pull it back again and it worked. My RSO was happy to see me not stop and work on it myself (been shooting for a little over a year with them). I’ve been at the range at least twice a month and I’ve learned a lot about malfunctions (magazine wasn’t seated right, the bullet wasn’t pushed into the magazine right, the bullet was deformed, .380 ammo in a 9mm gun, whoops). So, I haven’t had to clear a malfunction in a self defense situation but I’m putting time stress in my training. Thankfully, I haven’t had a squib, but I was taught that it will sound and feel different. What timer do you suggest?

Thanks John.

Thanks for the video, John! I've heard that the most common malf is a dud primer that "tap" doesn't help remediate, and that the big baseplates that we basically all have on our guns today mitigate against an unseated magazine, which was apparently more common back in the 1911-with-a-flush-fit magazine days.That time saved by not tapping could mean getting an additional round or two fired. I'm also a fan of the HK mag release

I'm glad I'm not the only one who pulls my magazine to make sure it's fully inserted👍

Now do a test where you just rack and reassess, but that failed so you HAVE to tap & rack then bang. See how much time that adds. Cause the determining factor shouldn't be "how much time would it save removing this step, if everything goes right", but "how much time does it add, if I cut corners and everything doesn't go just right?" I've got a friend named Murphy who has this law.... But seriously, the tap may get taught by a lot of people as a way to ensure the magazine is seated properly, and that is a big part, but that other part is hitting the mag, sends force into the weapon, and can shake loose jammed brass, and a host of other issues, that if you skip this step you risk a double feed.

Good stuff

I have gone shooting with people that inadvertently or through the action and recoil of a shot have slightly pressed the mag release (or fully pressed it) and they didnt know about it... I've also seen that they actuate the slide lock (locking the action open after a shot). And I've seen rounds that didn't feed up (nose dive, stuck in the double stack, etc). Tap rack, although 1/5 sec longer addresses possibly multiple issues without having to think and analize what needs to be done... not sure i 100 pct agree with just rack without tap... i agree with the need for maintenance, regular inspection, quality equipment use, check often, etc... but things do happen.. even with quality equipment specially when you're in a hurry... i was at a training class and one of my mag followers cracked (during the course of the class) that mag started nose diving rounds which were easily fixed with tap rack... wasn't until i inspected carefully during a break that i saw what the issue was and discarded that mag

The “slap” is the forward assist of the handgun world 😝

I've seen far more operator error (bumping the release, either with a less than perfect grip under stress, or against the back of a chair while still in the holster) than I have dead primers in premium self-defense ammunition (and how else, realistically, are you going to get a click on a chambered round?). So the tap seems needed when we start considering how we got into this mess in the first place.

2 hand no issues, but close action single hand hip (or thumb pectoral) I sometimes hit mag release. I have to flag my thumb up to prevent...so I might need to tap the mag. (More close action may be a subject for Xtra channel).

No matter how hard you try John. I’m always gonna tap it!

Seeing as ASP is full of comments and my original comment on, "Clearing A Firearm Malfunction Should Be A Fundamental Discipline For All Carriers" is already buried, I thought posting here would be more beneficial or at least more visible. As a physically disabled individual with cerebral palsy, left sided spastic hemiplegia. I depend on my kore essentials belt and the environment. I carry a kimber pro carry with all internal WC parts, I've broken it in properly and I consider it an extension of my body. I can't slap, rack, bang, as per say. I go to the range weekly and have the mantis x10 to practice. Do you have any suggestions for others like myself? Thanks - Zach (From the valley of the sun)

7:46 and 8:27 are some different malfunctions. I never hit the magazine during malfunctions. Mainly because I never heard of it.

Great 👍

One thing I still don't get: What about squibs? bang bang click. tap, rack BOOM! or bang bang click. rack, BOOM! Is there a procedure to allow for this?

I've always wondered this but I have fixed a failure to feed by wacking the mag that then feed the round and put the firearm in battery. But if I was in a panic situation and used muscle memory I probably would have fed it and then kicked out the round which would make absolutely no sense. It does seem to waste time.

Off topic but isn’t that the Dodge Viper logo? Lol.

Analyze your slide manipulation as much as you are your magazine. If your gun goes click in close quarters and your support hand ends up under your chin racking the slide, you are going to be in a world of trouble. Watch how the go fast guys get guns back in the fight when on the timer. 👍

Thank you for the content. This is well thought out and may be useful to some people. However I am always looking to avoid the worst case scenario. If you did that drill with the magazine not seated and tried just racking first it would take you several seconds to get that second round on target. For me saving .3 seconds on not taping the magazine is not worth the 2-3 seconds it could cost you if Murphy showed up and your mag was not seated. I’m not dismissing the concept but this trick is not for me.

You are very quick because you constantly train. I wonder what percentage of your watchers are as experienced as you. I would guess...30%, the rest probably just own a gun. (I count hunters as experienced) I would love to see how a self-defense homeowner, who is familiar with guns, does that as far as time goes. I had to clear my rifle once while shooting rock chucks on my farm, from about 16 yards. And, although I have never done that before, It was second nature for me. I would still love to see how a 'normal' person would do.

Is that the same range Yamil Sued with Gunstock Reviews uses?

Bill Blowers has a good take on this. He's been advocating a rack only clearing for several years. That being said, your loading procedure or seating of the magazine has to be thorough and correct each time.

If I were in a competition I'd probably gamble not tapping but if a fight, which I've been in a ton of, I'd tap. The real test would be in real world how often is the tap really necessary

The best way to clear a malfunction is a backup gun

20 plus years of carrying a gun everyday and I've never had an unseated magazine while carrying, training, or during an actual malfunction ......But, my brain still tells me to tap to fix my gun when it won't go bang. Same way that as a lefty I still use my left index/trigger finger to release the magazine despite now carrying a new gen gun with an ambi mag release. It's ingrained in my brain.

The problem ist: tap rack works (almost) every time. So you just do it without thinking. That saves a huge amount of time, because thinking costs much time. Thats why tap/rack as an NONdiagnostical clearing of a malfunction was invented. 0.5 seconds faster in 100 cases isn´t that much of a deal as loosing 2-3 seconds if just racking doesn´t work. "if you know fore sure..." you NEVER know for sure, that´s the thing.

C2 tactical is where Mike trains. FT 3 tactical in Stanton is where I train. So we're basically related. I owe him like 14 bucks or something. So...

I tend to be extra careful with a malfunction. I always first point the muzzle at the range just in case, then by habit I rack and lock it, take the magazine off and I actually take my time to recover any rounds or shells that might have been ejected or fallen of. I always keep the muzzle straight forward avoiding any discharges. I check visually inside my P30 for any obstructions, I tend to use a small keychain flashlight very powerful, and most of the cases I really take my time checking inside the chamber. If it's good, I reinsert the magazine and check the chamber. Always pointing at a safe direction with patience is the most efficient way to clear it, in my opinion. I like to prevent any kind of accidents. Edit: recreational shooter.

Answer: NOT the way I did a 12 ga. semi-auto a couple of weeks ago! First accidental discharge in 55 years of gun-handling. Luckily, you couldn't have done less damage inside a house with a 12 ga. A.D. The muzzle had been pointed at a chest of drawers about 4 feet away. After it went off, I was like: "WHERE did it HIT?!?" Took me a while to notice the perfectly-drilled 1-inch hole (7-1/2 shot) right next to the 1-inch diameter drawer pull : ) It was precipitated by my trying to induce a failure to cycle. Went to fire the second round, hammer dropped, no bang. First mistake? I PUT THE SAFETY ON. This prevented me from extracting the "empty" (yeah, right!) shell (can't cycle the bolt all the way with safety on/hammer dropped, only with safety on/hammer cocked or with safety off regardless of hammer position). Second mistake? I brought it inside to see if I could figure out the proper procedure to quickly get out of my self-inflicted pickle (long story). I knew when I purchased this thing that there would be a learning curve thanks to reading the manual as much as three weeks prior; that's why I purchased some "dummy" (not snap-cap) rounds for functional familiarization... I just hadn't got around to USING them yet! Now I know pretty much EVERYTHING about how this sucker functions!

It would stink to run the slide and then have to tap and rack anyway. If i was in a comp i would consider maybe just running the slide I guess. Ive just got the tap &rack burned into my habits....I imagine this could be debated longer than a health care debate

What ever happen to the owner of C2 tactical?

This is a lot of mental gymnastics for what essentially amounts to .3 seconds. Personally, I’ll keep the tap. Especially with an openly carried pistol like on a duty belt, a gunfight can be precipitated by a physical fight, rolling around on the ground etc where a magazine release could be bumped. I also work with plenty of left handed shooters and the pistols issued by our department do not have a reversible mag release, leaving that sucker pretty well exposed to the armrest of the car, etc. Your way is faster no doubt. But it might be throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Different procedure for DA/SA and striker fired?

I can agree with that. Immediate action should consist of simply rack and pull the trigger. 9 times out of 10 that will clear the malfunction. Remedial action on the other hand, should be the go to if immediate action doesn't work and should be done from cover if at all possible. Remedial action is more diagnostic and takes a few seconds longer.

Cool

This is a question that I have had come up. Any possible mag seating issues require a tap. Gotta know your gun, holster, ammo, etc. I can see a mag being partially released while seated in a vehicle with certain guns or holsters. If you ever gotten out of your vehicle and had the mag drop out of your pistol onto the ground with a clackity-clack, go ahead and hit that subscribe button. But also, think about another holster, or gun, or carry method, or something. If any of this has never been a problem for you, then I think training to rack-bang can work for you. You be the judge. Hard to imagine .4 seconds mattering much..............until it does.

What about a stove pipe?

Just pull the trigger again! Oh wait, I carry a revolver. Nevermind.

I like the tap rack with ejection port pointed down. If that doesn't fix it reload the gun and tap rack. My brain likes simple things lol.

I have 2 Glocks with extended mag releases and have never had the mag release do that.

I think the key here is to see what happens when you rerack an unseated mag without reseating it with the 'tap'.. I think you'll find yourself is a much bigger pickle.

what about jams not just feeding issues or primer non fires just saying

Answer to the title: after malfunction, do away with the magazine tap and just rerack quickly to the next round. Beeeep: 2.5 seconds answered. Vs. 9+ minutes.

Totally agree with you. Once that mag is fully seated, it's not coming unseated during firing, unless it's a faulty mechanism. The "Tap" is most likely to become nothing but a training scar.

Buy a revolver? I know they are not the cool thing that go with expensive sunglasses and south of the border beer.

Well, this malfunction problem is easily solved. Get a revolver. Some great models in 38 special and 357 magnum (eg Ruger gp100). If you want to go bigger, 41 or 44 magnum. Maybe go smaller to 32 or 22 magnum.

Tapping the mag is highly unrealistic. I've never had that be relevant in dozens of malfunctions at the range. If your mag doesn't seat and lock properly, get a new mag or get a new gun.

What's the best way to clear a malfunction? Get a revolver. 🤠 ...I'll see myself out.

Just get a glock I have 3 of them never had issues with them even with the crappyest ammo