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

What is classified as a class 2 malfunction?

1. Failure to fire

2. Stovepipe

3. Feed jam

4. Chamber blockage

The correct answer is: Stovepipe

A class 2 malfunction refers specifically to issues that occur in the feeding or extraction stages of the firearm's operation. In this context, a stovepipe occurs when a fired cartridge case does not fully eject from the firearm, getting stuck in an upright position against the slide or bolt. This obstruction prevents the firearm from cycling properly, which is characteristic of a class 2 malfunction. Understanding the implications of a stovepipe helps in identifying the necessary clearing techniques, such as forcing the slide to the rear to remove the stuck shell case. This is an essential skill for law enforcement personnel to ensure their weapon functions correctly under stress and can be rapidly cleared if a malfunction occurs. The other types of malfunctions listed, while relevant, fall under different classifications. Failure to fire refers to the trigger being pulled but no round being discharged, which is not categorized as a class 2 malfunction. A feed jam involves the failure of a round to be fed into the chamber correctly, which can sometimes be viewed as a misalignment in the functioning cycle. A chamber blockage, on the other hand, occurs when something obstructs the chamber physically, preventing any round from being loaded or fired, which also does not fit the criteria for a class 2 malfunction. Therefore