You are shooting a muzzleloader. A hang fire happens. What should you do?

• A. Keep the gun pointed downrange.
• B. Immediately fire again.
• C. Lay the gun down and walk away.
• D. Inspect the trigger mechanism.

Answer: (A)

When a muzzleloader has a hang fire, the powder has ignited but the projectile hasn’t left yet. The key safety move is to keep the muzzle pointed downrange. This protects you and bystanders in case the delayed ignition occurs and the fire travels toward the barrel or firework-like flash explodes. By maintaining a safe, downward direction and waiting a short period (often about 30 seconds) to see if ignition completes, you reduce the risk of a violent misfire or injury.

Firing again right away raises the danger of a second, uncontrolled ignition inside the barrel, which can cause a serious injury. Laying the gun down and walking away also isn’t safe because a delayed ignition could still occur while you’re not ready, potentially injuring you or others. Inspecting the trigger mechanism doesn’t address the delayed ignition and won’t neutralize the risk of the hang fire.

After waiting, follow your weapon’s proper misfire procedures to unload or clear the firearm safely.