Rifleman Basic RBE Knowledge Practice Exam

Failure to feed is usually tied to how the next round is presented from the magazine into the chamber. In semi-automatic rifles, the feed relies on a properly functioning magazine with a good follower and spring, plus correctly seated ammunition. If the magazine is dirty, damaged, or not seated firmly, or if the round is misfed or new, the bolt may fail to pick up and chamber the next round, causing a feed stoppage.

The typical remedy focuses on re-establishing reliable feeding: give the magazine a firm seat or tap it to ensure it’s locked in and aligned; rack the action to strip a round from the magazine and chamber it; if the issue persists, try a fresh, known-good magazine and/or a new round; also verify the round is properly seated and the magazine lips and feed mechanism are clean and in good condition. In all cases, maintain proper muzzle direction and follow safety procedures while clearing the stoppage.