Tap, Rack, Bang?

[C. Coburn]

What does this mean? :confused: Does this refer to loading the gun or something?

[John Badertscher]

It's the basic "malfunction" drill.

If you pull the trigger and it goes "click":

1. "Tap" the heel of your palm against the base of the mag to make sure it's seated properly.

2. "Rack" the slide to chamber a new round.

3. "Bang" pull the trigger

It is not the answer to every malfunction.

[Frank Wilson]

It is not the answer to every malfunction.

What?? It's taught in a slew of major shooting schools...:confused:

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

Gut Shot John is right, it's not a cure all fix. In some cases it actually makes the problem worse...especially with Glocks. :eek:

[J.D. Culp]

Even the Marine Corps used to teach "tap, rack bang" as what they called "immediate action."

The thought was to teach Marines to instinctively "tap, rack, bang" to get their weapon back in the fight, and if that didn't work, then to seek cover and apply "remedial action" - which was to take time to actually look at the weapon and figure out how to clear the stoppage.

The Marine Corps' thought process for teaching "tap, rack, bang" was based on playing the numbers game. Statistically, for the weapon being used (M-16 A1 and A2 at the time), "tap, rack, bang" would get the weapon running again more often than not. Therefore (in the Corps' thinking), it was more effective (in the long run, over the whole Corps - not necessarily for each individual) to train everyone to immediately apply "tap, rack, bang" without thinking, since it worked for the M-16 more than 50% of the time.

"Tap, rack, bang" was also a tool used to give an under-trained Marine 'something' to use instead of just freezing up and becoming ineffective in the fight. It was an easy-to-remember starting point, and if it didn't work, then he could take time to actually think and look at the weapon and clear the stoppage.

[Joe Ford]

The army teaches the same Imediate and remedial they just use a little different phrase. S.P.O.R.T.S. for slap(the magazine) pull (the charging handle) Observe (the ejected brass and chamber) Release (the charging handle) Tap (the forward assist) Shoot.

The tap rack bang is probably of limited use but it depends on your handgun. On my guns if the mag isnt seated it will fall out after the first shot. So my drill is a rack, tilt, release and shoot.

[John Badertscher]

Like the Glock there are cases (i.e. multiple feed) on an AR where "tap, rack, bang" will make the situation worse just like DR said and in fact might make it impossible for you to withdraw the fouled mag unless you know the fix.

I'm a believer in "looking" first to see what the malfunction is and then apply the appropriate fix. Often this entails locking bolt to rear and removing the mag first. It might be slightly longer, but this is one of those cases where "slower" is faster.

Statistically "tap, rack, bang" fixes most malfunctions... but if you do it at the wrong time and in the wrong way in a gunfight you're at best disarmed and at worst dead.



Even the Marine Corps used to teach "tap, rack bang" as what they called "immediate action."

The thought was to teach Marines to instinctively "tap, rack, bang" to get their weapon back in the fight, and if that didn't work, then to seek cover and apply "remedial action" - which was to take time to actually look at the weapon and figure out how to clear the stoppage.

The Marine Corps' thought process for teaching "tap, rack, bang" was based on playing the numbers game. Statistically, for the weapon being used (M-16 A1 and A2 at the time), "tap, rack, bang" would get the weapon running again more often than not. Therefore (in the Corps' thinking), it was more effective (in the long run, over the whole Corps - not necessarily for each individual) to train everyone to immediately apply "tap, rack, bang" without thinking, since it worked for the M-16 more than 50% of the time.

"Tap, rack, bang" was also a tool used to give an under-trained Marine 'something' to use instead of just freezing up and becoming ineffective in the fight. It was an easy-to-remember starting point, and if it didn't work, then he could take time to actually think and look at the weapon and clear the stoppage.

[John Badertscher]

In short...practice your transitions to pistol.

[Brian Cutler]

I'm a believer in "looking" first to see what the malfunction is and then apply the appropriate fix. Often this entails locking bolt to rear and removing the mag first. It might be slightly longer, but this is one of those cases where "slower" is faster.

I respectfully disagree with you John on this issue. Advocating that a shooter "look first" or "lock the side first", in my opinion, is a grave mistake. I have been shooting Glock pistols since the early 90's when they first became popular. I've put thousands and thousands of rounds (mostly factory ammo) through my Glocks and I can only remember one instance where a quick tap-rack did not fix the problem. During that one instance (which happened a few months ago at an IDPA match), the tap-rack did not make the malfunction worse. I simply went to phase II: Lock the slide to the rear, remove the mag, rack the slide a few times, insert the new mag, rack the slide, and go back to work. No issues after that.

Additionally, I've witnessed hundreds of malfunctions at various shooting matchs and training courses over the years, and the majorty of those malfunctions were cleared with a tap-rack. I believe you should train and prepare for what's going to occur MOST of the time, verses what "might" occur LESS of the time.

The problem I see with most shooters is that the tap-rack response is not immediate or instictive. In fact, nearly every match I go to I witness shooters experiencing malfunctions where they waste anywhere from .5 to 2 seconds doing absolutely nothing and wondering why their gun went "click". It amazes me. There should be no delay from the "click" to the beginning of your tap-rack procedure.

Finally, I am not aware of any reputable tactical shooting schools that DON'T teach their students to use the tap-rack procedure first, before moving on to other remedial actions.

Brian

[Brad VanHorn]

I must agree with Brian. Tap rack bang solves most problems. If you want to observe during the tap rack bang, that may alleviate further trouble if you have a double feed or such. And I both agree and disagree with the below.
In short...practice your transitions to pistol.
If I'm inside a room and my rifle fails, then this may be appropriate, though frankly I can probably butt stroke someone faster than transitioning. If I'm engaging targets beyond 25 yds, then a pistol is no substitute for a rifle (yes I know you can engage with pistols at 50, 100, etc, but few of us are truly effective at that range), and many people aren't dual armed anyway (frankly I think the M9 is just extra weight I don't need, but that's me). If I need a rifle, transitioning to a pistol is pointless. Getting the rifle back in action is top priority.

[John Badertscher]

I respectfully disagree with you John on this issue. Advocating that a shooter "look first" or "lock the side first", in my opinion, is a grave mistake. I have been shooting Glock pistols since the early 90's when they first became popular. I've put thousands and thousands of rounds (mostly factory ammo) through my Glocks and I can only remember one instance where a quick tap-rack did not fix the problem.

I actually was primarily thinking of an AR. I have seen tap, rack, bang gum an M-16 worse than the original jam. Tap, rack, bang on a doublefeed gets you nowhere. Another interesting problem is getting a spent case wedged between your gas key/tube funny that this space is the perfect size for a spent 5.56 cartridge. These malfunctions are rare, but you're not going to know about them unless you look.

I love the Glock, I've never had a problem with it, but if DR said tap, rack, bang can sometimes make the problem worse. I'll defer to his assessment.

Transition occurs inside of 25m and that's all I was saying. Outside of that distance (or if you don't have a pistol) getting rifle back online would be first priority.

BTW how much extra time are you talking about in looking? a half second? How much time is an incorrect fix going to cost you?

I do agree fully with Brian that some haven't properly trained themselves with malfunction drills and are dumbfounded when the gun goes click. These are fundamental to learn and practice...but as Brian correctly pointed out many people have trouble with tap, rack, bang. It's the basic one, the first malfunction drill that should be learned...but not the only one.

[John Badertscher]

For the record I did agree that "tap, rack, bang" solves MOST problems. I just said it doesn't solve EVERY problem.

Given that it doesn't solve every problem I'd like to add that just because it's always worked for someone in the past, doesn't mean it will always work in the future.

I guess I don't really what is lost by putting "eyes on" a malfunctioning weapon outside of timed competition, and in that case you're already SOL. I would NOT lock slide/remove mag if my eyes showed a malfunction that is best cleared by tap, rack, bang, nor did I advocate doing that each and every time.

[John Badertscher]

I totally agree with Brad's notion of looking at the chamber as you tap, rack, bang.

[Brad VanHorn]

BTW how much extra time are you talking about in looking? a half second?
In half a second your target may disappear and if you're looking at the chamber you're not seeing what's happening with the target. This has less relevance in competition, but for those of us still taking trips overseas (among others) there are unpleasant possibilities.

For what it's worth I agree with you in regards to looking at the AR chamber, which is why I mentioned the idea in my first post. Right or wrong, this is in fact what we are now teaching Marines, because as you pointed out, tap rack bang on something as messy as a stubborn double feed could take down the weapon for a significantly longer period of time. I've also seen tap rack bang on an empty magazine when the shooter didn't realize they were out of ammo - again that trained response wasn't helpful and looking at the chamber would've given them the clue they needed a reload.

[John Badertscher]

In half a second your target may disappear and if you're looking at the chamber you're not seeing what's happening with the target. This has less relevance in competition, but for those of us still taking trips overseas (among others) there are unpleasant possibilities.

No I completely agree, but wouldn't that happen anyway if you have to do something as basic as reload?

I also think DR says that in case of a malfunction your priority is to get your gun back online...not worry about the target.

I don't know the correct answer here so I'll defer to he and you.

[Rick Simes]

Ok, how many situations are you going to be in that you can actually SEE what's going on inside your gun. Every situation that I've been in involving pointing a gun at someone, it's been dark. In a real world, dynamic situation I'm not gonna stop and examine my pistol. I'm not Mil so I don't have a rifle to transition to. The TapRackBang will fix most things, most of the time, and as such should be your default move when a trigger press does nothing. If it doesn't work then you have a double feed - lock slide, rip mag, rack/rack/rack, load, shoot. I've experienced plenty of malfs and those two moves have worked every time. There may be some freakish malf that it won't clear. But like all things tactical there are compromises. The hesitation and time it takes to look at a malf, make a decision, and then start to clear it is unexceptable to me. IMO if your gonna use it on the street you need to be able to do it in the dark and while moving, with no hesitation.

[John Badertscher]

Ok, how many situations are you going to be in that you can actually SEE what's going on inside your gun?

I dunno. On an AR you have to check the chamber. On a handgun I'd imagine that if the slide was locked forward that it wouldn't be an issue, and if it wouldn't slide into battery than it will be obvious. Either way there is still visual feedback.

Every situation that I've been in involving pointing a gun at someone, it's been dark. In a real world, dynamic situation I'm not gonna stop and examine my pistol.

Fair enough, if it's dark out, examining a malfunctioned firearm for remediation isn't going to be really possible...but then I would imagine neither is fixing it if it is that badly fouled.

The TapRackBang will fix most things, most of the time, and as such should be your default move when a trigger press does nothing. If it doesn't work then you have a double feed - lock slide, rip mag, rack/rack/rack, load, shoot. I've experienced plenty of malfs and those two moves have worked every time.

Right...so tap, rack bang doesn't always work? I'm not sure where we disagree.

Let me ask you Rick, which is a more unacceptable period of time? Taking a look at what the problem may be as you tap, rack, bang? or Doing the tap, rack, bang, finding out that it didn't work, and then having to look at it, diagnose and only then perform remedial action?

It seems like a "stich in time saves nine" type thing. I'd be very interested in hearing why this isn't the case from those that know more than I do.

[John Badertscher]

Rick, in re-reading the above post I realized my tone was more confrontational than I had intended.

I'm genuinely interested in hearing more from those that know more.

I get the impression there isn't that much difference and so I'd be interested in distilling malfunction drills in the most efficient way possible.

[Joe Ford]

I dunno Tap rack doesnt seam like it would do anything to a handgun but solve for an improperly seated magazine. (Irrelevant in my case because as previously mentioned if my mags arnt seated they fall out.) It could also solve for a dud round. But other than that I dont see the point. The slide will either be forward or partially back racking the slide tilting to the side forcibly and eyeballing the chamber will fix alot more than a dud round and never make the problem worse.

[John Badertscher]

I'd also be curious if you should add a "bang" to double strike in a DA/SA pistol. i.e. bang, tap, rack, bang.

Obviously this isn't possible in a glock/1911.

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

OK, Guys, listen up...

I really don't have time to argue about it, but since I do have more experience on this issue than most all of you put together, I hope you will consider what I have to say as food for thought, and I am only saying this to hopefully enlighten you and stimulate your thinking, and most of all hopefully SAVE A LIFE! :eek: After all, that's why we are here, to improve our shooting skills and our ability to survive a lethal encounter, right? :cool:

"Tap-Rack-Bang" is exactly equivalent to the "Front Sight, Press" mentality... :rolleyes:

It's totally a one dimensional, cheap fix, that can get you killed if it doesn't work. :eek: :( But hey, it's easy to teach and if don't work, so what? :confused: There's gonna be no one left to bitch about it, right? :o

Look, I've been analyzing malfunctions for over 30 years now. And you can't build guns that have won the IPSC World Championships, the Steel Challenge, the Winchester World Challenge, the American Hangunner, the IDPA Nat's, etc., etc., IF you don't understand what makes them work and/or not work!! :cool:

Bottom Line: TRB is NOT the fastest way to clear a jam, it's actually the SLOWEST... and it can be the MOST DEADLY. :eek: :(

But my ways of weapons malfunction clearance are faster and 100% more reliable. But like FIST-FIRE, it's a bit harder to learn. It takes dedication to train and willingness to learn. :cool:

And yes, Rick, you can learn how to do it in the dark, Bro! :) I just never showed you. We need to have a weapons malfunction class...

Respectfully,

D.R.

[Brian Cutler]

But my ways of weapons malfunction clearance are faster and 100% more reliable.

D.R.

OK.....we are listening........

[John Badertscher]

I don't know if this is still relevant, but I found this after a quick internet search on Glock malfunctions.

I'd never even heard of this before. :eek:

http://www.thegunzone.com/glock/phase3.html

[Brian Cutler]

My ways of weapons malfunction clearance are faster and 100% more reliable.

OK.....we are listening........

The silence is deafening.....:)

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

Sorry, I've been REALLY busy lately...

And I just don't have time to explain it all in type right now. :( I really need to do a short DVD on the subject, as there so many different kinds of jams. I'll probably do it when I do the Firearms Safety video.:cool:

[Brian Yeager]

another voice - D.R. we're listening - any why you can share we're listen

[Brian Yeager]

to add to discussion - "guys" at the range speak of danger of "squipp" {I think the are referring to a round stuck in the barrel :confused:}with TRB. Can you Gents discuss this?- I'll "listen."

[Brad VanHorn]

A squib load is a round that does not have a full powder charge or more often has no powder charge. This typically occurs when someone is loading their own ammo and forgets to deliver the powder charge to the case before seating the bullet. Since the round has a primer and a seated bullet, it appears complete and might find its way into a magazine. The squib will fire, in that the primer will 'pop' and push the bullet part way into the barrel, thus causing an obstruction which could prove hazardous to the shooter...

[D.R. Middlebrooks]

I've seen guys in matches have a squib (get one stuck in the tube) and they did the famous "Tap-Rack- KABOOM!" :eek: and blew the gun up... :(

The TRB is only 70, maybe 80% effective at best. And when it's NOT effective it's a death trap. It exacerbates the problem. I say analyze, fix and shoot. :cool:

And as to how to clear ALL the different types of malfunctions, well, I just don't have time to explain it all right now. It's better done on video...