When Good Guns Go Bad: Handling Malfunctions Safely

When the Good Guns Go Bad: Handling Malfunctions Safely in Cowboy Action Shooting: Dead Gun Rule, video by Dry Socket’s Cowboy Action Theater .

Summary:

What happens when your firearm malfunctions in the middle of a Cowboy Action Shooting stage? In this detailed instructional episode of Dry Sockets Cowboy Action Theater, we take a close look at what to do when your gun goes dead — how to declare it, how to handle it, and how to keep your stage (and posse) running safely and smoothly.

We’ll walk through:

 • How to recognize when a firearm is officially “dead” under SASS rules

 • Properly declaring and staging a dead gun without sweeping anyone or breaking the 170

 • How the Timer Operator and Spotters respond when a shooter calls a malfunction

 • What NOT to do (to avoid those dreaded stage or match DQs)

 • Tips for staying calm, communicating clearly, and getting safely back into the stage flow