Tap rack bang


Tap, rack, bang or tap, rack, and go is jargon for the response to a failure to fire in a firearm with a removable magazine. This is designed as an unhesitating "Immediate Action" and involves no investigation of the cause, but is effective for common failures, such as defective or improperly seated ammunition magazines.
  1. Tap - to tap the magazine. This is to ensure that the magazine is properly/completely inserted in the firearm so that it feeds properly. As typically taught in tactical firearms courses, the "tap" is considerably more than a tap, and in the case of a semiautomatic pistol is usually accomplished by slamming the gun hard into the palm of the other hand, magazine end down.
  2. Rack - pull back sharply and then quickly release the action/slide of the firearm. This will eject a misfired round, which could be a possible cause of the stoppage, and to chamber the next round.
  3. Bang/Go - aiming and firing the firearm again. If the firearm again doesn't fire or fails to extract the spent round, it may indicate a more serious problem with the firearm, requiring maintenance. For instance, if the firing pin is too lightly striking the primer on a cartridge, it may indicate a worn-out spring or firing pin.
Some failures, such as a "stovepipe," require more complicated maintenance or attention from a gunsmith. With others, such as a squib load, the "tap, rack procedure" should never be used.