Excessive rust or corrosion.
An improper recoil.
Damaged or missing parts.
Human error, sometimes called malpractice, is any accident or incident caused by the misuse of the
weapon or ammunition on the part of the user. This is probably the most common cause of apparent
ammunition malfunctions. Some common human errors are as follows:
Failing to properly maintain the ammunition or the weapon.
Failing to follow correct procedures.
Using incorrect settings or adjustments.
Using suspended, restricted, or defective items.
Using an excessive or an insufficient propelling charge.
Operating under unsafe conditions, such as adverse weather, or obstructions in the line of fire.
Refer to the Glossary in the extract of AR 75-1 (Appendix) for clarification of any other relevant terms.
PART B: IDENTIFICATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities When a Malfunction Occurs
When defective ammunition is the suspected cause of a malfunction, the responsibilities go from the
point of the malfunction site up the chain of command. See Figure 1-1.
The commander or senior person in charge of the using element where the malfunction occurred will
take the following actions:
Immediately cease firing the suspected ammunition.
Contact the local ammunition officer of the unit where the ammunition was stored and issued.
Give all available facts on the malfunction to the local ammunition officer.
The local ammunition officer, with the local quality assurance specialist (ammunition surveillance)
(QASAS) and the Army Materiel Command (AMC) weapon representative, when available, will take the
following actions:
Gather the data required for the preliminary report.
Locally suspend the affected lot of ammunition until disposition instructions are received from
the US Army Armament, Munitions, and Chemical Command (AMCCOM) or the US Army
Missile Command (MICOM).
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