IMHO, a malfunction is a temporary stoppage of the gun, whether ammunition, magazine, or gun part related, that can be SAFELY cleared by the shooter during the COF and continue in proper operation to complete the COF.  This would certainly include a dud primer, FTE, FTF, stove pipe jam, magazine base plate falling off and spraying cartridges everywhere (IF the shooter has a spare magazine he can replace it with), etc.

A broken gun is one that cannot be SAFELY corrected during the COF and cannot be returned to normal function to allow the shooter to SAFELY complete the COF. This could be a part (slide stop, extractor, ejector) breaking, or a squib load lodging a bullet in the barrel, or an extra long round that engages the rifling but won't let the gun go fully into battery to fire and cannot be removed by cycling the slide, or any one of the numerous screws on a S&W revolver that loosens or falls out and prevents proper SAFE gun function... or anything associated with the 1911 (the potential broken gun scenarios with the 1911 are too numerous to list... but include all of the above and then some).

A malfunction requires the shooter attempt to clear it and continue. A broken gun cannot continue and is allowed DNF scoring procedures.

Maybe the issue of what is a malf and what it a broken gun needs to be clarified.

ISTTTWFT Smile



Chris Christian A23489   former SO 
Arguing with a fool is like rolling around in the mud with a pig. You both get filthy dirty, but the pig enjoys it.