The last thing you want to happen when you are firing your pistol is that sickening click or short recoil and see the round stove piped in the top of
your automatic. What is worse that this happening is not knowing what to do – Tap, rack and bang.
With most everything involving gunfights, you should know and practice quick reaction drills – if this happens, do this, if that happens, do that. These are the sort of drills you don’t want to think too hard about, just learn them and do it. The tap, rack bang drill is the same sort of drill that solves most of the issues that might cause your semi auto pistol not to function.
Tap
Take your finger off the trigger, turn the slightly with the barrel up. Slap the bottom of the magazine with your non firing palm, making sure it’s seated and that the magazine is feeding.
Rack
With the non firing hand grasp the back of the slide. Pull the slide all the way back forcefully and release it without riding it forward.
Bang
Get back on target and be prepared to engage the threat.
This drill works for almost all semi auto malfunctions or failures to fire.
Check out this excellent video by the legendary Clint Smith and his thoughts on ketchup and mustard and salt and pepper ( you got to watch the video to understand.)
Let us know in the comments about your experiences with Tap, Rack and Bang.
