In case of a failure to eject, what commonly happens?

In the context of a failure to eject, it is common for the spent shell casing to become caught in the ejection port of the firearm. This situation occurs when the extractor does not pull the casing out of the chamber properly during the ejection cycle, leading to a situation where the casing is obstructing the next round's path or remaining partially lodged in the firearm.

When this happens, it can create what is often referred to as a "stovepipe jam." In this scenario, the casing may be upright or angled within the ejection port, preventing the slide from moving fully and effectively cycling the action. Consequently, it becomes necessary for the shooter to clear the obstruction before the firearm can function properly again.

Other scenarios presented do not commonly describe the situation of a failure to eject. For example, when the slide locks back, it typically indicates that the magazine is empty, not a failure to eject. Misfires relate to ignition issues within the cartridge, rather than ejection problems. Likewise, a bullet jamming in the chamber is indicative of a feed issue rather than a failure to eject specifically, which alters the dynamics of how the firearm operates.