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Sometimes during our handgun discussions the term "going into battery" is used.

I believe the expression is only used for semi-auto handguns and means that the
cartridge has chambered properly and that the slide is fully closed, ready for firing.

Is this a correct definition for a gun being in battery?

If a gun is not in battery, what does that mean?
What causes such a status?

Thanks in advance for a little schooling.

SIA

surprise_i'm_armed wrote:Sometimes during our handgun discussions the term "going into battery" is used.

I believe the expression is only used for semi-auto handguns and means that the
cartridge has chambered properly and that the slide is fully closed, ready for firing.

Is this a correct definition for a gun being in battery?

If a gun is not in battery, what does that mean?
What causes such a status?

Thanks in advance for a little schooling.

SIA

I believe that this is the correct definition for a S/A handgun, but it applies to rifles and artillery as well. I believe the definition also means that the breach/bolt, etc is locked. [This may not apply if the gun is a blow back design.] If the handgun does go into battery it should not fire. If it fires out of battery that can cause a kaboom. If a cartridge is oversize, overlength, or you have a misfeed this can cause this status. Also dirt on the slide, weak spring can cause this situation.

SIA, I'm glad you asked. I've always *thought* that's what it means, but it's nice to throw the topic out there for clarification.

FWIW: I believe the term goes back to the days of "Iron Men and Wooden Ships" where the term was used as a command and as a report in the gun drills of the British and American Navy. When used as a command it meant that the gun crew should heave on the tackle and pull the cannon out the gun port into firing position. As a report to the chief It meant the piece was ready to be aimed and fired by the chief of the gun crew.

I think I picked up this info long ago from an old book on naval history and tradition but I wouldn't swear to that.

As used in modern terminology "In Battery" means the gun is loaded, the breech is properly locked up and is ready to fire. Any gun from a single shot .22 to an artillery piece can be in battery or out of battery. Firing out of battery means the gun fired with the bolt or slide unlocked or partially unlocked. This can be an unhealthy condition for the gunner and the gun.

What he said.

Thank you gentlemen.

SIA