What is a cookoff?

What is a cookoff?

• A. A weapon that jams during firing
• B. A hot weapon with a closed chamber
• C. A misfired round held in the chamber
• D. A weapon with no ammo

Answer: (B)

Cookoff happens when a cartridge in the chamber fires because of heat, not because the trigger was pulled. After heavy or prolonged firing, the chamber and surrounding parts get extremely hot, and the live round left in the chamber can ignite from that heat. That’s why it’s described as a hot weapon with a closed chamber—the chamber contains a live round that fires due to heat exposure. It’s different from a jam (a mechanical blockage), a misfire (the round fails to ignite when the trigger is pulled), or a weapon with no ammo. So this description best captures what cookoff means.

Cookoff happens when a cartridge in the chamber fires because of heat, not because the trigger was pulled. After heavy or prolonged firing, the chamber and surrounding parts get extremely hot, and the live round left in the chamber can ignite from that heat. That’s why it’s described as a hot weapon with a closed chamber—the chamber contains a live round that fires due to heat exposure. It’s different from a jam (a mechanical blockage), a misfire (the round fails to ignite when the trigger is pulled), or a weapon with no ammo. So this description best captures what cookoff means.