In what situation would a “failure to eject” malfunction occur?

A “failure to eject” malfunction occurs specifically when a spent shell casing does not extract from the chamber of the firearm. This type of malfunction can happen due to several factors that prevent the casing from being properly cleared after a round is fired, such as a dirty chamber, a worn extractor, or ammunition that is out of spec. When the casing is not ejected, the firearm can become stuck and unable to load the next round, halting operation until the issue is resolved.

In contrast, when the magazine is empty, the action of the firearm will generally engage a slide stop or similar mechanism, preventing a failure to eject. Pulling the trigger too fast may lead to issues like double firing or misfires but does not directly cause a failure to eject. Wet ammunition can cause other malfunctions, but it would typically lead to failure to fire rather than a failure to eject. Thus, the scenario involving the spent shell casing not being extracted is the most accurate representation of a failure to eject malfunction.