What happens to cartridges when the feeding assembly of a lever action rifle is malfunctioning?

When the feeding assembly of a lever action rifle malfunctions, cartridges typically fail to feed properly. In lever-action rifles, the feeding assembly is designed to load cartridges from the magazine tube into the chamber when the lever is cycled. If this assembly is not functioning correctly, it can lead to various feeding issues, such as the cartridges not being pushed forward into the chamber correctly, resulting in failure to feed.

This malfunction can cause the action to jam, preventing the shooter from firing the weapon. Proper feeding is critical for the reliable operation of any firearm, and in the case of lever actions, it is especially important as the mechanism relies on the smooth interaction between the lever and the feeding assembly to cycle cartridges effectively.

In contrast, other potential outcomes such as cartridges getting jammed in the barrel or misaligning in the chamber are less likely to be a direct result of feeding assembly malfunctions. These issues are more commonly associated with chambering errors or barrel obstructions. Additionally, while it is possible for cartridges to get lost during a malfunction, it is not a typical or expected result of feeding assembly issues in lever action rifles.