If a cartridge was ejected but the weapon fails to fire, what should the gunner do?

When a cartridge is ejected, but the weapon does not fire, it indicates that there may be a failure in the firing sequence that can often be attributed to the weapon not being properly cocked. By pushing the cocking handle forward, the gunner ensures that the internal mechanisms are reset and that the weapon is correctly prepared to fire the next round. This action can resolve any issues related to the firing mechanism, helping to eliminate the potential causes of the failure.

Reloading the chamber quickly could lead to further complications if the weapon is not ready to fire, while inspecting the ammunition belt, although important for overall functionality, does not directly address the immediate issue causing the failure to fire. Changing the barrel immediately is unnecessary in this scenario as the barrel itself is unlikely to be the source of the problem. Therefore, pushing the cocking handle forward is the correct action to take in this situation to rectify a failure to fire after a cartridge has been ejected.