Selector to SAFE, drop the magazine, eject, inspect the chamber.

<img src="https://attachments.gorgias.help/z8QbV2PkJn6ogePy/hc/ldzOw7JzMM7oL59m/2026111021-8db339cc-6000-4fe6-85cd-18590244cf70-fig01-editor.webp" alt="Figure 1" style="width: 420px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 12.1.1&#xA0;&#xA0;Keep your pistol pointed in a safe direction for the duration of the procedure.2.1.2&#xA0;&#xA0;Place your safety selector on &#x201C;SAFE&#x201D;. You cannot select the &#x201C;SAFE&#x201D; position unless the hammer is cocked. (fig 1)2.1.3&#xA0;&#xA0;Depress the magazine catch button and remove the magazine.2.1.4&#xA0;&#xA0;Eject the chambered cartridge by retracting the charging handle until it stops. Let the ejected cartridge fall to the ground.<img src="https://attachments.gorgias.help/z8QbV2PkJn6ogePy/hc/ldzOw7JzMM7oL59m/2026111021-84958792-c3aa-498b-aafc-56dfcf374e90-fig02-editor.webp" alt="Figure 2" style="width: 420px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 22.1.5&#xA0;&#xA0;While holding the charging handle to the rear, inspect the chamber and receiver to ensure you have removed any cartridges from the action and barrel chamber. (fig 2)2.1.6&#xA0;&#xA0;Release charging handle once you have verified the chamber to be clear and no cartridges are in the pistol. Your pistol is now unloaded and clear. It may now be loaded or prepped for transportation or storage.<hr><a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-1-3-lead-exposure-warning-9282962">&#x2190; Previous: 1.3 Lead Exposure Warning</a>&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;|&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-complete-owners-manual-9283074">Complete Owner&#x2019;s Manual</a>&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;|&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-2-2-loading-and-firing-9282963">Next: 2.2 Loading &amp; Firing &#x2192;</a>

2.1 Unloading & Clearing (EP9)

Loading the magazine, seating it, chambering a round, and the last-round bolt hold-open.

Begin with a pistol that has been verified to be unloaded using <a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-2-1-unloading-and-clearing-9282862">the preceding directions</a>. Make sure the selector is on safe.2.2.1&#xA0;&#xA0;Keep your pistol pointed in a safe direction for the duration of the procedure.2.2.2&#xA0;&#xA0;Load your magazine with proper ammunition. Place cartridge in front of feed lips, press down until it is below feed lips and then slide fully to the rear.2.2.3&#xA0;&#xA0;To insert your magazine, press the magazine upwards into the magazine well until it locks in place. Pull the magazine down to verify that it is locked in place. IMPORTANT NOTE: Forcing a fully loaded magazine to seat on a closed bolt can be difficult and possibly cause damage to your magazine or pistol that could make it unusable. Magazines should either be loaded one less than full, or only inserted with the bolt locked to the rear.<img src="https://attachments.gorgias.help/z8QbV2PkJn6ogePy/hc/ldzOw7JzMM7oL59m/2026111021-f76fd574-b54e-45f3-a10c-d269a68abe59-fig03.webp" alt="Figure 3" style="width: 420px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">Figure 32.2.4&#xA0;&#xA0;Retract the charging handle fully to the rear. Release the charging handle. Do not &#x201C;ride&#x201D; or attempt to control the charging handle while chambering a cartridge, as this can cause the pistol to misfeed. Your firearm is now loaded.2.2.5&#xA0;&#xA0;Place the selector on &#x201C;FIRE&#x201D; (fig 3). Your pistol is now ready to shoot.2.2.6&#xA0;&#xA0;Squeeze the trigger until the hammer is released.2.2.7&#xA0;&#xA0;Once the magazine is empty, the LRBHO (Last round bolt hold open) will lock the bolt back, leaving the bolt in the open position. Depress the bolt catch (fig 3) to send the bolt forward, this will chamber another round if you have a loaded magazine in the pistol.<hr><a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-2-1-unloading-and-clearing-9282862">&#x2190; Previous: 2.1 Unloading &amp; Clearing</a>&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;|&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-complete-owners-manual-9283074">Complete Owner&#x2019;s Manual</a>&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;|&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-2-3-malfunctions-and-failure-to-fire-9282964">Next: 2.3 Malfunctions &amp; Failure to Fire &#x2192;</a>

2.2 Loading & Firing (EP9)

Squib (“pop”) response, the 30-second hang-fire rule, and when to contact Extar.

2.3.1&#xA0;&#xA0;If an audible &#x201C;pop&#x201D; or reduced recoil is experienced during firing, immediately CEASE FIRE, remove the magazine, lock the bolt to the rear and place the selector lever to the safe position. Visually inspect and/or insert a cleaning rod into the bore to ensure that a projectile is not lodged in the bore.2.3.2&#xA0;&#xA0;Failure to fire: always hold the firearm, keeping it pointed in a safe direction and wait 30 seconds when it fails to fire. If a hang fire (slow ignition) has occurred the round should fire within 30 seconds. If the round does not fire, open the breech, eject the round and examine the primer. If the firing pin indent is slight, off center or non-existent, have the firearm examined by a competent gunsmith before firing again. If firing pin indent appears normal in comparison with previously fired cases, you can assume faulty ammunition. Properly discard and resume firing. Note: it is normal for a light firing pin indent to appear on the primer of cartridges which have been fed into the chamber of the pistol but not fired.2.3.3&#xA0;&#xA0;Never use your pistol if it fails to function properly and never attempt to force a jammed action into battery.2.3.4&#xA0;&#xA0;Never alter any of your pistol&#x2019;s components, as the level of safety could be reduced.2.3.5&#xA0;&#xA0;If your pistol is in need of repair or replacement parts, please contact Extar for instructions and prior approval before shipping a firearm to our facility.<hr><a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-2-2-loading-and-firing-9282963">&#x2190; Previous: 2.2 Loading &amp; Firing</a>&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;|&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-complete-owners-manual-9283074">Complete Owner&#x2019;s Manual</a>&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;|&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<a href="https://extar.us/en-US/ep9-3-1-field-stripping-9282959">Next: 3.1 Field Stripping &#x2192;</a>

2.3 Malfunctions & Failure to Fire (EP9)

Video and explanation of the AR-pattern safety selector.

<h3 id="extar-firearm-safety-manipulation-demonstration">Extar Firearm Safety Manipulation Demonstration</h3><iframe width="100%" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/803222010?h=a2d7c30864" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen class="fr-draggable"></iframe>Extar firearms use the same trigger group pattern as the ubiquitous AR-15 pattern, and the operation of the trigger and safety is the same as an AR-15, M4, or other firearm sharing that trigger group.When the hammer is cocked, the user can use the fire-control selector on the left side of the firearm to switch between &quot;FIRE&quot; (the top position) and &quot;SAFE&quot; (the position to the left). The safety is a cross-bolt design that prevents the trigger from being pulled when in the &quot;SAFE&quot; position. Users should never count on the cross-bolt safety and attempt to pull the trigger of a loaded firearm without aiming it at something that they are willing to destroy.The safety cannot&#xA0;be moved to &quot;SAFE&quot; if the hammer is not cocked. You can see this demonstrated in the above video. If you want to put the firearm on safe, first pull back the charging handle to confirm that the hammer is cocked or to cock the hammer. Then move the safety from the up &quot;FIRE&quot; position to the forward &quot;SAFE&quot; position.

How to Operate the Safety (EP9)

Video and explanation of locking the bolt open and releasing it.

<h3 id="extar-firearm-bolt-catch-manipulation-demonstration">Extar Firearm Bolt Catch Manipulation Demonstration</h3><iframe width="100%" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/803224075" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen class="fr-draggable"></iframe>Extar firearms use the same bolt catch as the ubiquitous AR-15 pattern, and the operation of the bolt catch is the same as an AR-15, M4, or other firearms sharing that design element.Since the EP9 is a semi-automatic firearm, there is a recoil spring that returns the bolt home whenever it is pulled back and released. When the firearm is unloaded, pulling the bolt back and releasing will not cause the bolt to stay back. Locking the bolt back or &quot;open&quot; requires using the bolt catch.<img src="https://attachments.gorgias.help/uploads.gorgias.io/z8QbV2PkJn6ogePy/Charge_handle_close_copy-Recovered-7033ef54-c2ac-4999-8ff2-688d6c26aaf5.png" style="width: 459px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">The bolt catch has two functions: the bolt release and the bolt lock. To lock the bolt open, pull the bolt back, press the bolt lock paddle, then release the bolt. You must be holding the bolt lock paddle until you have released the bolt, as the pressure from the recoil spring on the bolt catch is what keep the bolt catch from returning to &quot;open&quot;.To release the bolt or &quot;send it home&quot; you can press the bolt release paddle in with your thumb. With a brand-new firearm, it may be difficult to press the paddle and release the bolt, depending on your strength level. This will get easier as you use the firearm more.&#xA0;<h3 id="additional-info">Additional Info:</h3>When firing, the bolt will automatically lock open after the last round has been fired. This makes it very easy to reload the firearm by dropping the magazine, inserting a loaded magazine, and then pressing the bolt release paddle to chamber a round. This means that anytime an empty magazine is inserted into the firearm and the bolt is moved back manually, the bolt catch will automatically engage and lock the bolt open.&#xA0;When the bolt is locked back, you do not have to use the bolt release paddle to release it. Alternatively, you can use the charging handle to draw the bolt back slightly, and this will release the bolt catch, allowing the bolt to close when released to chamber a new round. This is recommended for those who find pressing the bolt release paddle with their thumb too difficult.&#xA0;The charging handle is not connected to the bolt, so when the bolt locks open on an empty magazine, the charging handle will remain in the forward position. If you would like to use the charging handle to release the bolt catch, you need to pull it back until it engages the bolt, then pull till the bolt catch releases, and let go.

Operation

2.1 Unloading & Clearing (EP9)

2.2 Loading & Firing (EP9)

2.3 Malfunctions & Failure to Fire (EP9)

How to Operate the Safety (EP9)

How to Operate the Bolt Catch (EP9)