A "cook-off" is an unintentional
firearms discharge caused by an overheated
chamber/
barrel. When an
automatic weapon is fired for a sustained period of time, the barrel will heat up to the "cook-off point", likely to rapidly ignite the
propellant of a
round still in the chamber. Obviously, this could have
unfortunate consequences.
The cook-off point of an M-16/AR-15 rifle, for example, can be reached by rapidly firing approximately 140 rounds in full-auto. The M-16 user's manual states:
"IF A MISFIRE OCCURS IN A HOT WEAPON, REMOVE THE ROUND FAST (WITHIN TEN SECONDS). IF THE ROUND CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHIN TEN SECONDS, REMOVE THE MAGAZINE FROM THE WEAPON, POINT THE WEAPON IN A SAFE DIRECTION AND WAIT FOR 15 MINUTES."
(quote source: www.lepsa.org)