I don't know if it's specific to using a controller, but here's what happens:

1. Quickly and briefly press button to fire the artefact.
   
2. Instead of firing, the players is 'stuck' in the aiming pose, with no aiming reticle.
   
3. The player stays stuck in that pose until either: they are struck by an enemy, or somewhere between 5-10 seconds pass.

This is an inconvenient bug at the best of times, but it's even worse when trying to complete timed combats.