[WhoKnowsWho]

How far should the pencil go? Is it the same for all guns? Wondering 'cause a gun I just bought, and haven't fired yet, barely made the pencil move. It didn't even come out of the barrel, and the last I read about doing it in a 1911, the pencil should fly some distance.

[Ewok_Guy]

Is the eraser new and not all chewed up? It may not be making full contact with the firing pin. It should go at least 3 or 4 feet.

[VaughnT]

What condition is the eraser in? If it has been used considerably, there's a chance the fp isn't making contact with the un-even eraser.

Also, what type of weapon are we talking about? My 1991 launches the pencil straight up several feet.

Of course, some pistols are pickier than others. Mine likes Ticonderoga #2's, but you might do better with a softer lead.:D

[WhoKnowsWho]

Brand new pencil, hard eraser. It's in a USP40.

[WhoKnowsWho]

Should have tried my other stuff...

CD 1911, couple feet.

Makarov, one inch, didn't make it out of the barrel.

Model 37, moved less than from the USP.

Well, I am going to the range in a couple of hours, so I guess I will find out for sure if it is light striking or not for sure!

[Al Thompson]

Just ran a test in my two pistols. 1911 - 7 or 8 feet. Glock 19 - mybe two feet. Don't have a USP to compare.

One note - have to keep the muzzle pointed above horizontal and the pencil loses contact with the firing pin.

HTH

[Flying V]

My CZ52 launched the pencil over a foot straight up. Unfortunately, that was using the decocker.

[Mal H]

WKW - I wouldn't put a lot of stock in the pencil test as far as distance the pencil goes. It is more of a binary test; if the pencil moves some = good, if the pencil doesn't move at all = bad.

Like Al, I just tried a few handguns that were handy. A Colt 1911 CC shot the pencil about 10 feet (I think I could target practice with it); in a CZ-97B, the pencil went about 1 1/2 feet; in a Ruger GP-100, it went less than 1 ft. Yet all of those guns fire flawlessly, never had a light strike with them. By that test, however, you would suspect that the 1911 would not only fire, it would pierce the primer.

The only good test is the indentation in the primer after you have fired the gun. Naturally, if the round doesn't go off, then that is an even better test.

[10-Ring]

Just tried this w/ my 4 USPs out of curiousity :rolleyes: Shot the pencil straight up an average of 5'. :cool:

[Handy]

An inertial firing pin/hammer gun is going to throw it farthest.

Strikers and floating pins may move it much less.

All of that is contigent on the eraser being centered over the firing pin hole.

If you are concerned with your USP, take the slide off, hold in the pin block and push the firing pin forward into the breech with a punch. It should obviously project and only spring resistance should be felt.

[Bergeron]

Okay guys, are you shooting the pencils vertically or horizontally? 5' ain't something that my USP9F can hack vertically, but I'm willing to believe that it could do it horizontally.

[10-Ring]

Vertically ;) You should see the holes in the ceiling :D

[Jesse H]

My CZ52 launched the pencil over a foot straight up. Unfortunately, that was using the decocker.

:what:

[Al Thompson]

I launched mine slightly high from a horizontal hold.

Mal - I remember a drill of some sort using pencils and 1911A1s in the old days. IIRC, the object was to get better trigger control.

I'll poke around and see if I can find the details.

[TallPine]

My Ruger sent the pencil right through the wall.

Um ... was I supposed to have unloaded it first ...?

:D

[Gatsu]

My Jericho sent it about 5 feet straight up :)

[sm]

Tallpine ! To the back of the class, put that pointy hat on, I'll get back back to you later...much later.;)

Now c'mon fellas we all know its written in the Old Testaments we are to use natural wood pencils , made from wood of cedar, well sharpened .

New Testament:Ink pens, with hard white erasers, with sharp points . Goes on to say later on thou shalt have no clips.

:D

1911 "thunk" [ceiling] or two feet if a high ceiling
Keltec P-11 "ding" umm darn light fixture, I missed the ceiling...;)

[Mike Irwin]

Sounds like you have barrel "lead"ing problems.

BBBBBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Ah, I kill myself...

[motorep]

I must be doing something wrong, I can't even find any splinters. Are you guys using hollowpoints or hardball?

[Mal H]

Ok, motorep. Do you see that seat over in the corner right next to TallPine? That would be your seat until further notice ...

[sm]

Time to dig into the cofffee fund for more pointy hats...'sides, only 4 corners in this room...

Sigh...100X on the blackboard...4 rules...and no eraser fights ...you 2...
;)

did 'ya have to screech nails on the blackboard Tallpine ?

Mal H !!

[WhoKnowsWho]

Well, I guess I can't put much weight in the pencil test, as long as it moves I suppose... I just got back from the range a while ago and the USP worked perfectly (as if I expected anything less). And so did my Charles Daly 1911. :)

Lots of comedians here too. :rolleyes:

[motorep]

So were you able to find the pencils?

[firestar]

I just checked it on 5 of my handguns.
Ruger Speed Six = 4"
S&W 19 .357 = 4"
Walther PP .32 = 4"
Argentine Hi Power = 4' :what:
CZ-52 1" I used the decocker and it didn't move at all, I guess that means it is working. I still won't trust it but it is good to know that it is not broken.

[BHP9]

forget the pencils here is a valid test that works.

If a handgun will consistantly or even occasionally misfire when you put a high primed empty case in it and pull the trigger it is not to be relied on. True with factory ammo it may function most of the time but there is always a brand of ammo out there or even a bad run of factory ammo that may come through with hard to ignite primers. If the weapon becomes dirty or extremely cold this also may result in a handgun that basically had a weak ignition system to begin with suddenly begin to misfire.

I coined the term "Bone Crushing Ignition System" for original Colt/Browning weapons like the original 1911 and the original Browning High Power. It was not sensationalism but accurately described the lengendary ignition reliability of these very fine pistols.

I would often get misfires with my Glocks and my CZ75 and my Luger when a round slipped by inspection when loaded on myprogressivepress that has a very weak priming system. I tested a wide variety of handguns by deliberately seating a primer high in an empty case and then firing it. If the handgun did not fire off the high primed empty case 100 per cent of the time I quite using it for self defense and quit using handloads for self defense in it.

Yes I know there are those who would not use handloads for self defense but there are others that load on single stage presses , inspect their ammo and oil proof it and end up with ammo that is actually more reliable than factory stuff. There is no factory stuff out there that I have ever used that is 100 per cent oil proof but if you go to a lot of trouble the advanced handloader can make ammo that is very, very oil proof. The acid test is to soak the ammo in penetrating oil after you oil proof it and if it fires after all of this it is about indestructable.

All this may sound extreme or very paranoid but remember "Murphy's Law" "Anything bad that can happen sooner or later probably will happen'>

And according to "Murphy's Law" is won't happen on a sun shiny day while strolling along the grassy boulevards of the local shooting range arm in arm with a young lady but in the dead of the rainy fog and night when your car suddenly broke down and not more than 3 feet away are a half dozen goons sneering and howling at the suddenly appearing dark side of the moon.

[P95Carry]

BHP9 .... dang it .... you just beat me to it with your suggestions there. Great test.

I had a Redhawk way back and worked on trigger to smooth it but - also tried one of three special springs to see if i could further ease release pressure. Found that middle spring rate was ''almost'' Ok ..... but never knew when it would fail me.

I used the sl high primer in emtpy case trick and ... sure enough ... no totally reliable ignition .... and here of course you have extra ''burden'' on ignition cos the anvil in the primer ain't quite seated.

It is often worth remembering that ''set back'' after firing a round will very often make a perilously light strike appear near normal ... cos the primer gets what you might call a second whack .... as it impacts the pin.

Pencil can be a useful ''ball park'' test but the primed empty case is IMO near foolproof.

[bigmtnman]

Flying V

My CZ-52 will also launch the pencil using the decocker. I had put in the #2 Harrington firing pin from makarov.com and was warned about not using the decocker with this modification. Any chance that you pin has been changed?:eek:

[Flying V]

My CZ-52 is unmodified, just as she came from the cosmoline. The CZ-52 decocker is inherently unreliable and should not be relied upon by anyone for any purpose.

[doctorj]

In one of the military manuals-- I think it's "Combat Shooting with the Pistol and Revolver" both the .45 the Beretta are covered; but the "pencil test" is only considered to be applicable to the .45. Why is this?

[MJRW]

My results, all barrels pointed vertically and distances approximate and some from memory:

1. Smith 686 = 18"
2. Baby Eagle = 24"
3. Ruger GP-100 = I'm now carrying Sanford #2 pencils as my standard load.

[geekWithA.45]

Sig Tests:

P245: barely clears the barrel when clean, about 2 inches when dirty. (4000+ rounds, 2 failures to ignite, both with Fiocchi ammo)

P226: About a foot.