OOB Observations
First: Speedy recovery wishes!
Next: Something I've yet to see anyone point out with the FiveSeven OOB is this: Unlike most semiautos, the FiveSeven "push-feeds." To put it in rifle terms, most tilt-barrel semiautos feed like a Mauser-type rifle with the case head slipping up under the extractor once released by the magazine feedlips. The FiveSeven push-feeds like a Remington, AR-15 or many others. The round begins to enter the chamber, gets released by the feedlips and gets pushed into the chamber ahead of the bolt and not controlled by the extractor. Only once the round is fully headspaced into the chamber does the extractor "snap over" the rim. The point is this: Under actual firing conditions the 5.7x28 round is ahead of the breechface too far for the firing pin to reach until it us fully chambered. Only once it has headspaced and the extractor snaps over the rim can the firing pin reach the primer. This does not happen until the pistol in fully in battery. I tried it several times. Therefore, the "demonstrations" of OOB firing are erroneous because the pistol has to be brought fully into battery then the slide pulled OOB. This, quote simply, does not happen when actually shooting. If the round does not fully enter the chamber followed by the slide closing completely, the firing pin cannot reach the primer. The more common modified Browning mechanism can hold the case against the breechface via the extractor, which will allow the firing pin to fire the primer, if not cammed too far downward, even if OOB just enough to bypass the disconnector. One exeption I can see, but have not tested, is that a chamber obstruction would keep the round from seating fully, followed by the extractor overriding the rim, thus bringing the primer within reach of the firing pin while still slightly OOB. However, the FiveSeven's design is more brilliant than I first realized. The "slide lock" (Glock term) actually holds the barrel in its rearward position until the slide moves far enough forward to allow it to pivot upward, allowing the barrel, and the slide pushing on it, to travel the rest of the way forward into battery. Therefore, it is possible that any chamber obstuction large enough to cause a dangerous amount of unsupported cartridge case may keep things far enough OOB to not allow the hammer to hit the firing pin with enough force to fire a primer. I don't have primed cases to be able to safely test my hypothesis but maybe someone else can if they are able to comprehend my tired ramblings. Regardless, these realizations have given me an even higher respect for, and level of confidence in, the FiveSeven's design. Incidentally, another handgun I own that push-feeds is the unique HK P7M8.
Regards,
Lee Murphy