Help me out with a Glock argument

[Sam1911]

But you don't think that would ever happen? EVER? That seems unlikely. There must be a speed at which it would happen. It may not be a realistic speed, but it's hard to believe it's impossible.

The issue, as others have pointed out, would most probably be one of "terminal velocity." The fact that the gun will only fall so fast before wind resistance drag balances it's acceleration due to gravity. So, somewhere around 100 fps or so, the gun stops going faster toward the ground and reaches a top speed. That top speed is likely orders of magnitude lower than what it would need to be for the sudden stop upon hitting the ground to impart enough momentum in that tiny little gram-or-two trigger and even much tinier trigger safety leaf to overcome the spring tension inherent in the systems and cause the trigger to rotate and fire.

Perhaps, if the gun itself was fired at the ground with some kind of propelling device (like a huge slingshot) at a thousand feet per second or more, and it hit the ground before wind resistance slowed it back down to terminal velocity, then -- probably there would be the possibility of the striker falling.

But, this extreme velocity would also be likely plenty to destroy the gun on impact.

This is really a question for a physicist to answer with the proper derivations. (I'm not one.)

AND, this is a question that Glock's engineers have answered in the negative long before the gun was available for sale here.

 

[SpaceFrank]

Let's say you dropped one at a perfect angle so that it landed with the line of deceleration being perfectly in line with the trigger pull. There are several pieces of information you would need to make this calculation:
1. The weight of the trigger pull, which is about 5 lbs. stock. Could be as little as 3 lbs. on a G34/35 or any Glock with the factory trigger job done.
2. The actual weight of the trigger. Actually, it's more complicated than that because not all the weight of the trigger would be imparting force along the axis to pull the trigger back. You would have to somehow normalize the weight with respect to distance from the pivot point. I guess you could express this in terms of torque more easily. It's not worth it for me to figure this out properly.
3. The amount of force needed to pull the trigger safety lever. This is probably pretty light. Maybe an ounce?
4. The weight of the trigger safety mechanism, but again it's more complicated than that, see #2.
5. The relationship between deceleration at impact and impact velocity. I suppose you could attach an accelerometer to the gun, rig it up so it falls along a rod or something and lands exactly at the right angle, then UNLOAD IT and drop it from various heights with a high-speed camera to measure final velocity, then construct a function of deceleration vs. impact velocity.

You could then calculate the impact velocity required to produce enough deceleration to both A. trip the trigger safety, and B. pull the trigger. My guess is that the answer involves enough deceleration to damage or destroy the gun. It would also be helpful to figure out exactly what the terminal velocity of a Glock is to further prove how impossible this is.

 

[danez71]

The pivot point of the trigger is different that the pivot point of the trigger safety.

Due do that design, the gun would have to land in two different positions at the same time in order for both the trigger and trigger safety to move.

If the gun lands at the right angle to make the trigger safety move backward, the angle wouldnt be right to get the trigger to move and vice versa.

Its really a very basic and very good design.

 

[StayonTarget]

so how the heck did Plaxico shoot himself?

I remember reading that his Glock fell from his waistband of his sweatpants, fell, and discharged.

 

[NG VI]

Trigger pull weight is irrelevant, it will not discharge from being dropped any amount of height.

One of the original super-cool tests they did was dropping one out of a helicopter at various heights, trust me, no matter what heght you drop it out of it will not just go off.

 

[FC]

so how the heck did Plaxico shoot himself?

I remember reading that his Glock fell from his waistband of his sweatpants, fell, and discharged.

The ninny probably caught it and pulled the trigger when he did.

 

[REAPER4206969]

It was sliding down his pants and he pulled it up by the trigger.

 

[GLOOB]

Like many people have said, the Glock trigger safety is there to prevent this very thing.

Glocks are not unique for being completely drop safe. Many other modern handguns are equally, or even possibly more drop safe when uncocked, at least.

The reason the Glock needs the little trigger safety where most other handguns don't is because of how the trigger works. If dropped on its rear, a standard DA/SA trigger won't go back, because the trigger bar moves in the opposite direction to the trigger.

 

[coyotehunter223]

There's a guy on Glocktalk that has done extensive testing on his G21 (.45), including dropping it loaded off of his roof, and out of airplanes at 500ft to test this and several other issues.

Long read, but this should give you a little more info...
http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462537

 

[SIGLBER]

Their is a piece of metal between the striker and the primer of a bullet until the trigger is engaged. It's called a firing pin safety. It is almost impossible for most modern guns with this feature to discharge upon being dropped. Unless their is a major defect in the gun it's just not going to discharge by being dropped. People hear b.s. and often don't look any farther than what they've heard. In fact some espouse such stories like gospel. A modern day gun that would discharge on being dropped would be a lawyers dream.

 

[Ben86]

With a trigger safety and firing pin safety it is not possible. Your friend is not mechanically inclined I assume.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I was once assured that an attacker could disassemble my Glock, in my hands, while I was holding it. He was FOS, too.

 

[FLORIDA KEVIN]

It is my belief that most dropped gun discharges are a result of someone trying to grab a gun that is falling and inadvertantly pulling the trigger ! Kevin

 

[EddieNFL]

IO know a guy who has six inches less intestine than he was born with because he dropped his Glock...but it was modified.

 

[Echo9]

IO know a guy who has six inches less intestine than he was born with because he dropped his Glock...but it was modified.

Modified how?

 

[gofastman]

It was sliding down his pants and he pulled it up by the trigger.

yep, the gun did exactly what it was supposed to... go bang when someone pulls the trigger

Modified how?

my guess is he was used to 1911's or revolvers and wanted to make the trigger more "single action like", he probably did something to try to eliminate the trigger pre-travel, thereby deactivating the safety mechanisms

 

[X-Rap]

When I first got my CO. gun permit the instructor was a Deputy at the SO and a 1911 fan. He claimed that anytime there was a ND from dropping a pistol it was almost assuredly going to be a Glock. You don't argue with the guy who signs the line so I shut up plus I was in good cause I brought a 1911 to qual with but there are many folks out there who pass out a lot of misinformation.

 

[jonmerritt]

You might get the glock to fire if you throw it down on the concrete and take a 12 lb sledge hammer to it!

 

[Shadow 7D]

Hum, how bout this, I don't plan on throwing a glock off a high building, and then if I did, I don't really plan to stay around to see if it went off.

Then again it might be 'cushioned' by somebody on the ground...
But, I would think, from what I have seen, that it would be difficult to defeat the safeties, (factory installed, not modified) and that nothing is idiot proof, so it can happen, I just don't think it's likely.

 

[458lottTN]

Yes, the gun would be destroyed before discharging.

 

[GLOOB]

It takes 5 minutes to take apart the gun, look at it, and to understand what makes the gun drop safe.

 

[Bill2e]

Google Eric Sheltons handgun podcast

Search for his YouTube video where he cocks an unloaded Glock and drags it down a dirt road behind a jeap.

This vedeo will win youd debate.

 

[memphisjim]

The "trigger safety" isn't a safety at all and was never designed to be
Glock does call it one however
It's purpose is to keep the trigger from moving when racking the slide cosmetic at best

 

[AK103K]

Improbable, maybe, but nothing is impossible. What about a loaded Glock with an unset trigger?

 

[gym]

I saw guy throw his own gun from a ladder, 10 ft up, over a dozen times and it didn't fire. He had a blank cap in it, this was done with a gen 4 glock 19 as a demo.