How many guns will fire when dropped?

[AK103K]

An Uzi will keep firing full-auto non-stop when dropped out of an automobile. I saw it in a movie. It kept spinning and firing and shot up Jeff's car.

Most open bolt SMG's are prone to firing when dropped, if the bolt isnt "locked", assuming it can be. (This is with the bolt forward on an empty chamber.) They usually wont go full auto though, unless something is broken. Not saying some with lighter triggers wont continue to fire multiple rounds (just not empty the mag) if the gun is jarred hard enough.

All that needs happen, is for the bolt to come rearward enough to strip a round, and it can and will fire as it goes forward. Same goes if your hand slips off the charging handle while trying to cock it. Ive personally seen that happen a number of times.

 

[XD40scinNC]

One of the constants I keep seeing in the news regards dropped guns going off, or sliding off the seat in a panic stop, hitting the floorboard and shooting the driver in the leg was one of the latest I heard.

As bad are the handguns that will discharge by partially cocking the hammer and releasing, such as snagging on clothing when put in pocket or holster.

I do not and will not own either, at least not as a carry or defense firearm.

 

[Tcruse]

There are really only 2 cases.
Guns that have a firing pin block (e.g. 1911 Series 80 style, Glock g2+ ... )
Guns that have firing pin that is light enough (or under spring pressure) that is deemed as to not hit the primer with enough energy to fire a round under "normal" drop distances.

The light firing pin approach is probably good enough, especially if the gun is one that has been used as a service weapon and been run thru a series of drop tests.

Keltec P11 is safe up to the level of the spring, so if you lighten the pull on the trigger you are making the gun less safe. That is one of the reasons for the 10+ pound trigger pull

If this is an issue, I would recommend that you stay with guns that are NATO or federal government agency tested and approved a service weapons.

 

[Tcruse]

The spring loaded round bar that holds the ejector in the slide is the drop safety. It blocks the firing ping from being extended enough to touch the primer. It is depressed by the trigger bar just prior to the connector releasing the firing ping. The extra safety on the trigger is an effort to prevent the trigger from being depressed by rubbing on the holster or clothing. Some say less than 100% effective.

 

[XD40scinNC]

I don't like Glocks because the ONLY operator interface safety is on the trigger itself, but it is still preferable to a gun that will fire if dropped.

I carry SA XD's for the trigger safety, drop safety, striker block, and grip safety, but without the need to think about disengaging a safety in an intense situation.

 

[dmazur]

My Colt M1991A1 would likely fire if dropped on it's hammer.

I have a M1991A1 Commander. With the Series 80 parts missing, the danger is dropping it on its muzzle. (Or some other kind of sear failure which would allow a cocked hammer to fall without the trigger actually being pulled.)

With the hammer down, the firing pin isn't touching the primer and the hammer is blocked from further travel by the slide. If you drop it on the hammer, nothing happens except damaging the finish.

A properly-adjusted thumb safety on a 1911 blocks the sear nicely, from what I've read. Lots of testimony of people falling, landing on gun, etc. with thumb safety on. Hammer doesn't fall.

However, if somebody has been doing kitchen-table gunsmithing on the sear, or the hammer hooks, trying for a lighter trigger pull, it is nice to have the Series 80 parts installed as a backup.

(By the way, my M1991A1 has a crisp 4.0 lb trigger pull, with the series 80 parts installed... )

 

[WardenWolf]

1911s normally have a firing pin return spring, even those without a firing pin block. This is normally sufficient to prevent them from discharging if dropped on the muzzle.

My SVT-40 did scare me some, because after manually cycling some rounds through to test feeding I noticed marks on the primers. I ordered a new firing pin return spring immediately. It's in good condition, with a dark non-pitted bore, but after 70 years you can expect some of the springs to go bad.

 

[Trent]

I butterfingered an H&K USP once and it hit concrete on the hammer. I tried to grab it while it was falling (not smart).

When it landed I was reaching for it, bent over, and it hit square on the hammer, WITH THE MUZZLE POINTING DIRECTLY AT MY FACE.

Obviously, it didn't discharge.

That was the LAST and ONLY time I've ever dropped a firearm.

I think it took a full day before my heartbeat returned to a normal rhythm.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I don't know of a pump action shotgun that is safe against being dropped some of the new designs maybe but there is a reason that police don't chamber rounds until the shotgun is taken out of storage in the car and you should unload them when climbing over a fence. M16s can go off if dropped. Several people were shot that way during the Gulf War, free floating firing pin, while loading and unloading trucks. Accidental discharges from 1911s were common enough that a lot of police departments banned them and led to the series 80 changes. Colt did not do that unpopular move without cause and fear of litigation.

 

[GEM]

South African Vektor 9mm semi handgun, IIRC.

 

[Akita1]

Ruger Black Hawk single action. A relative has had two ADs in my presence (who knows how many more he didn't mention) with his, both times the hammer uncocked striking a surface, one being a carpeted auto floor (with snakeshot by the Grace of God that only grazed his ear). After the second one, I gave him my Ruger GP 100 and we sacrificed the Black Hawk to the torch. Bad karma.

 

[jmr40]

The older Blackhawks, or any traditional single action were not meant to be loaded with 6. You are always supposed to load 5 and keep an empty chamber under the hammer. Ruger added a transfer bar in 1973, I think that was the year, that prevented that. Older guns can be returned to Ruger for a retrofit at no cost.

 

[TennJed]

Ruger Black Hawk single action. A relative has had two ADs in my presence (who knows how many more he didn't mention) with his, both times the hammer uncocked striking a surface, one being a carpeted auto floor (with snakeshot by the Grace of God that only grazed his ear). After the second one, I gave him my Ruger GP 100 and we sacrificed the Black Hawk to the torch. Bad karma.

That was an old model Blackhawk and there was nothing functionally wrong with it. Tradition single actions were "supposed" to be carried on an empty chamber. It is a real shame you torched a perfectly good gun. You could have sold it or Ruger would have updated it with a modern safety. I would advise researching before torching