Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
We go round and round here sometimes over the 'chamber empty/chamber loaded' thing for defensive shotguns. There's all kinds of opinions both ways, and lots of references to military drop safety testing. Well, posted below is one I hadn't seen or heard of previously.
Now the M26 shotgun system is generally mounted as an underbarrel accessory on the M16/M4 (aka the Masterkey system, if anyone else is that old), and that may add to the system's overall weight and its susceptibility to inertial firing pin ignition of a chambered round if dropped muzzle down, I don't know. Personally I will continue to keep my defensive shotguns stored with chambers empty- YMMV of course.
lpl
===============================================
http://www.schweinfurt.army.mil/documents/safety_alert_1mar2010.pdf
-snip-
1. Distribution:
a. This is an "Operational" Ground Precautionary Action (GPA) Message.
Commanders/Directors of Army Commands (ACOM)/Army Service Component Commands
(ASCC)/Direct Reporting Units (DRU), Army National Guard (ARNG), US Army Reserve
(USAR) Command, US Navy (USN), US Air Force (USAF), US Marine Corps (USMC) and
other Service Commanders and Responsible Offices will retransmit this message to
all subordinate Commanders/Activities within 24 hours of receipt and will, within
5 working days, acknowledge receipt by e-mail to
[email protected] or by telephoning DSN 273-2623, Commercial
(586)239-2623 or in writing to Commander, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command
(TACOM LCMC), ATTN: AMSTA-LCL-MPM, 6501 E. 11 Mile Rd., Warren, MI 48397-5000.
b. Commanders/Directors of Army Commands (ACOM)/Army Service Component
Commands (ASCC)/Direct Reporting Units (DRU), Army National Guard (ARNG), US Army
Reserve (USAR) Command, other Service Commanders and other Responsible Offices,
will also track and report compliance of this message for all subordinate
Commands/Activities to: Mr. Engels Arias DSN 793-5951/COMM 309-782-5951 email:
[email protected] no later than: 30 Days from date of this message.
2. Problem:
a. Summary of Problem: During drop testing of the M26 Modular Accessory
Shotgun System (MASS) accidental discharge of the Mossberg M500/M590 and
Remington M870 shotguns was experienced. The loaded weapons were found to
possibly fire upon being dropped muzzle first. This occurred even when the
safety was on.
b. Expected results if failure occurs: If these shotguns are dropped muzzle
first with a loaded round in the chamber, they may fire, causing injury to
personnel within close range.
3. User Actions:
a. Technical References:
(1) Technical Manual (TM) 9-1005-338-13&P, Technical Manual, Unit and
Direct Support Maintenance Manual, including Repair Parts and Special Tools for
the Mossberg 12-Gauge Shotgun, Model 500 and Mossberg 12-Gauge Shotgun, Model
590. May 2005
(2) Technical Order (TO) 11W3-6-2-1, Technical Manual Intermediate
Maintenance Instructions with Illustrated Parts Breakdown for the Military
Shotgun 12-Gauge Pump Action Model 870.
b. Maintenance Levels: All maintenance levels.
c. Corrective Actions: The intent of this GPA is to prevent future
accidents by informing users to not chamber a round in these shotguns until they
are ready to fire.
(1) Mark up the reference Technical Manuals with the following warning:
WARNING
Operators should not chamber a round into the shotgun until they are ready to
fire. Accidental discharge and injury could occur from dropping the shotgun in
the muzzle down position.
(2) Place a copy of this GPA message inside the front cover of your TM 9-
1005-338-13&P, until you receive the revised TM/TO.
4. Unit Commanders:
a. Commanders shall distribute and ensure compliance of this message in
accordance with paragraph 1.b.
b. Contact your local TACOM LCMC Logistics Assistance Representative (LAR) or
your State Surface Maintenance Manager upon receipt of this message for
assistance. For assistance in locating your TACOM LCMC LAR, see paragraph 7c.
5. TACOM LCMC/PM actions: The above warning will be added to TM 9-1005-338-13&P,
Change 3, and should be available third quarter of FY2010.
-snip-
Now the M26 shotgun system is generally mounted as an underbarrel accessory on the M16/M4 (aka the Masterkey system, if anyone else is that old), and that may add to the system's overall weight and its susceptibility to inertial firing pin ignition of a chambered round if dropped muzzle down, I don't know. Personally I will continue to keep my defensive shotguns stored with chambers empty- YMMV of course.
lpl
===============================================
http://www.schweinfurt.army.mil/documents/safety_alert_1mar2010.pdf
-snip-
1. Distribution:
a. This is an "Operational" Ground Precautionary Action (GPA) Message.
Commanders/Directors of Army Commands (ACOM)/Army Service Component Commands
(ASCC)/Direct Reporting Units (DRU), Army National Guard (ARNG), US Army Reserve
(USAR) Command, US Navy (USN), US Air Force (USAF), US Marine Corps (USMC) and
other Service Commanders and Responsible Offices will retransmit this message to
all subordinate Commanders/Activities within 24 hours of receipt and will, within
5 working days, acknowledge receipt by e-mail to
[email protected] or by telephoning DSN 273-2623, Commercial
(586)239-2623 or in writing to Commander, TACOM Life Cycle Management Command
(TACOM LCMC), ATTN: AMSTA-LCL-MPM, 6501 E. 11 Mile Rd., Warren, MI 48397-5000.
b. Commanders/Directors of Army Commands (ACOM)/Army Service Component
Commands (ASCC)/Direct Reporting Units (DRU), Army National Guard (ARNG), US Army
Reserve (USAR) Command, other Service Commanders and other Responsible Offices,
will also track and report compliance of this message for all subordinate
Commands/Activities to: Mr. Engels Arias DSN 793-5951/COMM 309-782-5951 email:
[email protected] no later than: 30 Days from date of this message.
2. Problem:
a. Summary of Problem: During drop testing of the M26 Modular Accessory
Shotgun System (MASS) accidental discharge of the Mossberg M500/M590 and
Remington M870 shotguns was experienced. The loaded weapons were found to
possibly fire upon being dropped muzzle first. This occurred even when the
safety was on.
b. Expected results if failure occurs: If these shotguns are dropped muzzle
first with a loaded round in the chamber, they may fire, causing injury to
personnel within close range.
3. User Actions:
a. Technical References:
(1) Technical Manual (TM) 9-1005-338-13&P, Technical Manual, Unit and
Direct Support Maintenance Manual, including Repair Parts and Special Tools for
the Mossberg 12-Gauge Shotgun, Model 500 and Mossberg 12-Gauge Shotgun, Model
590. May 2005
(2) Technical Order (TO) 11W3-6-2-1, Technical Manual Intermediate
Maintenance Instructions with Illustrated Parts Breakdown for the Military
Shotgun 12-Gauge Pump Action Model 870.
b. Maintenance Levels: All maintenance levels.
c. Corrective Actions: The intent of this GPA is to prevent future
accidents by informing users to not chamber a round in these shotguns until they
are ready to fire.
(1) Mark up the reference Technical Manuals with the following warning:
WARNING
Operators should not chamber a round into the shotgun until they are ready to
fire. Accidental discharge and injury could occur from dropping the shotgun in
the muzzle down position.
(2) Place a copy of this GPA message inside the front cover of your TM 9-
1005-338-13&P, until you receive the revised TM/TO.
4. Unit Commanders:
a. Commanders shall distribute and ensure compliance of this message in
accordance with paragraph 1.b.
b. Contact your local TACOM LCMC Logistics Assistance Representative (LAR) or
your State Surface Maintenance Manager upon receipt of this message for
assistance. For assistance in locating your TACOM LCMC LAR, see paragraph 7c.
5. TACOM LCMC/PM actions: The above warning will be added to TM 9-1005-338-13&P,
Change 3, and should be available third quarter of FY2010.
-snip-