What IS a drop test?

[Rival]

I live in California, and any non-C&R handgun imported to the state has to go through California drop test. How exactly this test is performed? Do they load the live round in a chamber, leave hammer cocked and safety disengaged, and let the gun drop muzzle down on a concrete/wooden floor from shoulder height? How many times do they drop it? Do they drop the gun on a side as well?

Would be nice to know the details on that, just to know that handgun will not likely fire when dropped accidentaly with live round in the chamber...

 

[jamz]

Dunno about CA, but the MA requirements are:

Handgun Drop Test: shall mean a test in which the handgun in question shall be:

(a) test loaded;
(b) set such that the handgun is ready to fire; and
(c) dropped onto a solid slab of concrete from a height of one meter from each of the following positions:

1. normal firing position,
2. upside down,
3. on grip,
4. on the muzzle,
5. on either side, and
6. on the exposed hammer or striker (or if there is no exposed hammer or striker, then the rearmost part of the firearm).

In addition, if the handgun is designed so that its hammer or striker may be set in other positions, the handgun in question shall be tested with the hammer or striker in each such position (but otherwise ready to fire). Alternatively, the tester may use different handguns of the same make and model, in similar condition, for the test of each of these hammer/striker settings.

(from http://www.ago.state.ma.us/sp.cfm?pageid=1579 )

 

[Kruzr]

You can find the requirements for all the tests on the Kali DOJ Website in Firearm Laws. The Kali drop test is as follows:

12128. As used in this chapter, the "drop safety requirement for handguns" means that at the conclusion of the firing requirements for handguns described in Section 12127, the same certified independent testing laboratory shall subject the same three handguns of the make and model for which certification is sought, to the following test:
A primed case (no powder or projectile) shall be inserted into the chamber. For pistols, the slide shall be released, allowing it to move forward under the impetus of the recoil spring, and an empty magazine shall be inserted. For both pistols and revolvers, the weapon shall be placed in a drop fixture capable of dropping the pistol from a drop height of 1m + 1cm (39.4 + 0.4 in.) onto the largest side of a slab of solid concrete having minimum dimensions of 7.5 X 15 X 15 cm (3 X 6 X 6 in.). The drop distance shall be measured from the lowermost portion of the weapon to the top surface of the slab. The weapon shall be dropped from a fixture and not from the hand. The weapon shall be dropped in the condition that it would be in if it were dropped from a hand (cocked with no manual safety applied). If the design of a pistol is such that upon leaving the hand a "safety" is automatically applied by the pistol, this feature shall not be defeated. An approved drop fixture is a short piece of string with the weapon attached at one end and the other end held in an air vise until the drop is initiated.
The following six drops shall be performed:
(a) Normal firing position with barrel horizontal.
(b) Upside down with barrel horizontal.
(c) On grip with barrel vertical.
(d) On muzzle with barrel vertical.
(e) On either side with barrel horizontal.
(f) If there is an exposed hammer or striker, on the rearmost point of that device, otherwise on the rearmost point of the weapon.
The primer shall be examined for indentations after each drop. If indentations are present, a fresh primed case shall be used for the next drop.
The handgun shall pass this test if each of the three test guns does not fire the primer.

 

[bigjim]

Wrong wrong wrong....

A drop test is just that .... a drop test.

California is very worried gravity will fail. They test it by dropping guns.

If a gun ever fails to drop or drops very slowly this will alert them to a possible gravity failure.

When that happens they will write a grant to study the environmental impact of floating guns.

All guns will be stamped with: Warning Gravity has failed, do not jump towards the sun.

 

[Dave Sample]

I just LOVE this Silly Stuff!

 

[1911Tuner]

SillyFornia

Dave said:

I just LOVE this Silly Stuff!
______________________

Yep...California can get purty silly on the "Make it safe for the Children and the Whales" thing...but have ya noticed that, as a rule, whatever happens in California eventually makes its way across the country?

Ladies and laddies...if ya'll want a non-politically correct, "unsafe" 1911...ya better be gettin' it. Parts to change the Springfield ILS and the
frame blank for the Series 80 Colts too. There's change in the wind,
and it ain't gonna be a good one, I betcha.

Luck!

Tuner

 

[manwithoutahome]

What's so funny about the so called drop test is that many high end pistols felled.

But a so called SNS, passed and is (was) on the list:

Jennings .22

Now that's silly!

Wayne

 

[agtman]

As explained above, California's "drop test" is just what it sounds like.

Actually, it's even simplier.

Immediately following your new gun's purchase and the passage of all applicable background checks, you must take the gun, at your own time and expense, to the nearest California Atty General-approved "drop test" facility.

You enter (in a nonaggressive manner) with, let's say, your new $1000+ Kimber, or whatever.

Introduce yourself to the safety nazi(s) behind the counter and inform then that you're there for the Kali handgun "drop test."

Hand them your pistol (slowly, and with the action open). Also provide an empty magazine.

The safety nazi will determine it's caliber for insertion of the appropriate primed case, sans bullet and powder.

He will then insert the appropriate primed case into the chamber and let the slide slam into battery, probably with a giggle. After all, it's not his gun. Now he'll put the magazine in, while leaving the safety off.

Next, your gun will be installed in the "drop fixture," which is the official device approved by the state of California for releasing handguns in otherwise perfect working condition from a pre-determined height to impact on a concrete slab below. (The size and density of said slab has been pre-determined by the state of California through its A.G.'s office pursuant to applicable provisions of the Drop Test Statute).

Once your $1000+ Kimber is install in the "drop fixture," and set at the statutory height for the test (or a little higher, depending on how bored the safety nazi was when you came in), a button will be pressed which activates a lever in the "drop fixture" which releases the "string" which initiates the "drop."

Your $1000 Kimber then hits the concrete slab.

This is repeated five (5) more times for a total of six (6) drops - unless the safety nazi senses an attitude on your part, in which case he may elect to have your gun "drop tested" again (for another six (6) drops).



It's best, therefore, to show no emotion once you enter the "drop test" facility. Remember, bureaucrats are most comfortable with the smiling Forrest-Gump types (i.e., obediant morons), so play along.

If your Kimber goes six (6) drops (or more - remember, no attitude) without activiating the primer, it will be returned to you. You are then free to leave and enjoy your significantly depreciated pistol.

If the primer activates at any time during the test, your pistol will be immediately confiscated for registration and disposal as an "unsafe handgun" pursuant to applicable provisions of the Drop Test Statute.

Simple, huh? Ain't the Left Coast grand.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The so-called "drop tests" are just additional ways the leftist extremists can subvert the Bill of Rights to their base purposes.

 

[Delmar]

Can we perform a drop test on our elected/appointed officials?

Like, maybe from a C-130 high enough to form contrails?

 

[Third_Rail]

For the California drop test... what if someone just removed the firing pin? Do they check?

That's a pretty dumb law...

 

[Kruzr]

For the California drop test... what if someone just removed the firing pin? Do they check?

Only manufacturers may submit guns for testing and only if they are going to be for sale as new handguns in Kali.

Before the drop test, they do a fire and function test. Here is that test:

12127. (a) As used in this chapter, the "firing requirement for handguns" means a test in which the manufacturer provides three handguns of the make and model for which certification is sought, to an independent testing laboratory certified by the Attorney General pursuant to Section 12130. These handguns may not be refined or modified in any way from those that would be made available for retail sale if certification is granted. The magazines of a tested pistol shall be identical to those that would be provided with the pistol to a retail customer. The laboratory shall fire 600 rounds from each gun, stopping after each series of 50 rounds has been fired for 5 to 10 minutes to allow the weapon to cool, stopping after each series of 100 rounds has been fired to tighten any loose screws and clean the gun in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and stopping as needed to refill the empty magazine or cylinder to capacity before continuing. The ammunition used shall be of the type recommended by the handgun manufacturer in the user manual, or if none is recommended, any standard ammunition of the correct caliber in new condition that is commercially available. A handgun shall pass this test if each of the three test guns meets both of the following:
(1) Fires the first 20 rounds without a malfunction that is not due to ammunition that fails to detonate.
(2) Fires the full 600 rounds with no more than six malfunctions that are not due to ammunition that fails to detonate and without any crack or breakage of an operating part of the handgun that increases the risk of injury to the user.
(b) If a pistol or revolver fails the requirements of either paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (a) due to ammunition that fails to detonate, the pistol or revolver shall be retested from the beginning of the "firing requirement for handguns" test. A new model of the pistol or revolver that failed due to ammunition that fails to detonate may be submitted for the test to replace the pistol or revolver that failed.
(c) As used in this section, "malfunction" means a failure to properly feed, fire, or eject a round, or failure of a pistol to accept or eject the magazine, or failure of a pistol's slide to remain open after the magazine has been expended.

See, they are looking out for us.

 

[TonyB]

I did my own drop test by mistake at IDPA one night...dropped my loaded and ready to go Glock 17 on the concrete....didn't go off......the white part of the front sight popped out though.....only other thing broken was my nerves.....

 

[Dionysusigma]

(Gosh, I know this is going to be a dumb question, but...)

Who pays for the damage done to your gun?

 

[tombo]

This is a joke right?

A drop test is done on every handgun sold in the state? If I lived in California and bought a handgun I would have to take it in and have it dropped 6 times to see if it will fire? Then I can have the gun. I'm serious- You're joking about this, right?

 

[PinnedAndRecessed]

No, the test is not performed on every gun.

Each manufacturer must submit three samples along with $3500 per gun to the DOJ.

Each sample will then be subjected to the test.

If each sample passes, then the manufacturer can sell only the identical to the sample.

If Smith wanted to sell a four inch 629, they must submit three four inch 629's for testing.

If Smith also wants to sell a four inch 29 (same caliber only blue), it must submit three samples of the 29.

For every variation in the gun type, the manufacturer must submit additional samples and $$$.

Glock refused to play along, by the way. They said they weren't going to sell guns or parts to CA. Screw 'em.

This hurt because most CA cops carry Glock.

So the retard politicians said, well, since there are so many Glocks already here, that is proof it's already a safe gun. Glock didn't submit any for testing.

Jerks.

I collect pinned and recessed Smiths. They don't make them anymore. So even though dealers have tons of pinned Smiths, I can't touch them.

Smith didn't submit any samples for testing and I can't buy them unless from a private owner.

 

[agtman]

"No, the test is not performed on every gun."


Heh, heh.

PinnedAndRecessed is right.

My little scenario merely took an already nutty antigun "safety" law to its logical extreme.

By the way, since existing gun laws can always be expanded by amendment to include any number of absurdities, a future requirement that gun owners "prove" that each handgun they own is "safe" - by subjecting them to some type of mandatory test administered by state bureaucrats - ain't really that far-fetched.

 

[tombo]

Thanks for the clarification. It seems a little redundant for manufacturers to test their handguns rigoriously then have the state of California test them. Kudos to Glock for not going along with them. I am so happy that I live in Kentucky.