Dropped Colt Question

[Cyrano]

The Colt Government Model Series 80 has a firing pin lock. For those Government Models without the lock, is there any published data showing how far the pistol has to fall before the primer ignites from firing pin momentum?

 

[5-Shot]

Many, many years ago (maybe 40) I read just such an articlele. My memory's a little vague but it seems it took a big drop...like 30 feet to fire it. Hope you can get a more "current" response.

Ed

 

[W.E.G.]

The answer is:
Three feet or less.

The pre-80 configuration will fire if you think your LEO status exempts you from the "REMOVE ALL METAL OBJECTS" policy at the MRI facility.

See Spontaneous Discharge of a Firearm in an MR Imaging Environment

 

[Dragon88]

There have been many drop tests conducted. One is referenced in "Book of the 1911" by Patrick Sweeney. You can also do a google search for "Drake 1911 drop test". Sorry, I can't post a direct link as it is on another forum.

 

[Squarebutt]

The answer is:
Three feet or less.

The pre-80 configuration will fire if you think your LEO status exempts you from the "REMOVE ALL METAL OBJECTS" policy at the MRI facility.

See Spontaneous Discharge of a Firearm in an MR Imaging Environment

Wow! That's a post-1980 model,with firing block safety as well. Those magnets are incredibly strong. There was a case in NY where a fire alarm went off accidentally, a nurse grabbed an extinguisher off the wall and opened the door to the MRI room. The extinguisher flew out of her hands and killed the little kid inside the machine.

 

[2152hq]

The answer is:
Three feet or less.

The pre-80 configuration will fire if you think your LEO status exempts you from the "REMOVE ALL METAL OBJECTS" policy at the MRI facility.

See Spontaneous Discharge of a Firearm in an MR Imaging Environment

That incident involved one of the local suburban town PD officers here.
I don't recall it being reported in the local fishwrapper at the time. Such things are usually kept quiet.
But the 'news' made the rounds at the gunshops and shows very quickly anyway.

The California 'Drop Test' requirements use 1m + 1cm (?) distance onto a concrete surface. The pistol is dropped from 6 different positions. The action is cocked and any manual safety is off.
Three examples of the same model have to pass the test to get it labled 'passed' and onto the list of acceptable importable handguns.
A primed case is used in the testing.
I don't know if any of the 1911's make the cut out there or not,,but that's their requirement for the distance & the drop test.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Im not real sure about the hight that they were dropped from but if you wish to make an older model without the fireing pin lock safer install a titainium fireing pin with an extra strength fireing pin spring. The lighter weight of the titainium fireing pin renders it less succeptable to an inertia event and the stronger spring is insurance.

 

[sipowicz]

You want a gun that goes off when you drop it. If someone is holding a gun on you and says "drop the gun"... and you do...and it goes bang.....that should distract him long enough for you to make a getaway.