1911 Drop Test Results

[TheRoland]

I didn't see this posted here, but it's making the rounds of the 1911 sites. May be of general interest beyond us 1911 fans.

Series 70 1911 Drop Test Thread


A gunsmith at Drake's Gun Works did his own drop test with a bare-bones 1911 from various heights, with various firing pins, onto various surfaces. His results show that dropping a 1911 muzzle-first onto hard surfaces does cause the pistol to fire, even from reasonably short heights.

This chart was linked:

Note that the steel .45 pin fired from only 4 feet (draw height) onto concrete. The .38 Super pin (Ti or Steel) began firing from only 6 feet onto concrete. This was with fresh, strong firing pin springs. Results were somewhat better onto wood flooring or carpet, and somewhat better as a percentage with lighter Ti pins.

This shows drop safety should be a real consideration for those who carry Series 70 1911s, and that Titanium firing pins do help mitigate the issue somewhat. The truisms that this is only an issue from 15+ feet, or that Ti parts are scams, are clearly false in light of these sort of results.

All my carry 1911s will be getting Ti pins in the near future.

 

[M1911]

That's good to know. Thanks. Which Ti pins and firing pin retaining springs are you going to use?

 

[drgrant]

One thing missing here is the fact that all these drops are essentially the worst case scenario, "which is muzzle first on contact surface" I wonder how different things would be if it was done frisbee style, or the randomness of a fumbled draw, etc. It'd also be interesting to calculate the odds of a dropped pistol landing down muzzle first.

-Mike

 

[Admin]

Here are the Glock results.

Glock Drop Test results

 

[TheRoland]

One thing missing here is the fact that all these drops are essentially the worst case scenario,

Totally true. Worst case was very much the point of the test.

That's good to know. Thanks. Which Ti pins and firing pin retaining springs are you going to use?

I think most firing pin springs are "extra power" these days, so I'm not sure the spring really matters that much, and I'm probably already running one.

As for Pins, I have STI's .38 Ti Pin (the first one I found on Brownells a few months ago) in one gun already, and it seems to function fine. I'm not sure what diameter it is exactly, and I know Ed Brown and SA make their own which may be slightly different. I don't know that it makes that much of a difference so long as it fits your firing pin channel.

 

[FPrice]

Here are the Glock results.

Glock Drop Test results

I expected more out of my leader.

 

[Len-2A Training]

Here are the Glock results.

Glock Drop Test results

You are terrible!! Just terrible!

 

[Moderator]

Here are the Glock results.

Glock Drop Test results

The explosion never would have been that bad if the owner used government approved 10 round magazines.

 

[terraformer]

One thing missing here is the fact that all these drops are essentially the worst case scenario, "which is muzzle first on contact surface" I wonder how different things would be if it was done frisbee style, or the randomness of a fumbled draw, etc. It'd also be interesting to calculate the odds of a dropped pistol landing down muzzle first.

-Mike

And ironically the best possible results come from this orientation as the round pulverizes and doesn't travel in many circumstances. But these are far from stellar results. A doc like this is not particularly great to have floating around by no means though. it gives red meat to the antis and it shows why the industry is moving towards striker fired and firing pin blocks. For 1911s the move towards the series 80 type design will mitigate drop issues. I would love to see the same results with a series 80 design.

 

[TheRoland]

A doc like this is not particularly great to have floating around by no means though. it gives red meat to the antis and it shows why the industry is moving towards striker fired and firing pin blocks.

Sure, this is why CA has regulated so heavily and could be made into an argument for government intervention. That said, I'm not sure pretending it isn't an issue is the best strategy, either. It's not like truth or fiction has stopped the antis in the past.

For 1911s the move towards the series 80 type design will mitigate drop issues. I would love to see the same results with a series 80 design.

A series 80 or Swartz system will just mechanically not fire unless subjected to extreme enough force to push the firing-pin-block plunger out of the way at exactly the right angle (which I believe has happened in at least one high-profile incident, but is more or less probabilistically impossible).

 

[Gonzo]

Here are the Glock results.

Glock Drop Test results

Gotta get me one of them for when I'm driving around in my old Ford Pinto.

 

[yanici]

I hope Marcia isn't reading this.

Edit: This will probably end that 1911 Group Build idea you'se guys were planning since 2005.

 

[Len-2A Training]

I hope Marcia isn't reading this.

Edit: This will probably end that 1911 Group Build idea you'se guys were planning since 2005.

That ended in 2005, when I did some quick addition and determined that there was no way that I was spending that much on a 1911 (I do not compete)!