Drop Test
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After hearing of at least on gunsmith who thought the P-11 was to prone to
drop fires, and after shortening the FP spring on my own P-11, I decided to
try my own drop test to see how my P-11 would do. It did not due so well....
First I wanted to find a way to consistently drop it so it would land muzzle
first, and also do something so that it would not damage the gun. What I came
up with was a PVC holder. This is rigid enough to transfer just about all
the energy to the gun from impact, but not strong enough to damage the barrel
or slide.
I got an 8" long piece of 2 inch PVC, a 2 inch PVC cap, a piece of small rope,
part of an old shamy, and a rubber band.
First cut a rectangular hole in the pvc that is just over an inch wide, about
4 1/2 inches long, and 1/2 inch from one end. Then cut a notch in the cap to
make sure the trigger guard was not resting on that, and to ensure that the
muzzle was touching the inside of the end cap (you will see in a min).
Then drill 2 holes in the other end of the PVC just big enough for the
rope that you have, and pass the rope through it, and tie a not in each
end (the rope gives you something to consistently drop with). I also
inserted a piece of foam into the PVC to press against the top of the
slide (but not between the muzzle and the cap) so that it would position
the P-11 in the PVC the same way every time.
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Take a rag or something an wrap the handle of the P-11 and rubber band it on,
this is just to keep the polymer grip from being scratched when it bounces to
a rest after being dropped. Now insert the P-11 muzzle first into the hole
and push it forward so that the muzzle starts to come out the end. Now push
in the rear of the slide and pull it up towards the back. Put the end cap
on with the notch lining up with the forward part of the trigger guard, and
push it up tight. This will push the back of the pistol up and lock it
into the hole so it can not fall out.
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Now insert a primered only case, put the pistol in the PVC holder, hold
from the string, and drop from your desired test height onto cement or
other hard surface.
Each time you drop it, you must disassemble and check the casing because
you may not be able to tell just by the sound if it went off or not. It
is muffled a lot by the PVC. It is easy to tell if it went off, just
look inside the case before you test, you will see it is pretty clean
brass. After it goes off, it is much duller and has powder residue on it.
Also use a fresh shell for every test, progressively testing the same
shell at different heights will lead to incorrect findings at all but
the first height (and you have to take it apart anyway to check so you
might as well put in a fresh shell).
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After deciding to see how my 1911 .45 did on the same test, I modified
pvc holder a bit to hold different lengths. The only difference is
I made the cut in the PVC longer, and to hold the back of the pistol
in, I made a ring that you will slide down over the back of the gun
to lock it in place. It is just about an inch cut off of a 2" PVC
end cap. The new one looks like this:
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After testing, mine set off the primer at 3 feet and above. 2 Feet
dimpled the primer, but did not set it off. I am not teribly afraid
of a drop fire, 1 because I don't drop it, and 2 because even if it were to
happen, it would be pointing down and not at anyone or anything.
I will be doing more
testing to find a good solution/balance of light strike vs. drop fire
resistance and post updates when I find something.
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I had someone email me this actual experience:
Found your page after searching Kel Tec P-11 accidental discharge...thought I would share this story while still fresh.
My wife carries her P-11 daily and just last night experienced her first "inertia-fire" type AD...dropped from waist height (just measured, est 36”) while holstering, muzzle-first on bare concrete floor, breaking off the front/bottom of the spring cover, firing and putting fair little hole in bathroom floor. Breaking of the plastic spring shroud did not interfere with the slide rails.
Weapon still functional, wife now more cognizant of ratcheting up awareness when handling daily carry chores.
Roger
3/16/2013
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