accidential discharge

[chuckw]

I have a SW/PPK/s and always slingshot a round into the chamber when reloading, however I am concerned of the possibility of an accidental discharge doing this especially when reloading in a area not allowing discharge of firearms. Has anybody ever had this happen?

[UniversalExports]

I suppose it's possible, if your particular S&W version was one of those that were manufactured with the faulty hammer block and if it hasn't been through recall. If those situations do not apply to your weapon and you chamber a round with the safety engaged, you shouldn't have a problem.

[MGMike]

Originally Posted by chuckw

...I am concerned of the possibility of an accidental discharge doing this especially when reloading in a area not allowing discharge of firearms. Has anybody ever had this happen?

Well, you should be concerned, and not just with a PPK/s, but with any kind of semi-auto firearm. Unintended firings that occur when the slide flies forward (or a rifle bolt slams closed) are surprisingly frequent, and can result from a wide variety of causes involving the gun or the ammunition, some of which are obvious and others much less so.

It emphasizes the importance of pointing the muzzle in a safe direction when charging the first round, or --if there is no safe direction--waiting until you are somewhere else where there is a safe direction. The danger can be minimized --but certainly not eliminated-- by having the safety on when manually chambering the first round, if the design of the firearm permits. Some do not. It also is important to hold the gun rigidly out in front of you, firmly under control when operating the slide or cocking handle, just in case the gun picks that moment to go full auto.

It is disconcerting to go to pistol range (or any range for that matter) and observe the frequency with which shooters very casually slingshot their slides without paying much attention to where the muzzle is pointed at the instant the slide snaps closed. In your mind's eye, draw a line where the bullet will go if there is a slam-fire.

M

[UniversalExports]

What MGMike says. I neglected to add that, but always point the gun in a safe direction (even if you think it's unloaded) and especially when doing any kind of manipulation including chambering a round.

You just never know . . . .

[jailersmith]

Totally agree. I had a late war pp go full auto and found the firing pin was a tad too long even though it looked to be original in design. Safety first.

[pntool]

Originally Posted by UniversalExports

What MGMike says. I neglected to add that, but always point the gun in a safe direction (even if you think it's unloaded) and especially when doing any kind of manipulation including chambering a round.

You just never know . . . .

Saftey is between your ears!

[halfmoonclip]

Saw one slamfire; a Colt Woodsman on our firing line. Back in the days of my military service, our MPs had a sand barrel outside their barracks for charging their 1911s.
The charging issue presents a problem when traveling with a handgun and encountering 'no-carry' states like the People's Republic of Maryland. It leaves you with the dilemma of not clearing a stored weapon while passing thru', or chancing recharging at some inconvenient spot.
What brings on a slamfire? Out of spec part has been mentioned; presume firing pin inertia is another, high primer as another possibility. It would seem that it is hard to diagnose a problem that only happens infrequently.
What do law enforcement do nowadays when entering prisons, etc? Back in revolver times, a buddy's Smith had a deep groove halfway thru' the recoil shield from endless weapons clearing entering the lockup. Is any special provision made for this, like the MP's sand barrel?
Moon

[Leighton]

I was at the range and had this happen with one of my 1903 Colts. Nothing more than the sear failing, and having my hand at the rear after slaping the slide caused it to jam on the next round, or it could have gone full auto. Got her home, tore her down, repalced a few springs, new sear catch, and just like new. I've seen lots of these in the military with our old 1911A1's.

[MGMike]

Slam-fires have a multitude of causes. Marginal hammer-sear engagement (from wear, chipping, alteration, packed dirt, broken or missing sear spring, etc.) that allows the hammer to jar loose from the impact of the slide or bolt shutting is not uncommon. In guns that do not have a secondary ("safety") hammer notch, the result is a slam-fire. Same is true with guns that just aren't made right, and have parts out of tolerance; all kinds of malfunctions are possible, as S&W learned --expensively--with its PP-series pistols.

Any firearm that has a propensity to dimple the primer from firing pin inertia is a prime candidate. I have induced slam fires in certain military rifles by once or twice ejecting and re-chambering the same cartridge; each time the dimple gets deeper.

A broken firing pin or one that is jammed in a forward position can cause a slamfire, as can any piece of solid debris stuck on the bolt face. In rimfire guns, insufficient headspace can cause slam-fires. High primers have already been mentioned, but there are also differences in ammunition. Early USA-made Walther TPH pistols experienced a rash of slam-fires with some brands of US ammo, due to insufficient headspace. It turned out that Walther's drawings were dimensioned to European rimfire, which had rims thinner than SAAMI allowable maximum. Headspace was opened up, and the problem went away. Also with rimfires: a stuck extractor can act like a firing pin.

There is also the issue of primer sensitivity. While primers are made to close tolerances measured in a range of inch-ounces (at one end NONE should fire, and at the other, ALL should fire), primer-making is part alchemy. QC cannot be verified except by sample testing. So one should not assume that he'll never encounter an unstable or supersensitive primer which, indented with an otherwise harmless dimple, will fire. Add amateur handloading to the equation, and the possibilities of ammo-related problems increase exponentially.

There are probably eighteen more potential causes of slam-fires that don't spring immediately to mind, but they are out there, waiting.

So hold the gun rigidly, and point it in a safe direction when chambering.

M

[chuckw]

Well I guess that pretty much puts and end to carrying one in the chamber if on the road. I just passed thru a state that does not honor my CCW permit so after unloading the gun and upon leaving the state, it's not safe to re-chambering a round and riding the slide can cause a jam.