Drop Tested Pistols

[DPC]

I own a Taurus .357 605B and Taurus 85 Ultralite pistols. My question is a simple in regards to safety. Can a loaded revolver discharge if dropped on it's hammer? And has anyone here ever had this happen to them?

DPC

[leelaw]

I'm sure anything is possible. Does this revolver have a firing pin safety, disconnect, or similar?

[Davidoff]

The tarus 605 and 85 both have a firing pin disconnect. The hammer desn't strike the firing pin directly, it hits a transfer bar that only comes up to cover the firing pin when the trigger is pulled. That's why modern revolvers can be carried with a full cylinder instead of an empty chamber under the hammer. you should be able to see what I'm talking about if you dry fire in slow-mo.

[maxicon]

Another way to check is to pull the trigger while holding the hammer back, then release the trigger. You'll see the FP block/transfer bar move in or out, depending.

Rugers have a transfer bar that couples the hammer impact to the FP if the trigger's held back, while S&W has a hammer block that is out of the way if the trigger's held back.

[guimus]

and some simpler, cheaper, or older guns have a 1/2 way notch between cylinders so that you if you drop the gun on the hammer the firing pin impacts on steel rather than on primer.

[LECTRIKHED]

I dropped my taurus tracker 627 loaded on the hammer on saturday. It was into dirt, but it did not go off or scratch.

[DPC]

Thanks guys that is some very helpful info.


dpc

[626Tony]

I wouldent try it.... sounds risky

[fairfaxjim]

The tarus 605 and 85 both have a firing pin disconnect. The hammer desn't strike the firing pin directly, it hits a transfer bar that only comes up to cover the firing pin when the trigger is pulled. That's why modern revolvers can be carried with a full cylinder instead of an empty chamber under the hammer. you should be able to see what I'm talking about if you dry fire in slow-mo.

Davidoff is correct, the trigger must be pulled for the hammer to contact the firing pin. It won't discharge when dropped unless you drop it while you hold the trigger back. If you can do that, you probably were due to cash in your chips that day anyway.