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P320 OOB FIRING TEST UPDATE
Here are further results from our P320 out-of-battery firing tests, along with background info. (Please click on each photo for captioned text.)
Pic1
We set up this P320 parts gun to represent a worst-case scenario which far exceeds the most extreme OOB condition possible in a factory-spec pistol. To do so, I defeated all internal safety functions, including the disconnector, striker lock, original striker spring, and blocked the barrel to stop at the point at which further slide retraction would prevent the striker from contacting the primer. A standard P320 striker assembly lacks the energy to ignite primers at all with the slide retracted to my 0-0 position. To compensate, I installed two inter-wound striker springs in an attempt to deliver enough force to ignite primers
Pic 2
Despite doubling the striker springs, ignition from 0-0 lockup was very unreliable. Most rounds required multiple hits before finally igniting, as shown here.
Pic 3
These off-center primer hits further show the marginal OOB condition as set up in the test pistol.
Pic 4
These cases are representative of the results obtained with the following loads (l-r):
Hornady 135 Critical Duty +P
Blazer Brass 115 ball
Hornady Frontier 90 XTP
Federal 150 Syntech
Winchester White Box 124
SuperVel 90 HP +P
Speer LE G2 147
As can be seen, none of these cases exhibit signs of excessive expansion. They compare well with rounds fired from fully in battery.
I fairly conclude that the "P320 can fire out of battery and blow up with good ammo" narrative is clearly, demonstrably false.
Fact: A factory-spec in P320 cannot be made to cause case failures with SAAMI spec ammo, and embodies sufficient lockup and internal safety margins to prevent such occurrences.
At best, it`s a myth which technically uninformed shooters have embraced to explain failures caused by defective ammo. At worst, it`s a lie propagated by those who want to see the platform fail.
Can the P320 fire enough out of battery to induce case failure with proper ammunition? With the meteoric rise in popularity of the P320 amongst serious, high-volume shooters, we`ve seen reports of blown cases. So, here`s a series of firing tests, and factual analysis at the end of this post to put these reports into proper perspective.
I set up this pistol to be capable of releasing the striker with enough energy to detonate a primer throughout the entire locked travel of the barrel and slide.
1. To ensure that this test series would exceed any mechanically plausible scenario, I paired an early 4.7" barrel to a light 3.9" Compact slide, and fitted a short recoil spring with does not exert enough force to hold the slide closed. I marked datum lines on tape for fully in-battery, 50%, 25% and 0. The total locked travel from 0 (at which the barrel is adequately engaged with the locking shoulder to permit the striker to impact the primer) to fully in-battery is approximately .226".
2. I fired test round 1 (Speer G2 147 law enforcement duty load at approx. 1025fps, for 150pf) from fully in-battery. The fired case max diameter measured .3892".
3. Test round 2 was fired at 50% in-battery, or with the slide retracted +/- 113" and held via a wedge. This case measured .3887" at its greatest diameter.
4. #3 was fired at 75% out of battery, or retracted about .163". This case also measured .3887.
5. And, here`s #4, fired at 0, or that point in slide-barrel travel at which further retraction will pull the barrel out of engagement. This case measured .3901".
6. The Speer G2 LE duty rounds measure .3881" at the base. At approximately 150PF, these loads well exceed that of typical 115gr or 124gr ball, and most other standard commercial loadings.
7. The barrel I chose for this test is from early commercial P320 production, and exhibits the substantial chamber-mouth bevel typical of most P320`s.