Testing Slamfire: Sneaky Advantage or Useless Hype?

Published on September 23, 2023
Duration: 17:20

This review tests the 'slamfire' capability of the Winchester 1897 against a modern Remington 870. Despite the historical novelty, slamfire offers no practical speed advantage and can hinder accuracy due to difficulty in control under recoil. It was primarily phased out for safety reasons to prevent negligent discharges.

Quick Summary

Slamfire on firearms like the Winchester 1897 occurs because the trigger lacks a disconnector, allowing discharge upon action closure if the trigger is held. However, testing reveals it offers no practical speed advantage and can hinder accuracy due to recoil control issues, leading to its removal primarily for safety.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Intro: Winchester 1897 & Slamfire
  2. 01:21How Slamfire Works (No Disconnector)
  3. 03:09Test 1: Single Target Speed Comparison
  4. 06:35Test 2: Bunched Targets (Trench Scenario)
  5. 10:06Test 3: Dispersed Targets (Jungle Scenario)
  6. 11:54Conclusion: Safety & Obsolescence of Slamfire

Frequently Asked Questions

What is slamfire and how does it work on the Winchester 1897?

Slamfire is a firearm function where the weapon discharges as the action is closed, provided the trigger is held back. On the Winchester 1897, this is possible because its trigger mechanism lacks a disconnector, unlike modern shotguns like the Remington 870.

Does the slamfire feature of the Winchester 1897 offer a speed advantage?

No, testing shows slamfire does not offer a practical speed advantage. In fact, it can be slower and less accurate due to difficulty controlling recoil and timing the action closure, especially in dispersed target scenarios.

Why was the slamfire feature removed from most modern firearms?

Slamfire was primarily removed as a safety feature. The lack of a disconnector could lead to negligent discharges if a shooter 'rode the trigger' during high-stress manipulation, making modern trigger resets a safer design.

How did the Winchester 1897 perform against the Remington 870 in speed tests?

In single target tests, the Remington 870 was faster (2.67s vs 2.83s) and more accurate. While the 1897 was competitive in bunched target scenarios, the 870 was significantly faster in dispersed target tests, highlighting slamfire's limitations.

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