Testing Slamfire: Sneaky Advantage or Useless Hype?

Published on September 23, 2023
Duration: 17:20

This guide details how to test the practical effectiveness of slamfire, a feature found on older firearms like the Winchester 1897 Trench Gun. It involves controlled speed and accuracy tests against modern firearms, such as the Remington 870, across various target scenarios. The analysis, informed by professional tactical instructor Matt Haught and firearms historian Ian McCollum, concludes that slamfire offers no significant speed advantage and was largely phased out for safety reasons.

Quick Summary

Slamfire, a feature of firearms like the Winchester 1897 where holding the trigger fires the weapon as the action closes, offers no practical speed advantage and poses safety risks. Testing by Ian McCollum and Matt Haught showed modern firearms with trigger resets are generally faster and more accurate, with slamfire's primary drawback being its potential for negligent discharge.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Slamfire and the Winchester 1897
  2. 01:21Defining Slamfire Mechanism
  3. 03:09Test 1: Single Target Speed
  4. 06:35Test 2: Bunched Targets (Trench Scenario)
  5. 10:06Test 3: Dispersed Targets (Jungle Scenario)
  6. 11:54Conclusion: Safety and Obsolescence

Frequently Asked Questions

What is slamfire and how does it work in firearms?

Slamfire occurs when a round discharges as the action is closed, typically because the trigger mechanism lacks a disconnector. Holding the trigger back while closing the action will cause the firearm to fire automatically, unlike modern firearms that require trigger reset for each shot.

Does slamfire offer a speed advantage in shooting?

Empirical testing shows slamfire generally does not offer a practical speed advantage. While it allows for faster follow-up shots if the trigger is held, accuracy and control often suffer, making modern firearms with reliable trigger resets more efficient overall.

Why was slamfire capability removed from most modern firearms?

Slamfire capability was largely removed from modern firearms primarily for safety reasons. The absence of a disconnector increases the risk of negligent discharges, especially under stress when a shooter might inadvertently 'ride the trigger' during manipulation.

How did the Winchester 1897 Trench Gun perform in speed tests?

In tests comparing the Winchester 1897 Trench Gun's slamfire to a custom Remington 870, the 1897 was slower and less accurate on single targets (2.83s vs 2.67s) and dispersed targets (3.66s vs 3.25s), indicating slamfire's limitations.

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