       
|
|
|
Drop
Test per Massachusetts SB2276
H.P. White Laboratory, Inc.
3114 Scarboro Road
Street, Maryland 21154-1822
Telephone: (410) 838-6550
Facsimilie: (410) 838-2802
15 January 1999
(HPWLI 7781-01)
North American Arms, Inc.
600 West Germantown Pike, Suite 400
Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania 19462-1046
Attention: Sandy Chisholm
Dear Mr. Chishom:
You recently requested Drop Testing of five North American Arms, Inc. Caliber .32 ACP Guardian Pistols using procedures specified in Section 19 of Massachusetts Senate Bill Number 2276. The handguns were received directly from North American Arms, Inc. on 11 January 1999 via United Parcel Service.
The Massachusetts requirements are for each of five new handguns to be dropped onto "...a solid slab of concrete..." from a height of 1 meter from six positions, while in a ready-to-fire condition. SB2276 is not clear about whether the 1 meter drop height is to be measured from the gun's center of gravity, or from its lowest point. We took the more demanding approach and used the lowest point. Further, the fifth position specified is "...on either side...". We interpreted that to mean "...on both sides...". Finally, it is virutally impossible to assure a direct impact "...on the exposed hammer..." when the gun is allowed to free-fall from 1 meter. Therefore, we placed the guns muzzle down on the concrete slab and dropped a solid steel cylinder, equal in weight to the fully loaded gun, from a height of 1 meter so that it impacted directly on the hammer. We consider this to be a somewhat more severe test than that outlined in SB2276, and it is repeatable.
Prior to Drop Testing, each gun was function fired with commercial
ammunition. For each drop, the guns were fully loaded with live
ammunition, except for the round in the chamber. That one was
an empty primed case. After testing the primed cases were fired
in the test guns. The Guardian Pistol is a double action once
(DAO) firearm, so the hammer is "down" at all times
and cannot be placed int a "full cock" postition.
TABLE I. RESULTS (NAA-CALIBER .32 ACP GUARDIAN PISTOL)
(Massachusetts SB2276, Paragraph 19 Requirements)
| Serial Number |
Weight (lbs.) |
Trigger Pull (lbs.) |
Horizontal (a) |
Horizontal (b) |
Muzzle Up |
Muzzle Down |
R.Side | L.Side | Exposed Hammer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB0469 | 0.98 | 14.02 | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF |
| AB0470 | 0.98 | 13.77 | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF |
| AB0471 | 0.98 | 13.91 | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF |
| AB0538 | 0.98 | 14.05 | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF |
| AB0539 | 0.98 | 13.97 | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF | NF |
| NF = No Fire | |||||||||
| (a) = Right side up (normal firing position) | |||||||||
| (b) = Upside down | |||||||||
As indicated by the information in Table I, the five North American Arms Caliber .32 ACP Guardian Pistols submitted for testing MET THE REQUIREMENTS of Massachusetts SB2276, Paragraph 19.
Thank you for the opportunity to conduct these tests. Should
you have any questions regarding this matter, or if we may be
of any further service, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Very truly yours,
H.P. WHITE LABORATORY, INC.
Lester W. Roane
Back to Independent Testing page...