Section 31900 Of Article 4. “unsafe Handgun” And Related Definitions From California Penal Code >> Division 10. >> Title 4. >> Part 6. >> Chapter 4. >> Article 4.
31900
. As used in this part, the "drop safety requirement for
handguns" means that at the conclusion of the firing requirements for
handguns described in Section 31905, the same certified independent
testing laboratory shall subject the same three handguns of the make
and model for which certification is sought, to the following test:
(a) A primed case (no powder or projectile) shall be inserted into
the chamber. For a pistol, the slide shall be released, allowing it
to move forward under the impetus of the recoil spring, and an empty
magazine shall be inserted. For both a pistol and a revolver, the
weapon shall be placed in a drop fixture capable of dropping the
pistol from a drop height of 1m + 1cm (39.4 + 0.4 in.) onto the
largest side of a slab of solid concrete having minimum dimensions of
7.5 x 15 x 15 cm (3 x 6 x 6 in.). The drop distance shall be
measured from the lowermost portion of the weapon to the top surface
of the slab. The weapon shall be dropped from a fixture and not from
the hand. The weapon shall be dropped in the condition that it would
be in if it were dropped from a hand (cocked with no manual safety
applied). If the pistol is designed so that upon leaving the hand a
"safety" is automatically applied by the pistol, this feature shall
not be defeated. An approved drop fixture is a short piece of string
with the weapon attached at one end and the other end held in an air
vise until the drop is initiated.
(b) The following six drops shall be performed:
(1) Normal firing position with barrel horizontal.
(2) Upside down with barrel horizontal.
(3) On grip with barrel vertical.
(4) On muzzle with barrel vertical.
(5) On either side with barrel horizontal.
(6) If there is an exposed hammer or striker, on the rearmost
point of that device, otherwise on the rearmost point of the weapon.
(c) The primer shall be examined for indentations after each drop.
If indentations are present, a fresh primed case shall be used for
the next drop.
(d) The handgun shall pass this test if each of the three test
guns does not fire the primer.