So in the post "10,000 Round Springer" I mentioned slide drops and hammer drop tests. Reader Firehand emailed me to ask for an explanation of my testing method there, which I silly enough forgot to include.
These are some simple tests for funtion, fit, and tension; that anyone should do before they buy a gun, , after detail stripping or while prepping the gun after a period of storage.
Hammer drops are pretty simple:
1. Empty the weapon
2. Make sure it's really empty
3. Check one more time
4. Lock the slide back on an empty magazine
5. Release the slide and let the weapon return to battery
6. Pull the trigger. If the slide moves more than a barely perceptible amount, you may have too much slack in your spring, even if there is enough tension
7. Point the weapon down, cock the hammer, and see if the slide moves more than a barely perceptible amount. If it does, you've probably lost tension as well. The hammer spring/main spring shouldn't be stronger than the recoil spring (well, in most guns anyway.
For slide drops, you need a mag full of snap caps, and an empty fired case.
1. Empty the weapon
2. Make sure it's really empty
3. Check one more time
4. Load a snap cap in a known good magazine
5. Slingshot the slide chambering the snap cap and run the hammer drop tests above
At this point the weapon should chamber the cap properly, and return to battery fully, without excessive play. You shouldnt be able to push the weapon out of batterry by pushing on the barrel hood; and it should require significant pressure to do so from the muzzle.
6. Eject the snap cap and make sure the slide locks back
7. reload the snap cap in the mag, and drop the slide using the slide release
Again, the weapon should chamber the cap properly, and return to battery fully, without excessive play.
8. Load the mag completely with snap caps, and repeat tests 5 and 7 for a full magazine each
9. lock the slide back and insert an empty fired case in the chamber. Drop the slide from lock on the round and ensure the extractor engages, and extracts properly.
10. Insert the fired round in the chamber, and gently lower the slide on the round. If the extractor doesnt engage the rim from recoil spring pressure (most won't and shouldn't), then slingshot the slide from there and ensure the extractor engages, and extracts properly. If the enctractor DOES engage, hold the slide off the round and slingshot it running the same test. Unfortunatley, if it does engage, you've probably lost extractor tension.
If your gun will feed empty cases (and if it's been set up and finished well many should, unless they have a very high feed ramp angle), re-run all the tests with empty cases.
At every step, I like to check the muzzle to slide/bushing fit and wobble; and push on the barrel hood checking for any wobble or weak engagement etc... Also checking the trigger, safety function, and magazine functioning in the process.
These are general function tests and general quality of fit tests, in addition to just recoil spring tests. If the gun performs well in these tests, you can be reasonably assured you have a good weapon.
