Why Aren’t Modern Pump Guns Able to Slamfire?

Today the existing pump guns cannot slamfire because it is mostly illegal in many countries to manufacture ones that can slamfire.  Perhaps the last thing you would hope your modern pump gun to do is to slamfire. The original pump guns might have had their good sides, and every gun user loved them for all those positives then. However, for the fact that they could release a round accidentally as it is being loaded into the chamber, they became a rare firearm among shooters for some time.  

In an attempt to reduce accidents caused by pump guns that were able to slamfire, many governments restricted their production and use. However, there has been a re-emergence of modern pump guns that cannot slamfire. They are operated manually by sliding forend that you can move forward and backward to load and eject ammunition.

Shooting is much safer in modern pump guns. All you have to do is pull the forend backward, and the expanded cartridge will be ejected. You will then cock and reload the gun by pushing the forend to the front. Older pump guns like Ithacas and Winchester 1897 could slamfire because they lacked a disconnector to prevent incessant firing. In modern cases, the disconnector is introduced and perfectly works to avoid the ‘slamfire’ effect.

Possible Causes of Slamfires

While modern pump guns are having all it takes to kick out slamfire in their operations, it is essential to know what causes it in the first place. Understanding the cause will help you avoid accidentally creating a conducive environment for slamfires in your pump gun, especially when customizing it. So let us have a look at some of these causes below.

• When you spring-load or let firing pins intended to be activated by a trigger to float freely, you may be preparing the gun for a slamfire. This is because slamfires occur when conditions fail to match design assumptions.
• At times dirt and fouling may accumulate in the firing pin channel. This may cause the pin to begin protruding from the bolt face hence increasing the risk of a slamfire. If you stick the firing pin forward, the round will fire every time the bolt closes.
• The ammunition you use can also be a reason for slamfires. Some ammunitions are manufactured with primers that are more sensitive than others. This makes them require less force to detonate, a risky feature that can lead to slamfire.

Modern Pump Guns Examples

So, what are these Modern Pump Guns, and how do they work? Let’s have a look at some of them below. 

The Remington 870 Express

If you are passionate about shotguns, you certainly know about or have even used the Remington 870 express Pump Shotgun. Even though there are higher-grade versions of the 870, like the Wingmaster, the Express version remains the shooters’ favorite and last choice.

It’s simple breakdown design and available aftermarket accessories make it easier to configure the 870 in a thousand ways. You can transform the gun to various uses forms and structures ranging from a clay buster to a turkey killer to a home-defense shotgun. The good thing is that you do not need to go through all these transformations journey. Its low price allows you to have one for each function.

The gun prides itself in its double action pump design that enables it to be so durable and reliable. When you pump the firearm, you will activate the parallel steel bars connected to the forend to slide back into action. When this happens, the steel bars operate the mechanism that ejects the spent shell and loads the next one into the barrel.

Features

Remington 870 Express has some unique features that make it impossible for it to slamfire. These features include:

Safety Button

The Remington 870 Express features a button located behind the trigger, popularly known as cross-bolt safety. This safety mechanism ensures that you are protected against accidental or unintentional discharge when the gun is functioning normally, and you engage it properly.

Utilizing the safety mechanism is quick and straightforward. You have to push the button until the red band marking is not visible. Make sure to engage the safety mechanism every time your firearm is loaded and do not intend to shoot. Do not pull the trigger when the safety mechanism is engaged, press the safety button once ready to fire the shotgun to make the red band marking visible again.

Security System

The Remington 870 Express pump-action shotgun is a secure and reliable firearm option. Another reason you won’t get worried about slamfires when using this gun is its unique security system. It comes with an integrated security system or a separate locking device to help prevent slamfires.

For the separate locking device, the gun company accompanies it with different instructions for your help. The integrated security system, on the other hand, has instructions included in the manual. The instructions are simple, and they include locking the safety mechanism on the firearm in the ‘Safe’ position using a unique key.

When using the security system, never apply excessive force when turning the key. If the key is resistant anytime, you try turning it; you can always contact Remington authorized service center for help.

Twin Action Bars

You can never get enough of the safety measures put in place by Remington to prevent slamfires. Another relevant feature to help achieve this includes the two action bars. They are perfect for avoiding the forearm from twisting when pumping to avert jamming or binding. The action bars accords you of getting off a second shot without worrying about the accidental firing.  

Winchester Super X Pump 

This Winchester’s model 12 pump-action shotgun hasn’t made it to this list for anything. It is another excellent modern-day pump gun that you cannot afford missing out on. All the Super X Pump guns outdo other firearms in the industry for their superb speed when in action.

The top speed is thanks to the gun’s inertia-inspired action that depends on the backward momentum created anytime you shoot to help you cycle the action faster and safer. If you are correctly trained, you can fire three consecutive times in a record half a second.

The gun is lightweight, which means you can have many consistent shots without getting fatigued or tired holding it. The gun allows you to make some of the fastest follow-up shots with a centered balance and instant point-ability.

Features

What are some of the features that make Winchester Super X Pump action guns able to resist slamfire? Let us find out below.

The Rotary Bolt

The rotary bolt comprises four massive lugs that provide support, strength, and solid lockup in the exemplary fast Super X Pump gun receiver. During recoil, your body mass starts to slow down the shotgun’s backward travel as the bolt’s, slide’s, and forearm’s inertia continue cycling the action to give you a head start on your next shot.

Drop-Out Trigger System

The gun brags of its unique drop-out trigger system allow for easy cleaning and inspection of the entire trigger system. By removing a single pin, you can disassemble the whole trigger system so that you can inspect if there is any mechanical problem that could lead to slamfire. You can as well clean the entire design before re-assembling it.

Invector-Plus Choke Tubes

No shooter seems to get enough of the invector-plus choke tube system in Super X Pump versions. The choke system comes full. Modified and improved cylinder flush-mounted tubes. These tubes ensure that your gun is ready to shoot immediately after getting your weapon from the shops. This means that you do not have to worry about slamfires as the choke tubes ensure safe firing.

Weatherby PA-08 

When the Weatherby production team was creating the PA-08, they had only one thing in mind: shoot until something breaks, fix it, and repeat the shooting. This mentality pushed the company into making this gun that can shoot up to 6000 rounds. These rounds can equate to 10 to 20 years of normal field use without the gun failing.

Everything in this gun is designed to survive for a long time, right from the chrome-lined barrels to the dual-bar action reminiscent of Remington 870 for safety and slamfire elimination. You will also love its black-anodized receiver built from a solid billet of allowing material and the drop-out trigger mechanism that eases the cleaning process.

The company finishes this type of gun in different styles, including black and Camo. However, you should never fail to try the PA-08 Upland with a walnut stock. This gun is, therefore, not only safe to fire but also has a sexy and attractive look making it stand out from the rest.

Features

Here are some of the features that Weatherby PA-08 has that make it unable to slam fire and safe to use.

Easy to use, No-Nonsense Design

The designers made sure that your experience with this gun was something you would love and adore. The gun is constructed to accommodate round after round of high volume shooting. This means you can never have accidental releases or shots as your action on the trigger only triggers each shot.  You can, therefore, go ahead and enjoy successive high volume shooting without worry. However, you should take all the precautionary steps to avoid accidents.

Dual Action Bar System

An action bar is a throughway or pushrod that opens up the bolt to release the empty round and shut the bolt on a new round. You typically actuate the action bars using the pump or slide action with your arm for a pump shotgun or a gas piston for an autoloader. The two action bars come in handy when you need to prevent the possibility of binding or jamming when pumping the gun. Such action ensures that you achieve a safe firing action. 

Comes with Three Choke Tubes

If the news of a single choke tube tickles the joy out of you, three choke tubes will make you love this gun even more. The choke tubes are ideal for changing the pattern of the shot your shotgun releases once you fire it. This little tube you place in front of your gun’s barrel can improve accuracy and increase your firing distance. The choke tubes are also designed for safe shooting, so you do not have to worry about slamfires.

Most Popular Shotgun Accessories

Final Verdict

The main reason you should be wary of a slamfire is that it mainly occurs when you least expect it. In some firearms, it can happen even with your fingers off the trigger leading to disastrous accidents. The fact that it occurs and catches you unawares may even worsen the situation as it may lead to panic, which will make you point the gun in any direction. Therefore, you should take all the safety precautions you are advised to take when you bought the gun to avoid such accidents.

Also, make sure that your firearm is always clean to avoid slamfires caused by dirt. When buying cartridges, go for the ones with harder primer caps so that they are not quickly fired by inertia. When you play your part, the gun will play its role, too, significantly reducing the risk of slamfires.