RE: FW: Underwater weaponry

["Ryan Pendergast" <virtualpender@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> > I've even seen a Glock 22 fired after being pulled
> > out of a bucket of mud with just a quick shaking off.
>
>Just because you *can* do it doesn't mean you should do it.  Did they
>inspect the barrel afterwards, either internally for scoring or externally
>for overpressure damage?
>
>High stress events dramatically shorten the fatigue life of most machined
>items.

This was at a shooting expo in Kansas City in 1999.  The particular pistol 
in question was completely submerged in sticky, gooey mud, pulled out and 
quickly shaken off, then discharged sixteen times rapidly at a 25m target 
with sixteen hits on target.  As it was firing, steam was literally rolling 
out of the gun and mud was being thrown every which way.  Despite this, the 
gun fired without fail.  The shooter was a rep from Glock and although I 
don't remember the exact number of rounds that particular gun had through 
it, it was in excess of 10,000 rounds.  He also said that the mud test 
wasn't the only abuse this particular gun had been subjected to and ran down 
a list of brutal trials (burying in sand, dropping onto concrete, driving 
over with a truck, etc.).  From all of this I think one can safely conclude 
that provided you are using a quality firearm and pay attention to at least 
rudimentary maintenance you have little to worry about.  Certainly 
submersion in salt water for a few hours isn't going hurt a gun.

Ryan
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