Examining both a Steyr and MSAR hammer pack for the first time, I am puzzled by the metal rocker piece in the rear area of the hammer pack. It is only free to move forward, so I assumed it was a safety to prevent doubling or something. Turns out, it is called a "Drop Safety".

What puzzles me is that the sear (and trigger/bar assembly if safety is off) would only contribute to firing the gun if it was dropped on the butt, with inertia carrying them rearward. The "drop safety" can't even move that direction. When it moves forward, it CAN block the slide/sear that releases the hammer. What am I missing? Is it actually some type of doubling prevention and something was lost in translation from Austrian in the parts manuals?

A crude and simplified drawing of what I'm talking about:

I'm curious about this feature myself. Nobody else seems to need one, so why is this an important component of the AUG trigger group?

I have a factory diagram that explains this feature.


No scanner, deal with the curved page.

i had this same question a few years ago when i noticed that the hammer would release if the AUG was dropped butt first. it turns out that the 'drop safety' only prevents firing when dropped muzzle first

Thanks for the info!

It does seem odd that it activates in that direction.

So let me get this straight, if you drop the rifle nose down, the 8# trigger could still go off without this component (while no one elses trigger design does). But if you drop it with the muzzle pointed to your face, then the hammer could release...? Am I hearing that right?

Another interesting point is that the F2000 hammer pack copies the AUG drop safety almost exactly.

AJ

...and the disconnector and the hammer and the general operation....

I don't have any FA AUG packs but the F2000/FS2000 Gen1 seem to have a different auto-sear setup than what's apparent to me in the AUG SA packs at least. Other than that, there's a LOT of similarities between the two designs! (Not just the hammer packs)

Same with the ps90

The designer of the P90 is/was a fan of the AUG and purposefully designed the P90 fire control group to be like the AUG. The F2000 then used similar AUG pedigree in the trigger pack and in the gas system (small short stroke piston housed within the gasblock). Interestingly the AUG design pedigree of a small short stroke piston housed within the gasblock can be traced to the m1 carbine. The remainder of the m1 carbine operating system (slide, bolt group, etc) is obviously different, but the piston/gasblock is conceptually the same.

Well, they are both short stroke pistons, but the carbine's piston has a very short throw, is semi-permanatly mounted, is located closer to the chamber, doesn't have a gas regulator, or a return spring, or gas rings, and has a completely different shape.

But besides those things, they are pretty similar.

AJ

Of course there are differences, but there are most certainly similarities. The F2000/FS2000 (and SCAR) don't have a piston return spring. The SIG 550/551/552/553 and FNC have an adjustable gas valve, yet I don't think anyone would deny their AK pedigree. As for the distance from chamber on the m1carbine, that has to do with 7.62x33, much in the same way that 300BO has its gasport closer to the chamber.

If you're using gas operation, your choices are limited to long stroke pistons, short stroke, or blowback. Every short stroke piston system has that commonality, but there is a lot of difference in execution. Pretty much all the workable variations were patented by Maxim and Browning between 1880 and 1910, give or take.

AJ

Did I miss the answer to this one? This condition seems unsafe (based upon the rifle's short OAL) and illogical.