news
Easton Express-Times
March 16, 2001 New Jersey
New Jersey State Police are recalling new 9 mm Smith and Wesson handguns recently issued to answer demands for a more reliable weapon. The S&W was selected over Glock and others after “extensive” testing by state police firearms “experts” claimed the Smith was the better weapon. Claims of political favoritism and bias resulting from the now infamous Clinton Administration preference deal were vigorously denied by officials at the time.
The Smiths were to replace H&K 9mms issued in 1983 in response to trooper demands they be given more firepower after an incident on interstate 80 when a trooper was shot while reloading his .357 service revolver in a roadside shootout. Troopers have complained the H&K hand guns are difficult to clean and service, and unreliable. The S&W adoption came after a trooper was killed in a gun battle with a former mental patient. Investigators claimed the H&K's firing pin malfunctioned and the trooper was shot while clearing the malfunction by changing magazines.
During training the new weapons experienced a claimed malfunction rate of over 10%. “Stovepipe” jams were the most common, along with feed failures. Some jams required tools and the efforts of two people to clear, according to fraternal association president Lennon. S&W technical support has been unable to determine if the cause is gun-related, or in the way the troopers are firing the new guns.
and from another source:
>Here is the deal on the S&W P99: There are now four models, P99, P99QA (Quick Action), P990, and the SW99NJ. The "NJ" model was designed exclusively for the NJSP and is not currently available for sale to other customers.
Not surprisingly, the SW99NJ combines all the worst features into one package! It cannot be decocked, but the trigger can be staged. And, once staged, the trigger cannot be returned to its forward position (without reciprocating the slide). This gun is going to generate, for years to come, multitudinous ADs within the NJSP. On the side of the slide is etched, "Caution-decock feature removed" The trigger is way too light for a duty gun, and, when officers try to stage the trigger (which they will, despite efforts to stop it) they will AD with great regularity.
(The author of the above piece had opportunity to examine all of the P99 line at a show.) JH
Uploaded: 3/16/2001
Uploaded: 3/16/2001