If you don't like striker fired...why?

hdtwice

hdtwice

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
103
Reaction score
74
Hi everyone,

Not sure where to post this so I thought here were many think about carrying safely would be a good spot.

I have read in several threads in several different areas of the forum that some people do not like, want, or will use a striker fired pistol. As someone who is new and now has two revolvers and one striker fired pistol, I have much to learn and just wanted some who don't like striker fired pistols to elaborate.

Like many things, it comes down to personal choice so this is not meant to start a debate .... just a question from someone who knows very little about striker fired guns and would like to hear some opinions from those who have experience.

Thanks for any input.
 
Had a Ruger Lc9s striker fired 9mm subcompact. Nice gun. Relatively short trigger pull. That is why I got the model with a safety. I know many object to a safety, but having had to keep one engage on all the different firearms I carried in the Corps, I just take them in stride. Really doesn't take much to disengage one if you practice doing it on the draw.

I now carry a Remington 380 that has no safety, but is a DAO trigger with a long trigger pull that it is very safe to pocket carry which is what I do.v
 
I personally do not have anything against striker fired in itself, but for carrying I prefer having a hammer on my gun. I like being able to place my thumb on the hammer when holstering so I know if the trigger were to get caught on something and start to move. Many feel it is not necessary if you are paying attention, but for me it is an added precaution that I like.
 
Generally, they fall into four groups.

(1) People who reasonably prefer an exposed hammer to aid in holstering, or who just don't like the triggers. For them, it's a matter of personal preference and technique. I find this to be the most compelling objection--if I was expecting having to reholster, I'd probably select a DAO S&W automatic (a 3954, or thereabouts).

(2) People who desire a manual safety. Most folks that want one are normal individuals who just want one for whatever reason. Some people, though, view them as infallible safety devices. They're not--they can be accidentally nudged off, forgotten, and worn/damaged. Personally, a decent safety (not too big, not too difficult to manage) isn't a dealbreaker for me--I just don't feel like I ened one.

(3) People who fear the "partially-cocked" firing pin of the striker-fired design. This is a concern based on an incomplete understanding of how the mechanism works, and overconfidence in other mechanisms.

(4) People who object to the "short and light" trigger pull of a striker-fired pistol without a manual safety. I don't find as much fault with that objection, but I do disagree with it. Namely because people shot themselves with DA/SA automatics and DA revolvers when those were as popular as the polymer pistol is today.

Hammer fired pistols more often then not also tend to be steel or aluminum frame, which I prefer. Strikers are almost always plastic.
Click to expand...

You can toss most polymer pistols into a cement mixer, tumble them for a few hours, and still have a working pistol when you're done. You can bash them with hammers, drive over them with trucks...whatever you want.

Considering that I could not survive the same treatment, I figure that a polymer frame is tough enough.

I believe hammer fired is also a safer platform then striker fired. I can't give you any statistics offhand but I would strongly suspect that more accidental discharges happen with striker pistols then any other type.
Click to expand...

If four times as many people carry striker-fired designs as, say, DA/SAs, and there are four times as many NDs, then that means that, statistically-speaking, striker-fired pistols are DA/SAs.

But at the end of the day--it's a meaningless argument. It would be like if you refused to drink beer because you thought that's what drunk drivers chugged. We're not making statistical judgments--we're making personal choices.
 
Last edited:
Wise_A nailed the majority of reasons usually cited. For me it's the terrible triggers and that the majority are polymer, and ugly! I'm a 1911 guy, all of the things I like about 1911s are absent in polymer, striker fired pistols. That's why I don't own any.
 
I mostly carry a revolver, so my opinion only counts for half-

I shoot SF pistols pretty well. The trigger doesn't bother me. I think it's mostly a safety thing, unreasonable or not.

I've spent the last few years carrying a DA auto, because I like the similarity to the revolver of the first trigger pull, and I'm comfortable with the weight of the trigger without a safety.

If I'm going to carry a pistol that needs a safety, it's going to be a SA auto, because I like the trigger better.

In short, the SF trigger is the last of the three I would pick, due to carry options, not because I'm a trigger snob!
 
I am a civilian concealed carrier....... I "grew up" shooting double action revolvers;shooting and qualifying shooting double action only ....... added some 1911s .... then transitioned to DA/SA autos...... third Gen Smiths, Berettas and Sigs.

I prefer the long double action trigger pull for the first shot.. as part of my final decision making process... followed by single action for shots 2-?.

I tired Glocks in the 90s and currently have one S&W M&P 9 with a light mounted.

Maybe just an old dog and new trick thing....... but I'm comfortable with my choices....... to each their own!!
 
It's a personal thing. I have many hammer-fired pistols and many striker-fired pistols. I have had plenty of success with each type at the range. I don't fear or worry about either. But I am old and I grew up with hammer-fired guns. I am a sucker for a great single action trigger and I have no problem at all with the dreaded DA to SA transition. In fact, I kind of like the idea that it takes a serious, deliberate effort on that first shot (or all shots) in a potentially deadly confrontational situation.

My strong preference (getting stronger all the time) for all-metal over cheap plastic enters into this as well... and yet I picked up a plastic, hammer-fired HK P30SK last year and a hammer-fired SP2022 was one of my favorite range pistols before they disappeared temporarily, motivating me to dig deeper and buy a P226 instead. Given a choice today between a "modern" P320 and an "old" SP2022, I'd go with the latter for certain. :)

But that said, in ultra-compact true pocket pistols (what I carry when I carry), I don't see much advantage of one system over the other (i.e., enclosed or semi-enclosed hammer vs. striker). I have some of each and don't really give the firing system a second thought as long as they work. :)
 
I've owned and carried a Glock 23. I had no major complaints. I do prefer hammer-fired DA/SA or DAO/DAK. My first handgun was a Beretta 92FS and that's what I've done most of my early training with. One of the things I was taught was to keep my thumb on the hammer when holstering. I like that little extra bit of safety margin. Even now when I holster my 642 my thumb automatically goes where the hammer would be if it were exposed.

I also prefer the triggers on DA semi-autos, with the DAK probably being my favorite. I'm basically a DA revolver guy. However, the NY1/"-" combo in the Glock worked well for me in that regard.

I'll readily admit that it may not be completely rational, but I'm not completely comfortable with striker-fired guns that are essentially cocked-and-unlocked SA semi-autos. I'm not saying I would never own or carry one, but again I would prefer a hammer-fired DA semi-auto.
 
As a self-taught concealed carrier, I learned by trial and error what works best for me by practicing stress drills.

I started out with a revolver, but short-stroked the trigger under stress.
Then a single action semi-auto, but consistency with the safety was an issue under stress.
Then a striker-fired, but felt the trigger was too lite for safe 4:00 IWB carry.
Then a DA/SA decocker wo/safety solved my problems of use under stress. A revolver-like heavy first pull with a short reset gives me error-free point-and-shoot simplicity without a safety.

It took me practicing with all four types of actions to to identify what works best for me.

There is one striker-fired concealed carry pistol that I'm familiar with, that offers the DA/SA decocker wo/safety. The Walther P99C AS. I'd EDC that Walther if I couldn't have my CZ DA/SA.

I like shooting everything that I can operate safely, but for EDC I'm only consistent with one action type under stress.
 
It's a personal choice. Too many variables.

People who don't like the look
People who collect
People who prefer hammer fired
People who want manual safety
People who just don't like change
People who ......

I like em and find that I'm faster and more accurate with them l, especially on the first shot. I have both hammer and striker. As well as metal and polymer guns. It's good to be familiar with many different guns but it's also good to just have one and know it inside out.

I look at guns as tools and whatever works best is what works best. I've always said that if they come up with a reliable gun made from cardboard I'd buy it too

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
 
For me, I think that it is more the result of training. I am not fond of the concept of striker fired handguns first and foremost, because I started pistol shooting as a target shooter. I was weened on a 1911 and K Masterpieces. My belief is that what you train with most influences your proficiency. For me, I don't like the trigger on striker fired pistols, nor do I like shooting the polymer frames. I prefer the heft of metal frames and wood grips.

Additionally, since most of my target revolver shooting is SA, it is comparable to my 1911. I get my desired sight picture, then squeeze the trigger. I don't have to stage (if that is the proper term) the trigger, get the sight picture, then squeeze the trigger. I prefer when each and every shot is identical. I can tolerate a DA/SA semi-auto, but I don't like DAO.
 
I have no use for striker fired pistols, I only have one, a Custom Ruger LCP pocket pistol. I carry it in my pocket around the farm. Everything else I own, revolver or pistol, has a hammer. All of my pistols are DA/SA, my preferred caliber is .45acp. This is just my personal preference and what I was trained on.
 
Since I retired, I carry a revolver exclusively by choice. However, in 26 years in LE I carried a revolver for the first 14 years. My department converted to the S&W 5906 (a boat anchor!), then the SIG P220, the the GLOCK22/23. We switched to the 5906 because of the trend, to the 220 because officers hated the 5906. After about 4-5 years with the 220 we started a switch to the 22/23. Some officers felt the Glock fit their hands better. But in this switch we allowed officers to retain the the 220 if preferred or go to the Glock. During all this time we allowed officers to carry personal weapons, as long as they were 9mm, 40 or 45 and Armorer safety checked. about a dozen officers switched to the 1911. I was a Firearms Instructor and was involved in all of these weapon changes and can tell you this.
I saw more AD/NDs with the 1911 and Glocks than any other weapon. Each one was because the officer had their finger on the trigger as they started to re-holster. Never saw this happen with revolvers of the SIG or 5906, that long DA pull does help.
 
I'm a confirmed 1911 guy.

I find most striker fired pistols clunky. The triggers aren't very good compared to a 1911.

The triggers on DAO and DA/SA pistols are miserable devices compared to those on a 1911. They simply aren't very good in my applications.

I've seen more negligent discharges with striker fired pistols than with all other sorts combined, including some that resulted in life threatening injuries for the operator.

Striker fired pistols seem simpler to use than a 1911 so folks tend not to develop the gun handling skills that leads to good, safe gun handling. We hear folks complaining about thumb safeties: a good sign the complainer hasn't much gun handling skill.

Striker fired pistols are inexpensive so have a built in attraction.
 
Tex shot himself with a Kimber 1911. Sootch00 shot his desk with a CZ75.

Safeties and trigger mechanisms never make up for bad gun handling practices.

A lot of police agencies use striker fired pistols. They are affordable, and their simplicity makes it easy for people who may not be "gun people" to get proficient with them.

Gun types, brands, so on... are just like cars. Guys like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, hate the other brands and usually without much of a logical reason.

Affordable pistols always bring out the gun snobs. If you didn't pay 750 bucks for a pistol then it must be garbage.

I am new to striker fired, polymer pistols, but the benefits are hard to argue against. Reliable, 16+1 9mm, and 22 oz, and it is comfortable to carry.
 
I have only one striker fired gun, a recent purchase, a Kahr CW 380. Still in the process of testing the reliability of the gun.
It has a lot going for it, it's small, light and has an awesome DA-like loooong trigger so no real chance of a AD.
I had planned on it being my new summer carry, as I don't like to carry anything larger than a J, and the Kahr hides way better.
Recent events have me rethinking my carry options though. :eek:
 
My issue with striker fired pistols for CCW is that my confidence level is not very good that I may have an AD/ND. However, after purchasing a new Glock 19 last year, I had my gunsmith replace the standard trigger spring with the New York 1 spring which increased the trigger pull. I also had him replace the stock connector to the 3.5 lb connector. I now have a very deliberate, pronounced and constant trigger pull that I feel completely safe CCW'ing. Fast forward, I recently purchased an S&W Shield that has a fairly stiff trigger pull and I got the model with the thumb safety, so with that combo, my fears of an AD/ND have rapidly faded with strikers and the right combinations of springs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Dueeast
Aiwb carry with a Striker fired pistol
2
Replies
39
Views
2K
Frailer
Frailer
Jack Flash
"This is the State of Florida. If You Break into Someone's Home, You Should ...
2
Replies
36
Views
2K
max503
max503
Doug M.
If you geek on ammo and platforms
Replies
1
Views
338
Kanewpadle
Kanewpadle
G
Why I can't Rack my .380
2 3
Replies
49
Views
2K
TwinV10
T
SLT223
How do you carry your M65 3"
2
Replies
23
Views
1K
gym cat
G

Latest posts

Back
Top