How is a hinged trigger any safer?

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1sailor

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I never paid much attention to the hinged trigger on my Shield 45. I was taking a closer look at it yesterday and it got me to wondering how having that hinge makes anything any safer. Virtually anything that could snag the trigger is going to bypass that feature anyway. What am I missing here. I'm not trying to poke fun at anything I'm just curious because I don't see it making anything any safer. I'm wondering about this now because I have been thinking about switching to my Shield for my EDC.
 
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The function is similar to the function of the little blade on the Glock's (and most newer S&W's) trigger. It stops rearward movement of the trigger unless the correct type of pressure is applied to the trigger. (Namely your finger on the trigger).
 
The hinged trigger keeps the trigger from moving from momentum when the gun is dropped. So it passes the drop test. That's what it designed to do, and that is about all it does.
If you pull or snag the trigger, I'd expect the gun to fire.
 
I've always been of the opinion that the hinged trigger is more of a drop safety thing rather than being snag proof. If something hangs up on the hinged section, then it could result in the trigger being pulled. Is the Glock style dingus any safer? I cannot say, but both systems require a proper holster and care when handling.
 
I keep seeing guys saying that their gun cannot fire unintentionally because of the trigger safety but, as has been pointed out, it's more of a drop safety than a snag safety. I've been carrying a J frame as my EDC for over a decade and never worried about an accidental discharge because of the long trigger pull. Seems like it would be pretty easy for a guy to "Glock" himself if he's not real careful.
 
1sailor said:
I keep seeing guys saying that their gun cannot fire unintentionally because of the trigger safety but, as has been pointed out, it's more of a drop safety than a snag safety. I've been carrying a J frame as my EDC for over a decade and never worried about an accidental discharge because of the long trigger pull. Seems like it would be pretty easy for a guy to "Glock" himself if he's not real careful.
Click to expand...

And yet one genius managed to fire his J-frame revolver carried in a front pocket while lunching in an Oklahoma City Mall Food Court!
He said he "adjusting it to be more comfortable." :eek:
 
I imagine guys get over the initial concern after a while. But as I look at it now, it seems sort of like carrying a revolver with the hammer cocked and saying that as long as the trigger doesn't get pulled everything will be fine. I know there are lots of guys carrying Shields and similar pistols. Doesn't it worry anyone?
 
1sailor said:
I imagine guys get over the initial concern after a while. But as I look at it now, it seems sort of like carrying a revolver with the hammer cocked and saying that as long as the trigger doesn't get pulled everything will be fine. I know there are lots of guys carrying Shields and similar pistols. Doesn't it worry anyone?
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In a word no................
 
Why not. Why do you feel it is safe. Is it because of the holster you use that keeps it safe or is it something else.
 
That's kind of what I figured. I've owned a couple of striker fired pistols but never considered carrying one before now. Just never gave this any thought before.
 
While the hinged trigger does little to prevent an AD if the trigger is pressed or snagged, it keeps the trigger from moving to the rear if the gun is dropped on its backside. In other words, it's intended as a drop-safety.
 
1sailor said:
I keep seeing guys saying that their gun cannot fire unintentionally because of the trigger safety but, as has been pointed out, it's more of a drop safety than a snag safety. I've been carrying a J frame as my EDC for over a decade and never worried about an accidental discharge because of the long trigger pull. Seems like it would be pretty easy for a guy to "Glock" himself if he's not real careful.
Click to expand...

There is, in fact, a disease of the leg that's named after Glock for that very reason.
 
The hinged trigger is designed to make the trigger pull as spongy as possible. Any safety issue can be addressed with proper training, as in: "Keep your finger off of the trigger until you're ready to shoot the gun". If you are worried about the trigger getting caught on something and the gun firing, then you need to think about how you are carrying the gun. And, yes, the holster is a part of the safety system. It is a misnomer to compare a striker fired gun to a cocked revolver. On the striker fired gun, the striker is not in a position to fire, cocked that is, until the trigger is pulled. They are not any less safe than any other system. Just different. In the end, you have to make your decision based on what you are comfortable with. If you feel safer and more confident with a revolver, then that's what you should be carrying. One more thought about the hinged trigger: I have replaced every one I have with a metal Apex trigger. An added expense but well worth it.
 
1sailor said:
That's kind of what I figured. I've owned a couple of striker fired pistols but never considered carrying one before now. Just never gave this any thought before.
Click to expand...

The hinge trigger is just an old design first seen on the s&w Sigma back in '93.

You have to ether common sense your way thru your head games over the hinged trigger or other "safe" striker fired trigger safety's to stay safe with or stay with your revolvers .

It may take hundreds or thousands of draw and fire drills while trying to increase your speed for you to work out until your comfortable. Hey maybe you'll find a Kahr trigger pull fits your needs do to the design of the trigger pull .

Then there's those of us that carry hammer fired SA pistols cocked & locked with thumb safety's. None are safe for carry with out practice over time .
 
Please correct me if I'm wrong, or you disagree, but I do not believe there is such a thing as an "unintentional discharge."

Keeping ones' finger off the trigger is the key. As to the OP, having that middle blade an extra safety pays off, since it is just one more thoughtful way of keeping the firearm extra safe.
 
cmj8591 said:
It is a misnomer to compare a striker fired gun to a cocked revolver. On the striker fired gun, the striker is not in a position to fire, cocked that is, until the trigger is pulled.
Click to expand...

I fail to see the difference. Both are cocked and in a position to fire once the trigger is pulled. There are a few striker fired pistol designs where a long trigger pull causes the striker to move rearward a considerable amount before it releases - think Kahr or the APX Carry, but most are held 95+% rearward upon the action cycling.

So with the exception of being drop safe, I see no significant difference with a cocked S&W revolver or even 1911 with the thumb safety off (though it does at least still have a grip safety). All 3 are ready to fire once the trigger is pulled.

Does this make them less safe... yes, sort of IMHO. While there is no question that the reason Glock's are responsible for the most negligent discharges is simply because there are so many of them being carried, there is no question in my mind that the vast majority of those ND's wouldn't have happened with non striker fired actions. That said I own quite a few striker fired guns, I just don't carry them.
 
cmj8591 said:
The hinged trigger is designed to make the trigger pull as spongy as possible. Any safety issue can be addressed with proper training, as in: "Keep your finger off of the trigger until you're ready to shoot the gun". If you are worried about the trigger getting caught on something and the gun firing, then you need to think about how you are carrying the gun. And, yes, the holster is a part of the safety system. It is a misnomer to compare a striker fired gun to a cocked revolver. On the striker fired gun, the striker is not in a position to fire, cocked that is, until the trigger is pulled. They are not any less safe than any other system. Just different. In the end, you have to make your decision based on what you are comfortable with. If you feel safer and more confident with a revolver, then that's what you should be carrying. One more thought about the hinged trigger: I have replaced every one I have with a metal Apex trigger. An added expense but well worth it.
Click to expand...

On the M&P the striker is fully cocked when held by the sear regardless of pulling the trigger. The trigger merely disengages the firing pin/striker block and releases the striker via hinging the sear down.

The Glock is partially cocked unless the Glock performance trigger or some aftermarket parts are used.
 
I was always under the impression that racking the slide on a striker fired weapon was the same as racking the slide on a S&W 645. The hammer/striker is now back. My Walther P99c which is striker fired has a decocking button. GARY
 
Striker guns come in many flavors when it comes to how much the striker is cocked when the slide is racked. I have pistols where the striker comes back quite a way through the slide endplate before the sear trips. On others, the striker just seems to go with any rearward movement barely evident.
 
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