.45 ACP "Cocked and Locked"

[crazyphil]

I just found a quote by Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat:
"Hammer spring (Mainspring) should last about forever, even kept
cocked and locked, but for the minimal cost you might want to replace
it every couple of years for peace of mind. No other component is
under any stress from continuous cocked and locked."

Thanks for the almost 100% agreement. We should all be in Congress.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Safety does not lock with the hammer down. I like it locked.
Therefore always cocked and locked, loaded or unloaded.

Thanks! I knew there had to be a reason - I was just having trouble figuring it out on my own.

 

[jeeps]

Cocked or down less wear than lowering the hammer or shooting it. Using the spring is what wears them down. That being said ,I never seen a main spring replaced,unless someone cut it down. Cocked and locked is the only way to carry or home defence!

 

[eveled]

the only 2 things that ever wears out any spring no matter what it is in or on is...

A. a defect or flaw in the spring.

B. exercising the spring...constant compression then relaxing of the spring.

leaving it static ....that is compressed 100% of the time...or static "not compressed" won't hurt it.

In my humble opinion, you could add

C. Forcing a spring past it's design limits.

Which doesn't happen under normal use.

I leave mine cocked and locked when in storage, just to prove to myself, they can't go off by themselves.

 

[bushmaster1313]

the only 2 things that ever wears out any spring no matter what it is in or on is...

A. a defect or flaw in the spring.

B. exercising the spring...constant compression then relaxing of the spring.

leaving it static ....that is compressed 100% of the time...or static "not compressed" won't hurt it.

I have seen this in other places, but it is counterintuitive to think that keeping a spring compressed will not cause it to lose its ability to spring back.

My guess is that the rate of change when held static compressed is much less than the change caused by compression/release

 

[BAM-BAM]

Safety does not lock with the hammer down. I like it locked.
Therefore always cocked and locked, loaded or unloaded.

Can I ask ..... why?

 

[gen3guy]

If you're talking about the mainspring you shouldn't have any worries. I took my 30 year old Colt 1911 into a reputable local gunsmith recently for a refitting, "tune up". I asked him about the mainspring and he demonstrated to me how little the spring actually moves when the pistol is cocked. Assuming that the spring is good to begin with, it should still be good. It should be noted that he could have sold me a new one and I would have been none the wiser.

Eventually they all need to be replaced, but cocking the pistol will put only nominally more stress on it than when it's "at rest".

 

[GKC]

I store mine cocked and locked also because the 45 ACP rounds take a bit of wear on the casings when re-chambering the same round over and over again.

I would worry more about bullet setback on a round that is repeatedly chambered...unless you are loading the round directly into the chamber and then closing the slide over it, in which case I'd worry about the extractor. In any case (no pun intended) I don't like to repeatedly rechamber rounds in any pistol (except revolvers.)

 

[bushmaster1313]

This cat knows what it means to be "Cocked and Locked"

 

[Old TexMex]

This cat knows what it means to be "Cocked and Locked"

Jeez, you guys

BTW, mine are always c&L'd

 

[crazyphil]

Can I ask ..... why?

See #20 above

 

[fdw]

The 1911s I've owned all stayed cocked, one in the chamber with the safety off. If I carried them of course the safety would be on. But as they lay in the drawer, they are ready to go if needed.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I do wonder why you store an unloaded gun cocked.??

I guess this better represents my question..... why do you want the safety engage when storing an empty gun???

Not a criticism; just trying it understand/ maybe learn something..... that said I do tend to engage the safety/decocker on my 3rd Gen Smith autos when stored empty to "disengage" the trigger....come to think of it; I tend to store most with the magazine removed..... engaging the magazine disconnect safety.

 

[GKC]

The 1911s I've owned all stayed cocked, one in the chamber with the safety off. If I carried them of course the safety would be on. But as they lay in the drawer, they are ready to go if needed.

That sounds like a ND waiting to happen...especially if you are in haste (like someone is breaking in) and you happen to touch the trigger inadvertently as you are trying to pick up the pistol. I would suggest training to make it automatic (muscle memory) to release the thumb safety, once the pistol is in your grasp. That way you have the same operation in effect, whether you are carrying the pistol or removing it from the drawer.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

The 1911s I've owned all stayed cocked, one in the chamber with the safety off. If I carried them of course the safety would be on. But as they lay in the drawer, they are ready to go if needed.

...now there's an idea...cocked and unlocked...a REALLY BAD idea...

 

[crazyphil]

...now there's an idea...cocked and unlocked...a REALLY BAD idea...

I hope there are no kids around. Or grown ups who act like kids.

 

[keith44spl]

.
Phil,


I've never had that first problem from leavin' em cocked & locked.


Dave


*
Cocked & Locked, Cocked & Unlocked or Half Cocked w/the Grip Safety Tied Down....




I'd say Ol Ranger Charlie Miller knew which way was up.











This is why I like the 45....









Cocked & Unlocked with the Grip Safety pinned down.






.

 

[bushmaster1313]

That sounds like a ND waiting to happen...especially if you are in haste (like someone is breaking in) and you happen to touch the trigger inadvertently as you are trying to pick up the pistol. I would suggest training to make it automatic (muscle memory) to release the thumb safety, once the pistol is in your grasp. That way you have the same operation in effect, whether you are carrying the pistol or removing it from the drawer.

I saw one of the salesmen at the LGS draw and uncock an unloaded 1911 in a single muscle memory motion.

It was obvious he had practiced muchly

 

[crazyphil]

.
Phil,


I've never had that first problem from leavin' em cocked & locked.


Dave


*
Cocked & Locked, Cocked & Unlocked or Half Cocked w/the Grip Safety Tied Down....




I'd say Ol Ranger Charlie Miller knew which way was up.











This is why I like the 45....









Cocked & Unlocked with the Grip Safety pinned down.






.

When I said I hope there are no kids around, or grownups who
act like kids, I was referencing fdw's post where he said when
he gets home he puts it in the drawer "ready to go".

 

[BigBill]

Chambered, Cocked and Locked is the only way to carry a 1911.

At home it's not chambered she has a loaded 8rd mag nearby. But it's not my home protection gun.