Decocker Opinions

[Mexistrat]

I've been looking at 9mm pistols for awhile now. I was originally lusting after a 1911 chambered for 9mm, which then branched to the CZ-75, which then branched to the CZ clones. I've read so many good things about both the CZ, and its clones. The decocker option appeals to me from a concealed carry perspective. Since I am accustomed to a revolver, I feel that carrying half-cocked in DA mode would be very familiar to me vs. cocked and locked. I've not read anything negative about decockers, other than some people just prefer a manual safety. Are there good reasons beyond personal preference to avoid the decocker models?

 

[MrJT]

Well, just take a look at Sig. Many / most of their handguns use decockers. Many agencies, military and civilian, use them with no issues.

 

[Arik]

There's nothing wrong with decockers and no real reason to avoid one. Even a few striker fired guns have them

 

[Mexistrat]

Cool, thanks. Obviously I am new to the concept and just learning about semi-autos and the different safety features. I had a 1911 on extended loan once, but have no experience with other designs. I'll see if I can rent some others at the range.

 

[Mexistrat]

btw, I failed to search for other threads on this topic, and have since found some. Thanks again.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

My Dad has had three CZ's with the decocker and they are great guns. The only "bad" thing he has to say about them is that they are harder to work on than the SA/DA or B version of the CZ's.

 

[galena]

I have three CZs. My first was the CZ85 because it has the ambi thumb safety (I am a lefty). Later I picked up both a compact and full sized CZ 75, both with the de-cocker. I much prefer the de-cocker models.

 

[Tom K]

Just saying "decocker" is not enough information. Some guns have decockers that also act as a safety - some only decock the hammer and spring back up. There's a fair amount of discussion on this thread about the traditional DA/SA type of action: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/325183-what-da-sa-pistol-would-you-recommend.html

Here is my take on the subject. The Walther style of DA/SA is pretty ingenious, but excessively complicated. If you only want to shoot casually at the range it's okay, but there are just too many options for its use as a self defense gun.

That's my opinion, now here are some facts. We'll compare the operation of the traditional DA/SA, with the operation of a DAO (double-action only) such as a Glock. (I know that the Glock is not a true DAO as racking the slide puts the mainspring at a half-cock position - I call it a 1-1/2 action - but operationally it's virtually the same.)

With the traditional DA/SA, after inserting a magazine and chambering a round here are your choices:

If the safety was off when the round was chambered, you may:

• Leave the gun as it is, hammer cocked and safety off (not advisable unless you’re immediately ready to shoot.)
• Or decock the gun with the decocker and leave the safety on.
• Or decock the gun with the decocker and take the safety off.
• Or slowly decock the gun (to avoid noise) by using the decocker, and carefully lowering the hammer with your thumb or pinched between finger and thumb and leave the safety off.
• Or decock the gun by using the decocker and carefully lowering the hammer and put the safety on.
• Or decock the gun by pulling the trigger (not recommended), and carefully lowering the hammer and leave the safety off.
• Or decock the gun by pulling the trigger and carefully lowering the hammer and put the safety on.

If the safety was on when you chambered a round, the hammer will follow the slide and the gun will be on-safe with the hammer down.

• You can then leave it as it is, safety on and hammer down.
• Or disengage the safety and leave the hammer down.
• Or disengage the safety and cock the hammer with your thumb (only if you’re immediately ready to shoot).

Then to fire:

• If the hammer is cocked and the safety is off, pull the trigger in single-action mode.
• If the hammer is down and the safety is off, pull the trigger in double-action mode.
• If the hammer is down and the safety is on, disengage the safety and pull the trigger in DA mode.
• If the hammer is down and the safety is on, disengage the safety, cock the hammer manually and pull the trigger in SA mode.

Once you’ve fired your first shot, you may then do any of the things in the first part above (1-7), and not necessarily the same thing you did before. Or you can shoot again in SA mode.



With the double-action only auto, once you’ve loaded a round your choices are then:

• Keep your finger off the trigger and don’t shoot.
• Or pull the trigger with a long DAO stroke and shoot.

Same choices once you’ve fired your first shot. Finger off the trigger and don’t shoot, or pull the trigger DAO and shoot.


If I’ve counted correctly, after chambering a round in the traditional DA/SA there are ten possible actions to take to NOT fire, and four TO fire.

With the DAO auto there is only the option to fire, or not to fire.


I know which batch of instructions I'd rather try to remember in a self-defense situation. Just plinking at the range? Whatever.

 

[Mister X]

I've always pretty much been a revolver guy and choose a snub most of the time. I like semi-auto's in certain circumstances for their increased capacity and prefer the practical advantages of commonality when I can get it when it comes to self-defense. There's no manual safety on a revolver and any wheel gun intended for self-defense should be DAO in my opinion. Revolvers and semi-auto's are two very different weapons and a semi-auto that is a true DAO without a manual safety, is about as close to a self-defense DAO revolver as you can get, but they aren't very common anymore. One option are Glocks with the NY2 trigger module installed which brings the pull weight up close to that of a revolver in double-action albeit still a little shorter and lighter. So you have just "pull and shoot" consistency between both revolver and semi-auto.

 

[KSDeputy]

I carried and was trained on a S & W 645, when we changed from .357 revolvers to semi-autos. I have grown used to these type of guns and almost every semi-auto I own is DA/SA with a decocker. I always carried with the safety off and one in the chamber, perfectly safe. I have an almost new 4506 with 50 rounds through it, it was my carry gun after the 645. I was given it when I retired. I won't buy one without DA/SA and a decocker, with one exception. I am looking for a pocket pistol, and have liked the M&P Bodyguard .380. I can't afford another Walther PPK, and this seems to be an adequate substitute.

 

[Mexistrat]

Just saying "decocker" is not enough information. Some guns have decockers that also act as a safety - some only decock the hammer and spring back up. There's a fair amount of discussion on this thread about the traditional DA/SA type of action: http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/325183-what-da-sa-pistol-would-you-recommend.html

Informative, thanks. My thought is that I will insert mag, chamber a round, lower the hammer using the decocking lever, put pistol in holster. The guns I have been looking at with a decocker do not also have a manual safety, so that removes a lot of the possible conditions. I have to try one first though.

 

[Tom K]

Informative, thanks. My thought is that I will insert mag, chamber a round, lower the hammer using the decocking lever, put pistol in holster. The guns I have been looking at with a decocker do not also have a manual safety, so that removes a lot of the possible conditions. I have to try one first though.

Not having a safety does simplify things. With only a decocker your actions are about the same as a single action gun with a safety (like the 1911) except you don't have to take the gun off safe when ready to fire, and your first shot is DA.