General question about decocking....

rwsmith

rwsmith

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I'm getting my first hammer semi auto and it has one lever that you push up for safety and down for a decocker. What is the procedure for decocking? From the manual I get that you flip the lever down and it 'decocks'. Plain enough. But does it just drop the hammer or should you let the hammer down with your thumb like you do a revolver? Thanks already, because I know you are out there.:):):)

PS I think I"m going to like this arrangement because it will shoot SA unless you drop the hammer then it will fire DA and SA from then on. Do most hammer SA/DA pistols work like that? How about striker fired pistols?

I'm used to DAO pistols so that there's nothing for anybody to mess with or have to learn. I just tell them "Pull the trigger all the way back and it will fire".
 
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My PCR is DA/SA decocker only, no safety, and I just drop it with the lever. Far as I know all of the DA/SA work as you describe. Heavy first trigger pull, transitioning to light pulls after the first shot, with shortened SA reset.

What did you get?
 
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IIRC, the decocking lever rolls a metal block between the hammer and the firing pin. In this way, you drop the hammer with no fear of it striking the firing pin. If you choose to lower the hammer with your thumb and slip, the firearm could discharge.

Not sure if this is how it works for all S&W semi autos, but just double checked my model 59 and that's how it works.

Remove the magazine, pull back the slide and make sure the gun is empty. Then drop the decocking lever or safety, thumb back the hammer and see if the firing pin is exposed. I believe that you will find that is is not.
 
Guns with de-cockers have an interrupter that catches the hammer and stops it from striking the firing pin. Often they lock the firing pin at the same time. The problem I see with these is the hammer strikes hard on the safety and can result in breakage of the safety. 1st Gen S&Ws were bad for doing this as the center of the safety had a quite thin cross section where the firing pin went through it and they would break there. Some also leave the hammer on half-cock with the inherent safety issues that can cause. As a result I always prefer to to lower the hammer just like a revolver, thumb on the spur, pull the trigger, let it down carefully! The issue of your thumb slipping off the hammer spur is a popular red herring. When was the last time anyone actually saw this happen and resulted in an AD? Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times means that even if this does happen no one will be harmed!

Breakage isn't a problem with new models, parts are available. Older models that have been out of production for years can be problematic when it comes to replacements! You may want to simply purchase one or two spares so you have a replacement if something breaks! the other option is to hold the hammer with the thumb, actuate the de-cocker, and let the hammer down on the interrupter/safety so there isn't the shock to the part that will eventually cause breakage.
 
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I have an FNX45-T with a thumb safety/decocker. All you do is push the lever all the way down, and the hammer drops to the decocked position. Just be careful not to push the lever too far and decock it when your intent is to take the pistol off "safe" and fire single action. You'll need to practice this a bit to get a feel for the difference in the two actions. (BTW, I love the single action of my DA/SA FNX. It is vastly better than any of the four striker action pistols I own.)
Enjoy!
 
Is this an H&K or is it a different gun? The reason I ask is because different "decocker" guns have different methodologies for how they control the decocking action.
 
Shooters of 1911-style single action pistols have their thumb slip off the hammer when attempting to decock it frequently enough for the makers and responsible trainers to advise owners not to do that. There's no provision to do it safely. When you think about it, there is no proper reason to decock a loaded 1911, either leave it cocked with the thumb safety on (no, the springs won't take a 'set') or unload it completely, drop the hammer on the empty chamber (or don't) and store it with the loaded magazine in or out of the gun.

Most traditional DA/SA pistols have no provision to safely carry the pistol with the hammer cocked and one in the chamber. The CZ-75 was probably the first popular pistol to offer that feature.

Yep, the rule to keep the muzzle pointed in a 'safe' direction applies all the time; mechanical devices can fail.

The range command "Decock and holster!" is a bad command for 1911 and Glock type pistols!
 
Taurus P809

bigwheelzip said:
My PCR is DA/SA decocker only, no safety, and I just drop it with the lever. Far as I know all of the DA/SA work as you describe. Heavy first trigger pull, transitioning to light pulls after the first shot, with shortened SA reset.

What did you get?
Click to expand...

My son wanted a med. frame Taurus and I got a PT809 for a good price.
 
I'm sorry, but I don't know that gun. I would start with the manual and see if they describe how the decocker works. They should state if it has a firing pin block or half cock to prevent the gun from firing during decocking.
 
It does have a firing pin block......

Rastoff said:
I'm sorry, but I don't know that gun. I would start with the manual and see if they describe how the decocker works. They should state if it has a firing pin block or half cock to prevent the gun from firing during decocking.
Click to expand...

Of course I read the manual and it just isn't clear how to use the decocker. They didn't SAY to hold the hammer with your thumb so I'd assume to just flip the lever, but with revolvers, I don't see it in manuals but people know how to do it and you do hold the hammer with your thumb to lower it.

I appreciate all of the input. I can ride the hammer with my thumb IF I WANT, but it's not necessary when you can just flip the lever and do the same job. I don't have the gun yet but it seems that if you had to use your thumb it would be a two handed operation.
 
OK, I may have misunderstood the question.

Yes, just press the decocker and let the hammer snap forward. It won't fire or damage the gun. Some guns, like 3rd gen S&W guns, have a physical block to prevent firing. Others use a half cock or second sear notch to stop the hammer. Others still, just rely on the firing pin block.

In any case, just let the hammer fall. That's how it's supposed to work.
 
The issue of your thumb slipping off the hammer spur is a popular red herring. When was the last time anyone actually saw this happen and resulted in an AD? Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times means that even if this does happen no one will be harmed!
Click to expand...

When making the gun safe while in your home, can you explain to me which direction is "safe" from AD. Just wondering whether the floor, walls or ceiling are the best? Since I live on the second floor, I am guessing the residents of the first floor would most likely prefer that I not point toward the floor when choosing!!! :cool:
 
Rastoff said:
OK, I may have misunderstood the question.

Yes, just press the decocker and let the hammer snap forward. It won't fire or damage the gun. Some guns, like 3rd gen S&W guns, have a physical block to prevent firing. Others use a half cock or second sear notch to stop the hammer. Others still, just rely on the firing pin block.

In any case, just let the hammer fall. That's how it's supposed to work.
Click to expand...
Just like that ^. Just hit the lever and let the hammer drop

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
JSR III said:
When making the gun safe while in your home, can you explain to me which direction is "safe" from AD.
Click to expand...
You could point it at your gun safe, or if your area is not too urban, you might point at the window toward a lawn, garden, woods.
 
JSR III said:
When making the gun safe while in your home, can you explain to me which direction is "safe" from AD. Just wondering whether the floor, walls or ceiling are the best? Since I live on the second floor, I am guessing the residents of the first floor would most likely prefer that I not point toward the floor when choosing!!! :cool:
Click to expand...

Five gallon bucket of sand will create a safe direction.
 
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