If Striker Fired Pistols Are Inherrently Less Safe What Makes Them So?

[flintsghost]

The thing that makes Glocks inherently less safe than other guns is that in order to take them down the first thing one does is pull the trigger so that the slide can be disengaged. Yes, I know. Safety first and always check to make sure the firearm is empty to avoid problems. But the Glock leads all firearms used by LE as the number 1 offender in unintentional discharges for exactly that reason. Also there have been deaths involved during training for that very problem. Regardless of the rule, there will always be people who don't follow it and the manner of dismount of the slide is the problem.

 

[Muss Muggins]

The thing that makes Glocks inherently less safe than other guns is that in order to take them down the first thing one does is pull the trigger so that the slide can be disengaged. Yes, I know. Safety first and always check to make sure the firearm is empty to avoid problems. But the Glock leads all firearms used by LE as the number 1 offender in unintentional discharges for exactly that reason. Also there have been deaths involved during training for that very problem. Regardless of the rule, there will always be people who don't follow it and the manner of dismount of the slide is the problem.

Provide some data and a source for your claim, other than your blanket, unsupported statement . . .

 

[Smoke]

But the Glock leads all firearms used by LE as the number 1 offender in unintentional discharges for exactly that reason.

1. I'm with Muss I'd like to see some documentation.

2. Even if that statement is 100% accurate it still sounds like an operator headspace issue not a defect with a gun.

I have never pulled the trigger on a gun while dry firing without carefully inspecting the chamber

 

[Rastoff]

The key words are "extra layer of safety".

This is true, but I submit that the "extra fraction of a second" you get from that first DA pull will not be enough to stop the person who was going to make that accident anyway. Yes, it will help some, but most it won't.

Also, I've seen so many people put that first round into the ground, I think it's counter to the safety of the defender. I mean, yes, it may prevent a shooting that should never have happened, but it's more likely to prevent a defender from hitting the intended target.

Now, I have a friend who is amazing with a DA/SA Sig. Even with the first pull being 14lbs, he's still faster with a controlled pair than I'll ever be. But he's one in a million.

By all means, use the gun you're most comfortable with. Whatever you use, be sure to practice with it a lot.

One thing I never see mentioned about striker fired is the partially cocked striker.

Then you're not paying attention; people talk about it all the time. Further, it's no different than a cocked hammer on a 1911. Only a decocked DA/SA, SA only or a revolver won't suffer from this malady.

I have never pulled the trigger on a gun while dry firing without carefully inspecting the chamber

Never is a long time friend. I'm not one to say that it's guaranteed to happen, but we all need to check ourselves from time to time.

 

[Smoke]

Never is a long time friend. I'm not one to say that it's guaranteed to happen, but we all need to check ourselves from time to time.

In this case never is a little over 50 years. Just like I can state from December 22nd 1965 to May 27th 2016 I have NEVER been to Peking

I can catagorically state that from December 22nd 1965 till May 27th 2016 there have been zero instances of my pulling the trigger on a gun I was dry firing without carefully inspecting the Chamber of the gun.

Never. See how that works?

 

[DD357]

Snowman.45's experience with DA/SA is my one concern with them as well. That is why I'm pretty well in the camp of exposed hammer, DAO auto; or an exposed hammer revolver for a CCW.

 

[Kronos]

Really the one thing I consider just about pants-on-head-retarded is the whole "pull trigger to disassemble" part of the design,but then Mr.Glock had never made a gun in his life when he created his wonder pistol so....it shows.

That said it doesn't bug me,I just point the thing in a safe direction get it over with and go about my business,but a lot of the new designs are getting away from this feature.

And...Glock is mentioned a lot because it was the first of these types that was successful so it's the poster child of the striker fired world.

 

[Florida J Frame]

If more Glocks are in use in the LE community you are going to see more Glock issues in that group. Any valid statistics need to be adjusted for the % of that brand in use.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I'm not a SEAL, part of a SWAT team or even an NRA certified instructor. I'm just a guy who enjoys guns as a hobby and who carries for a little peace of mind... just in case. Some readers might be thinking this self confessed non-expert must have unintentional discharges most every time he walks out the door carrying a loaded gun. This might be hard to believe but I never have.

Now while I'm not an expert class operator with a genius IQ, I do have a some good ol' boy Tennessee discipline. LEAVE YOUR CARRY GUN HOLSTERED. This means don't yank out your loaded carry gun for show & tell at church and end up killing a little girl in the pews. Don't whip out your loaded carry gun in a school room full of kids for a scared straight class, double check to make sure your loaded carry gun is empty, then proceed to shoot yourself. Don't jerk out your loaded carry gun in a gun store to see if it fits a holster you're looking at and then catch it on a drawstring of your clothing for a real loud BANG. Anyone starting to see a theme here?

No matter how tempted you are, how well trained you think you are, how safe you think you are... just leave your loaded carry gun holstered unless you intend to use it in a self defense situation. This technique applies to striker fired pistols too. Works great.

 

[Mister X]

Very well explained. The key words are "extra layer of safety". One thing I never see mentioned about striker fired is the partially cocked striker. The possibility that the striker could fall and strike the primer is a little nagging thought in my mind. Chances might be one in a million of that happening, but it is a possibility, however remote. The purpose of my carrying a firearm is to protect myself from harm. The chances of being harmed by my own firearm are probably greater than being harmed by another individual. I have been trading my striker fired pistols for hammer fired for 3 or 4 years now and soon there will be no striker fired pistols in my safe. Not trying to evangelize here, this opinion applies only to me.

FWIW... While most striker-fired pistols do feature a partially cocked striker, there are a couple out there that do not and are actually true DAO. And not all of them are cocked to the same degree. The M&P and XD are real close to being fully cocked while the Glock is a little more than half-way and supposedly not enough so to ignite a primer should the internal safeties somehow fail.

 

[pharmer]

The beauty of living in a free country is choice. I been carrying this rig for 22 years. When I holster I put my thumb on the hammer. The safety is irrelevant. Works for me, carry on. Joe

 

[Rastoff]

Never. See how that works?

Yes, there are many who fit your category. However, the implication is that since you've not made a mistake in the past, you won't make a mistake in the future. Past performance doesn't guarantee future success.

It's the attitude that matters. Complacency gets everyone at some time. Hopefully, when it gets you it won't be with a gun.

No matter how tempted you are, how well trained you think you are, how safe you think you are... just leave your loaded carry gun holstered unless you intend to use it in a self defense situation.

I couldn't agree more. There are only three reasons the gun should ever leave the holster:

1. To defend yourself
2. To practice at the range
3. To put it away or for maintenance at home

Otherwise, just leave it alone, in the holster.

 

[gregshake2]

CZS and clones are the most popular guns world wide.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Muss Muggins]

CZS and clones are the most popular guns world wide.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mostly in places without a histrionic media presence fascinated with the foibles and failings of gun owners . . .

 

[walkin' trails]

The thing that makes Glocks inherently less safe than other guns is that in order to take them down the first thing one does is pull the trigger so that the slide can be disengaged. Yes, I know. Safety first and always check to make sure the firearm is empty to avoid problems. But the Glock leads all firearms used by LE as the number 1 offender in unintentional discharges for exactly that reason. Also there have been deaths involved during training for that very problem. Regardless of the rule, there will always be people who don't follow it and the manner of dismount of the slide is the problem.

In the roughly 17 years I've been a firearms instructor and 30 years I've been a Glock owner and shooter, I've seen a ND during disassembly one time. Fortunately there were no injuries. It was a case where the operator was distracted while cleaning at the range. I've been with two LE agencies that issued or allowed Glocks to be carried. Both agencies have also issued or authorized brands other than Glocks, so there were a variety of configurations to contend with. The first agency published on an annual basis a synopsis with statistical breakdowns of all shooting incidents, which included NDs. The breakdown of NDs between Glocks, Sigs, and revolvers was approximately equal. Failure to adhere to the firearms safety rules is the primary culprit, not a gun's design.

 

[ladder13]

I'm not a SEAL, part of a SWAT team or even an NRA certified instructor. I'm just a guy who enjoys guns as a hobby and who carries for a little peace of mind... just in case. Some readers might be thinking this self confessed non-expert must have unintentional discharges most every time he walks out the door carrying a loaded gun. This might be hard to believe but I never have.

Now while I'm not an expert class operator with a genius IQ, I do have a some good ol' boy Tennessee discipline. LEAVE YOUR CARRY GUN HOLSTERED. This means don't yank out your loaded carry gun for show & tell at church and end up killing a little girl in the pews. Don't whip out your loaded carry gun in a school room full of kids for a scared straight class, double check to make sure your loaded carry gun is empty, then proceed to shoot yourself. Don't jerk out your loaded carry gun in a gun store to see if it fits a holster you're looking at and then catch it on a drawstring of your clothing for a real loud BANG. Anyone starting to see a theme here?

No matter how tempted you are, how well trained you think you are, how safe you think you are... just leave your loaded carry gun holstered unless you intend to use it in a self defense situation. This technique applies to striker fired pistols too. Works great.

<raises hand> I do.

 

[BC38]

...The breakdown of NDs between Glocks, Sigs, and revolvers was approximately equal. Failure to adhere to the firearms safety rules is the primary culprit, not a gun's design.

Yup, its the nut behind the trigger that is the most important safety feature...

 

[Smoke]

The beauty of living in a free country is choice. I been carrying this rig for 22 years. When I holster I put my thumb on the hammer. The safety is irrelevant. Works for me, carry on. Joe

6906?

Used to have one the grip just didn't feel right. It was a nice gun though

 

[Smoke]

Yes, there are many who fit your category. However, the implication is that since you've not made a mistake in the past, you won't make a mistake in the future. Past performance doesn't guarantee future success.

I never implied or intended to imply that. I stated that I have never dry fired a gun without checking the chamber. That's a true statement.

I own 3 handguns and they stay loaded so I couldn't dry fire them any other way. It's like saying I never take a shower without turning on the water

 

[pharmer]

6906? Used to have one the grip just didn't feel right. It was a nice gun though

6906 indeed. Yeah, the grip isn't as well fitting as my CZ75 and I don't shoot it as well. However it is the best compromise regarding size, weight, capacity, reliability, accuracy (me shooting it is the limiting factor),maintenance,safety, and ease of operation. I'll replace it when a better option (for me) presents. Joe