Magazine disconnect....yay or nay ?
- Thread starter Dregg
- Start date
They don't bother me on my S&Ws. I had a Browning Hipower which was known to have very rough trigger pull with it in. Really did make a big difference when I removed it. That said I saved the parts and eventually sold it but did tell the buyer it was out and gave him the parts.
WTN1271
Member
Multiple threads on this topic in the past. Lots of strong opinions on both sides. I leave pistol as it shipped from S&W, so mine all have the "feature" in place. I was trained on a 6906 with the magazine disconnect intact so it is 2nd nature to me now.
A search on this forum or google should provide hours and hours of reading.
For concealed carry purposes weapon retention should not be a big issue. No one should know your carrying and hopefully the weapon is drawn as a last resort and retained by the owner.
For LEO or others that open carry, retention is potentially a bigger concern. Plenty of instances of folks losing the pistol to bad guys, sometimes with very bad outcomes. Mag disconnect COULD help if mag release is pushed during a struggle for the pistol.
Even pistols with the mag disconnect intact can be manipulated to fire with mag removed. If the trigger is depressed just slightly to the rear and held there BEFORE the magazine is removed, the pistol can fire a chambered round once that magazine is removed. If the trigger moves forward again without being fired, the mag disconnect will function and the pistol should not fire the chambered round.
Trigger feel is said to be improved on some models with the disconnect removed but I have never compared any side by side. Many folks remove the mag disconnect from Ruger Mark III pistols and report improvement.
Smith and Wesson did offer various models without the mag disconnect directly from factory, usually there is a warning notice engraved on the slide indicating that pistol will fire with magazine removed.
I guess it is personal preference in the end based on use and need.
A search on this forum or google should provide hours and hours of reading.
For concealed carry purposes weapon retention should not be a big issue. No one should know your carrying and hopefully the weapon is drawn as a last resort and retained by the owner.
For LEO or others that open carry, retention is potentially a bigger concern. Plenty of instances of folks losing the pistol to bad guys, sometimes with very bad outcomes. Mag disconnect COULD help if mag release is pushed during a struggle for the pistol.
Even pistols with the mag disconnect intact can be manipulated to fire with mag removed. If the trigger is depressed just slightly to the rear and held there BEFORE the magazine is removed, the pistol can fire a chambered round once that magazine is removed. If the trigger moves forward again without being fired, the mag disconnect will function and the pistol should not fire the chambered round.
Trigger feel is said to be improved on some models with the disconnect removed but I have never compared any side by side. Many folks remove the mag disconnect from Ruger Mark III pistols and report improvement.
Smith and Wesson did offer various models without the mag disconnect directly from factory, usually there is a warning notice engraved on the slide indicating that pistol will fire with magazine removed.
I guess it is personal preference in the end based on use and need.
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Arik
Member
I leave them but I also don't rely on them. I think it's a nice option for those who want it and S&W should have made both equally
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
digiroc
Member
I take the plunger and spring out of the magazine disconnect whenever the rear sights are removed, usually to put night sights on.
I don't care for the "feature" because if doing a tactical reload I still want to be able to fire the one in the tube. If someone gets the weapon out of my hands I figure I deserve to be shot anyways.
digiroc
I don't care for the "feature" because if doing a tactical reload I still want to be able to fire the one in the tube. If someone gets the weapon out of my hands I figure I deserve to be shot anyways.
digiroc
kbm6893
SWCA Member
I love them and wish every one of my guns had them. I don't envision needing to do a tactical reload while I'm being shot at. I doubt I would be that cool
Under pressure. I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives. They surely have saved lives and injury. Yet to hear of one instance where they were an actual liability, and not some fantasy.
Under pressure. I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives. They surely have saved lives and injury. Yet to hear of one instance where they were an actual liability, and not some fantasy.
This can definitely be a touchy subject when overzealous posters express their very passionate positions, so keep that in mind if the conversation derails.
Fundamentally, I am not a fan of the magazine disconnect, but I also freely admit that in -most- of my S&W pistols, it doesn't bother me much. Emphasis on "MOST" because on my single action target pistols that do not have a thumb-decock, the magazine disconnect is MADDENING. Cannot drop a hammer in any way without a magazine and if you have loaded all your magazines the night before a range trip, this becomes a truly ludicrous situation where your options are:
1) damn, guess I leave it cocked
2) safely lower the hammer by stuffing a loaded mag in to an "empty" pistol?! (no! never!)
3) sigh, empty a loaded mag JUST to lower this damn hammer
If you regularly shoot the sweet Model 52 (or a 952) this struggle is real, not imagined.
So, what do I do? Well, because you do need to move the rear sight... all of mine remain intact. If it was easier to remove, I would yank them from my single action target guns that have no decocker but I would leave the others.
Fundamentally, I am not a fan of the magazine disconnect, but I also freely admit that in -most- of my S&W pistols, it doesn't bother me much. Emphasis on "MOST" because on my single action target pistols that do not have a thumb-decock, the magazine disconnect is MADDENING. Cannot drop a hammer in any way without a magazine and if you have loaded all your magazines the night before a range trip, this becomes a truly ludicrous situation where your options are:
1) damn, guess I leave it cocked
2) safely lower the hammer by stuffing a loaded mag in to an "empty" pistol?! (no! never!)
3) sigh, empty a loaded mag JUST to lower this damn hammer
If you regularly shoot the sweet Model 52 (or a 952) this struggle is real, not imagined.
So, what do I do? Well, because you do need to move the rear sight... all of mine remain intact. If it was easier to remove, I would yank them from my single action target guns that have no decocker but I would leave the others.
Disconnect can be used as a "safety" device.
Leave firearm loaded with one in chamber. Remove magazine. Place firearm in desired location. Carry magazine in your pocket. To fire, insert magazine and pull trigger.
Obviously, and rightfully so, would be illegal in house with children.***
Leave firearm loaded with one in chamber. Remove magazine. Place firearm in desired location. Carry magazine in your pocket. To fire, insert magazine and pull trigger.
Obviously, and rightfully so, would be illegal in house with children.***
scattershot
Member
I don't feel strongly one way or the other, I can take them or leave them.
I generally remove them, just as a matter of course,,and sometimes it results in a better trigger, depending on the pistol.
I generally remove them, just as a matter of course,,and sometimes it results in a better trigger, depending on the pistol.
cjcutter1
Member
Remove. Not a fan,different strokes.
[Sevens], I purchased this universal rear sight removal tool from eBay for a mere $45.
Univ Rear Sight Adjust Tool
What a nifty tool. Made removing and replacing the rear sight a cinch.
Univ Rear Sight Adjust Tool
What a nifty tool. Made removing and replacing the rear sight a cinch.
lhump1961
US Veteran
Right there ^^^^. If I find myself in a situation where that one in the tube is the difference then I'm in over my head anyway and that disconnect is the least of my problems!
The implication is that I've exhausted (mostly) my initial mag, the problem isn't solved and I'm going for a tactical reload!!! Maybe I had better concentrate on just getting that next mag inserted...
Anyway...it's whatever makes you happy. I won't be taking mine out but that's JMHO.
P.S. There is always the fear of the legal implications of disabling a safety mechanism on a weapon involved in a shooting. That may be nothing...just sayin'.
Don't you mean when the thread derails? For the record, I'm in favor, but understand that others don't. Also, like Arik, I don't completely trust any safety except the one between my ears.
No doubt someone will be along soon to tell us that if you use your modified no magazine safety 3rd Gen in self defense you'll go to prison for a long time. It happens every time this subject comes up.
No doubt someone will be along soon to tell us that if you use your modified no magazine safety 3rd Gen in self defense you'll go to prison for a long time. It happens every time this subject comes up.
lhump1961
US Veteran
No doubt someone will be along soon to tell us that if you use your modified no magazine safety 3rd Gen in self defense you'll go to prison for a long time. It happens every time this subject comes up.
Too late...already came up...
Too late...already came up...
I was typing too slowly!
Oh, round in chamber, safety off, if we get that far down the road.
Oh, round in chamber, safety off, if we get that far down the road.
No doubt someone will be along soon to tell us that if you use your modified no magazine safety 3rd Gen in self defense you'll go to prison for a long time. It happens every time this subject comes up.
Too late...already came up...
Haha, again I refer to my actual "happens often, in the real world" predicament in comparison to the "lightning striking same spot twice during an eclipse" relativity of either being in the middle of a fire fight and needing the one chambered round but having no mag handy or the other scenario where bad guy is definitely in the process of taking your gun and yet you still have the small motor ability to push the mag release...
But that is part of the fun of these discussions.
But that is part of the fun of these discussions.
SC_Mike
Member
My BHP had one I removed mainly because it made the trigger so bad.
