model 64 bobbed hammer

[Bubbageorge]

I have seen many threads about a bobbed hammer on SW revolvers, I have several and cannot imagine not being able to cock the hammer and shoot single action, I understand that there is no chance of catching the hammer on clothing but if carried right or pulled from the bedstand. It never happened to me and I never even considered it. Will someone educate me on this issue

 

[arjay]

I could see it on a j frame carried in a front pocket,but none of mine are bobbed.

 

[GyMac]

It's one way of preventing the gun from being thumb cocked in a self defense situation and was mandated by some police departments. It pretty much turns the gun into DAO, although the hammer can be started back and then cocked by thumb. I shoot DA revolvers DA so it would bother me not at all.

 

[TAROMAN]

There are bobbed hammers that retain the SA notch.
A true DAO revolver cannot be "cocked" at all. Its DA or nothing.
Mostly police agencies who were concerned about a revolver being cocked in the heat of the moment with the later possibility of a negligent discharge when de-cocking is attempted.
The NY-1 is a great example of this. Mine is NYPD surplus that was returned to S&W for the combat revolver job.
As semi-autos replaced revolvers, many departments also specified a very heavy trigger pull in their striker-fired guns.

 

[Black_Sheep]

It makes sense that a revolver used for self-defense might be DAO for all of the reasons GyMac cited. This factory bobbed Model 64 still has the single-action sear although I've never been compelled to shoot it that way...

 

[murphydog]

There is a current thread under the 1980-present section entitled "My new Model 68-2 LAPD" that explains the origin of the DAO police revolver.

 

[vytoland]

I like em trimmed......DAO is fun to shoot

 

[Hapworth]

Mine is NYPD surplus that was returned to S&W for the combat revolver job.

Although I'd imagine the trigger was already smooth from service when you bought it, how's the factory combat revolver job?

 

[SgtLumpy]

I'm better double action than I am single action.

Shoot a lot of any firing mode and you become good at (familiar with) that mode.

For me at least, Single action feels like there's a "hard bump" to get over to get the hammer moving. Once over the bump, the trigger moves at a lot different speed and rate of smoothness. And for me that contributes to jerk.

Dbl action, the trigger just moves from front to rear smoothly.


Sgt Lumpy

 

[finesse_r]

In my opinion the only advantage is that they are cheaper to buy. What is funny to me is to see someone pay to have their revolver changed to DAO with the spur bobbed off the hammer then when trying to sell it expect to recoup the costs of their conversion.

 

[Bubbageorge]

bob it?

My original point is that when you bob the hammer you only eliminate a choice, you can still shoot DA only if you want, but I can cock one of my revolvers and find a rest to steady myself and hit targets much farther away than I can hit DA. Just my opnion.

 

[Pisgah]

My original point is that when you bob the hammer you only eliminate a choice, you can still shoot DA only if you want, but I can cock one of my revolvers and find a rest to steady myself and hit targets much farther away than I can hit DA. Just my opnion.

You don't remove a choice if you leave the single action hammer notch intact when you bob the hammer. You can still cock for single action very easily and safely if you start the hammer back by pulling the trigger slightly, catch the top of the hammer with your thumb, release the trigger, and continue the cocking to completion.

 

[SmithNut]

I have seen many threads about a bobbed hammer on SW revolvers, I have several and cannot imagine not being able to cock the hammer and shoot single action, I understand that there is no chance of catching the hammer on clothing but if carried right or pulled from the bedstand. It never happened to me and I never even considered it. Will someone educate me on this issue

Don't quite understand your question, however your comment "I have several and cannot imagine not being able to cock the hammer and shoot single action" concerns me with respect to a defense gun.
My opinion only, shooting single action with a DA revolver should be relegated to sighting in, bullseye competition and possibly hunting (long range shots). Other than that, a DA revolver should be shot DA, it's quicker and is not less accurate, assuming you learn to shoot DA consistently and practice that way. I do not see any reason to shoot single action with a defense gun, cocking a hammer and holding the gun on a "suspect" is asking for trouble, aside from what is seen on TV police and detective drama shows.

On exposed hammer on a defense gun can be a liability from a clothing standpoint, the only good use frankly is to use it to "power through" some kind of action issue, i.e., the gun is gritty, not shooting smoothly due to dirt clogging up the action, high primer, etc.

While it's a bit more challenging to shoot DA accurately, it's a good skill to master, good DA shooters can shoot SA with little challenge, but if you only shoot SA, then if you really need to pull a gun with little time to cock the action for that first shot, you may not have the time to prevail. Pull the gun, pull the trigger, put the bullet where it belongs and stay alive. Shooting DA is the answer, and for that you don't really need an exposed hammer.

For what it's worth, just one guy's opinion.

 

[Dave T]

Back in the late 1970s I started shooting in Police Revolver competition matches, better known as just PPC. All the top PPC shooters, like the Governor's 20 in the state or the President's 20 nationally, were DAO guys. Not that they used revolvers with bobbed hammers, they just shot strictly DA even at the 50 yard line. As it was explained to me, using a consistent trigger pull throughout the 150 rounds of the standard course was advantageous and produced better results over all.

I became convinced and almost never shoot SA with any DA revolver I own. I've only converted one gun to DAO but would be willing to do so with more of them it it weren't cost prohibitive.


Dave

 

[TAROMAN]

Although I'd imagine the trigger was already smooth from service when you bought it, how's the factory combat revolver job?

This one had a problem where the action was "short stroking" to coin a term. I sent it in to have that corrected and decided to add on the combat job.

Charge hole chamfering aside, the factory action job is essentially equivalent to the ones I have done following Jerry Miculek's process. They even used Wolff springs.

The outside was really battered, so they blasted it. I asked them to re-stamp the SN on the frame side but it didn't happen.

 

[Joe Kent]

Gentlemen , I am fortunate to be able to have a number of revolvers, While most have their hammers intact, all of my everyday concealed carry guns are either Enclosed {or shrouded} or have their hammers "bobbed". It is the only way I will have a "carry" revolver and even with field guns or heavier holster guns, I only shoot DA. In times of stress, I want nothing slowing me down or having the risk of getting hung up drawing from a pocket or concealed under a piece of clothing. In my own case, "hammerless" makes the most sense for the use of the revolvers that I depend on. All my best, Joe.

 

[shawn mccarver]

Bill Jordan bobbed the hammers of his working revolvers, both primary and back-up or off-duty, but retained the ability to cock the revolver when needed for a long shot. This is not the fashion now.

LE agencies started the trend when officers noticed that suspects were no longer reacting to them pulling their weapons, so they cocked them for additional effect. A little too much stress, a finger on a trigger and the weapon pointed at the hapless suspect and BANG - dead suspect, lawsuit and everyone else got punished by making their weapons harder to shoot well, which means more bystanders hit, more lawsuits, etc., instead of just firing the idiot and sending out a memo. God forbid we get rid of idiots from government service - someone might sue and allege an untrue and unrelated reason for discharge for the firing, etc.

In any event, there are people who have learned the DA stroke enough to still have that surprise break and some shooters can shoot distance shots DA as good as or better than SA firing. In my experience that is NOT the norm.

In addition, some lawsuits have claimed a weapon was cocked and the firing was inadvertent (negligent) in order to kick in the homeowner's coverage, which would not cover for an intentional act, but which might for a non-intentional act. Perhaps I am not understanding the issue clearly, but it seems to me that elimination of the SA firing capability takes away your chance of getting your insurance to kick in with both the cost of your defense (legal fees and related expenses) and your damages when the jury pulls the handle on the legal slot machine of damages. Of course, I guess cocking the revolver might also cause difficulty in evaluation by the police and prosecutor in that someone may claim some sort of pre-meditation or whatever - I don't know. But, in any event, there are articles cautioning against single action for defense use. Those have caused more or less the trend among non police private citizens to gravitate to DAO systems - that and the desire people have to get one of what the cops carry - even if that is not well thought out. For example - Glock with 5 or 6 pound pull - great idea. Glock with NYPD 11 pound pull - not well thought out.

 

[POPPER]

I've castrated every wheel gun I carry and use a lot. You all know how touchy a S&W is when it is cocked. You can almost blow on the trigger and set it off. Not a chance I want to take in a serious situation. Like mentioned in previous comments if you are sighting the weapon in etc. you can still cock it if need be. With the exception of target shooting if you're in to that a lot I see no point in keeping the hammer spur on a DA revolver especially on a carry gun. But hey! that's my view point. Ya All do what ever trips your trigger guys!!

 

[Bubbageorge]

THanks

I understand all your concerns about cocking the hammer and pointing at a suspect you are holding. My point is that if you are well trained you simply do not cock the hammer except in appropriate situations, such as a longer 120 feet or so with some brace available for support. I personally can shoot DA or SA, since my age is finally getting to me I have a bit of a shake so my scores are not as good a in the past. I also find that I can cock and fire a single shot and the gun is in DA for further shots. Respectifully that is just my opnion and experience. Besides I just got a Berreta M9 and with a crimson trace I think it is one of the most versitile handguns.

Just my opnion no disrespect to anyone elses, Semper Fr

George

 

[GyMac]

I shoot my DA revolvers DA, so the functionality of a bobbed hammer appeals to me, but I prefer the looks of a hammer with a spur. Maybe I would change my mind if I carried one concealed.