Scary moment

[Speer4]

I have a S&W 5904. I really like the gun. It is my first and only handgun. A friend loaned me his S&W .22 also, so I have had the chance to shoot both. (Very new to this)

Anyway... the one thing about the 5904 that took some getting used to is the trigger pull. My old .22 rifle I had when I was young, my shotgun, and that borrowed .22 pistol, all fire when you move the trigger just a fraction.

The 5904 is very different, you pull the trigger almost all the way back with no resistance before it stops and then fires if you pull past the stop point. The first time anyone shoots it, they think that it isn't working because the trigger travels with ease and then stops. Feels like the end of the travel, but when you squeeze from that stop point it fires.

I am used to it, but I don't know why it is designed that way. So yesterday a friend and I went out to sight in his deer hunting rifles and shoot pistols a little. We went to the gun club, which is an unsupervised outdoor range. We were the only ones there.

My friend shot his .22 revolver and I was shooting my 5904. Then we traded. I was loading the .22 when he went to the line to shoot. I heard two quick shots and looked up. He was a little rattled. Apparently, he thought the gun was not working when he pulled the trigger back until it stopped and it did not fire. He was used to the fire point being at the beginning of the pull instead of the end. He was turning to tell me about it and had pointed the gun straight up as he turned. He still had his finger on the trigger (I know... bad idea) and must have given that last little pull and it fired twice before he realized what he was doing.

I just started shooting this summer but he has been hunting and shooting his whole life. He said he had never seen a gun with a trigger pull like that. So it was a little scary. Two accidental discharges that thankfully were pointed away from any people or property, but still... NOT good.

I am wondering if this trigger pull is normal for the 5904 or if there is a problem with the gun. As I said, once I got used to it, it does not bother me at all, but if something is wrong, I want to get it checked.

Thanks!
-Mike-

 

[Glenn H]

Hi Speer

What you have is a double action first shot autoloader. This is a very typical design for what is known as the 3rd Generation Smith & Wesson pistols.

With a round in the chamber and the hammer down when you press the trigger that action cocks the hammer to the firing point, when the pistol fires the action operates and loads a new round into the chamber. This motion takes a while since you are cocking the hammer, it also requires additional effort.

After the first bullet is fired the hammer stays back in the cocked position. Now your pistol is what is known as a single action, each time it fires the pistol will reload and the hammer will return to full cock. This trigger press only requires enough effort to pop the hammer off the sear and let it fall. That is why you are feeling such a difference in the two trigger pulls.

I would suggest that you might want to take a hunter's safety class (if you haven't already) and ask around for an NRA pistol instructor. They can help you understand your weapon and help you to be a safe shooter.

 

[Speer4]

Thanks for the information. Definitely looking for a course. The gun club has one in the Spring, so I plan to take that. I was a little surprised that this very experienced friend had this issue. I don't ever put my finger in the trigger guard until I intend to pull the trigger. I guess years of experience do not necessarily make a safe shooter.

 

[Glenn H]

Familiarity with the weapon

Familiarity is important. I've shot a lot of firearms but if someone handed me a BAR (Pleasepleaseplease) I'd be at a loss for a while.

Good luck, you have a great pistol there.

 

[Robinett_11B]

That wasn't accidental, it was negligent. Very few unintended discharges are accidental. Glad to hear no one got hurt.

 

[kbm6893]

That wasn't accidental, it was negligent. Very few unintended discharges are accidental. Glad to hear no one got hurt.

Agreed. This is why I only go to the range on a weekday, and the colder the better. Don't like shooting with other people around. I've seen too many idiots with a gun in their hands. Simplest rule in the world is to keep your finger off the trigger and to keep the barrrel pointed in a safe direction, and yet tons of people can't follow it.

 

[Fishslayer]

Yikes! At least he didn't do what just about everybody else I've seen with a malf does. Turn it sideways (therefore covering everybody to his left) and stare at it while poking & prodding randomly...

 

[boatboy]

Here in MI
Deer season is less than 2 weeks away I was at a sportsmans club today its just not much fun
I like the other 49 weeks of the year

HAnk

 

[Arik]

Every gun manufacturer will make a different trigger pull. Without trying your gun and going by how you described it it sounds about the same as my NYPD 5946 and like my previous 5946 before that. He was expecting a shorter pull.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[chud333]

Perhaps before loaning your pistols for someone else to shoot
you might explain to them it's characteristics. I once had a buddy
with a bolt action pistol in .300 savage. It was designed to shoot
in some kind of competitions. Can't remember which. It had a trigger
that was set at something like 10 ounces (not pounds). A very,
light (hair trigger) as some call it. Which is fine for what he does
with it. But being a newbie to this gun i would want to know.
Glad your friend had the gun pointed up. You, however bear some
of the responsibility of the negligent discharge IMHO. Just because
he was a seasoned shooter he was'nt familiar with what you handed
him. Like i said, glad it turned out OK but really, it's on both of you.
Think things through before going to the range and while on the
range as well. Good shooting !!

Chuck

 

[Mickey D]

Every gun manufacture provides an owners manual. I suggest you read it before using the firearm. If you didn't get one when you purchased the firearm, the manufacture will provide on, usually free of charge. Many are also available on line and are downloadable.

Glad all when as well as it did.

 

[Speer4]

Thanks all,
When I posted that story, I expected to get a little scolding from the group, but I am impressed that you all do it maturely with the intention of educating.

That said... I agree that I share responsibility in this. Having gotten used to the trigger, I did not stop to think that I should explain it to him. Other mistake was assuming that he would know, since he was so experienced. Good point that all guns have differences.

"Accident" or "negligent"... clearly both. Pretty rare that an accident is not the result of some kind of negligence. An accident is simply, by definition, "any event that happens unexpectedly, without a deliberate plan or cause". Clearly it was that. Negligence: "the failure to exercise that degree of care that the law requires for the protection of other persons or those interests of other persons". Yep... that fits too.

So... this has definitely been a learning experience. I appreciate the feedback. Glenn H: I especially appreciate you educating me on the "first shot autoloader" function. Makes perfect sense after reading that.

Again... You have a great forum here because you take the time to educate we new folks rather than just slinging mud. That would drive people away whereas your approach will continue to build a great online community.

Thanks!
-Mike-

 

[Badkarma 1]

Also twenty minutes dry firing would have prepared your buddy for the trigger pull. There's no such thing as being too careful! Dale