Hammer fired or Striker fired

[cougartex]

Which do you prefer a hammer fired or striker fired gun? What are the pros and cons of each model?

[wgoforth]

It comes down to personal preference. I prefer the striker fired due to (1) no hammer to snag on a pull (2) no hammer means they can make it with a lower bore-axis ratio which means less muzzle rise. (3) means less dirt/lint in the hammer area if no hammer (4) striker fired generally has a consistent trigger pull. (5) striker fired is generally faster.

Many like the hammer as they can have one in the chamber and simply cock the hammer back if needed. But many striker fired now have a de-cocker. Most military guns have hammers, I have been told, due to being easier and faster to work on and that many striker fired do not have safeties (though many like Taurus do, the Glocks do not).

Bit of trivia here...not for the Glock of heart...... Steyer manufactured the first striker fired around 1912

[MoJo]

I own and shoot both. My current carry is an M&P 40 it is striker fired as is my XD9. There are 2 1911s and one HiPower in the safe that are hammer fired and an S&W 3913 DA auto that is hammer fired but, without a hammer spur so, effectively it's striker fired. When I carry the 1911s or the HiPower it is always condition 1 (loaded, cocked and locked.) I prefer the simplicity of the DAO striker fired M&P just point and shoot no safety to deal with no hammer to snag on clothing. YMMV.

[Zoomie]

I personally like hammer fired (DA/SA) or SA only guns because every SA trigger pull I've ever experienced has been quicker and more controllable than any striker fired gun I've ever shot. There is something to be said for the simplicity of consistent trigger pull of a striker fired gun. It takes considerably more practice to be comfortable with the different trigger pulls of a DA/SA gun and a good amount of repetition to draw and disengage a 1911 safety, though it will eventually become second nature.

[Furyataurus]

Hammer/DA/SA have second strike capability whereas striker fired guns do not .

I conceal carry an HK USP 9 everyday and during competition I don't have a problem with her getting snagged on anything.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Anyone:
In some previous discussion on the forum, someone mentioned
that a 1911 in Condition 1 may appear dangerous to some,
with the hammer cocked back.

But that a striker-fired weapon with one in the pipe is essentially
in the same ready-to-fire condition, but without the strong visual
cue as the 1911.

Can anyone please comment on the "safety" mechanisms involved
in a 1911 manual safety vs. a manual safety on a striker-fired
firearm? Are they each as effective at preventing the weapon
from firing?

Thanks in advance.

SIA

[Mike from Texas]

SIA, that's partially true.

A Glock is not cocked whatsoever when it is in normal condition. As part of the trigger pull, it places the striker under tension, therefore a stiffer trigger pull.

The Springfield XD IS cocked at rest, hence the reason the trigger pull is lighter and the presence of the cocked striker indicator at the rear of the slide.

[wgoforth]

Hammer/DA/SA have second strike capability whereas striker fired guns do not .

I conceal carry an HK USP 9 everyday and during competition I don't have a problem with her getting snagged on anything.

I have heard that claim before, but it is not accurate. Taurus 24/7 striker fired have second strike capability, hence the name. There are other makers that do as well. I have three different styles of 24/7's and all are double strike.

I found this info on Down Range TV:

Striker fired double actions are relatively rare but they do exist. The Walther P99 is a DA/SA striker fired pistol. When you fire it in the double-action mode the striker isn't pre-cocked. The trigger actually draws the striker back then releases it. It has second strike capability and if you dry fire it you can just keep pulling the trigger and it keeps cocking and releasing the striker. Some Taurus pistols, FN FortyNine, S&W SW99, and Colt All American 2000 are all striker fired with second strike capability.

The Taurus 24/7 Pro pistol is a whole different design. According to Wikipedia: Pre-set hybrid triggers are similar to a DA/SA trigger in reverse. The first pull of the trigger is pre-set. If the striker or hammer fail to discharge the cartridge, the trigger may be pulled again and will operate as a DAO until a malfunction is cleared or the cartridge discharges. This allows the operator to attempt to fire a cartridge after a misfire malfunction. The Taurus 24/7 Pro pistol (not to be confused with the first-generation 24/7 which was a traditional pre-set) offers this feature as of 2006.

[Excaliber]

SIA, that's partially true.

A Glock is not cocked whatsoever when it is in normal condition. As part of the trigger pull, it places the striker under tension, therefore a stiffer trigger pull.

The Springfield XD IS cocked at rest, hence the reason the trigger pull is lighter and the presence of the cocked striker indicator at the rear of the slide.

Well, not exactly.

A Glock that has had the slide cycled to place a round in the chamber has a partially cocked striker. It is neither a true double action, nor a true single action. That's why Glock minted the term "Glock Safe Action" to describe it. You can watch a video of the interior parts movement as the pistol cycles here. You might have to watch it a couple of times, but it clearly shows that the striker is well back from the primer by the time the slide moves into battery. Pulling the trigger moves the striker to the fully cocked position and then releases it.

The Springfield XD is a true single action, in that the striker is fully cocked by the action of the slide and the trigger only trips the sear to release it.

As a general rule, a single action firearm (e.g. 1911, XD, or a cocked revolver) will have a significantly lighter trigger pull than any double action gun.

[Excaliber]

Anyone:
In some previous discussion on the forum, someone mentioned
that a 1911 in Condition 1 may appear dangerous to some,
with the hammer cocked back.

But that a striker-fired weapon with one in the pipe is essentially
in the same ready-to-fire condition, but without the strong visual
cue as the 1911.

Can anyone please comment on the "safety" mechanisms involved
in a 1911 manual safety vs. a manual safety on a striker-fired
firearm? Are they each as effective at preventing the weapon
from firing?

Thanks in advance.

SIA

A series 80 1911 has a firing pin safety plunger which must be released by trigger action before the firing pin can strike the cartridge's primer. Most modern striker fired pistols (e.g., Glock, Springfield XD, etc.) have a similar mechanism. When operated as designed, they will not fire unless the trigger is moved fully to the rear. This action moves the safety plunger to a position where the striker or firing pin can move past it to strike the primer.

A series 70 (original firing system) 1911 does not have a firing pin safety plunger, but it does have a grip safety that must be depressed before the trigger can be pulled, and a manual thumb safety as well. It is possible to drop one of these guns in a way that causes a cocked hammer to slip off the sear, break the secondary hammer catch designed to prevent discharge in this case, and fire the weapon. It can also discharge by inertial movement of the firing pin against the primer if dropped straight down on a hard surface. An extra power firing pin spring can go a long ways toward minimizing this possibility.

With all guns, the primary safety is always the shooter who keeps his finger off the trigger until he has made a decision to fire upon an intended target with a safe backstop.

[HadEmAll]

I've got both types, and don't think about it much, but if I had to choose just one (thankfully don't), I'd go with hammer-fired pistols.

They just hit the primer harder. I've had a few fail-to-detonates with CCI Blazer aluminum in my Kahr CW40 and S&W M&P, both striker-fired. Haven't had that happen with my hammer-fired .40s. And haven't had it happen with other range or defensive ammo. They went off on subsequent tries.

But I like my striker fired Glocks, Kahrs, S&W M&Ps too much to think of getting rid of them just because they don't have 2nd strike ability.

My Walther P99 is striker fired, and does have 2nd strike ability

I used to consider the lack of 2nd strike capability in pistols a real issue, but in recent years have totally stopped worrying about it.

The 2 totally defective factory rounds I've had both failed in hammer-fired pistols, and would not detonate with repeated attempts, so 2nd strike capability would not have changed anything. They were both 40 caliber Federal 155 grain Classic JHPs.

[The Annoyed Man]

Anyone:
In some previous discussion on the forum, someone mentioned
that a 1911 in Condition 1 may appear dangerous to some,
with the hammer cocked back.

A cocked and locked 1911 cannot fire until A) it is withdrawn from the holster; B) the thumb safety is disengaged; C) the grip safety is fully depressed by a firm grip on the gun; and D) the trigger is pulled. And that is for the 1911A1. For series 80 pistols, there is also a firing pin block that is disengaged by the pulling of the trigger. And on some 1911A1s, like my Springfield Loaded, the firing pin is titanium with a good spring, so that dropping it will not fire the round in the chamber. That's 4 or 5 things that have to happen to fire the gun. It is not unsafe.

But that a striker-fired weapon with one in the pipe is essentially
in the same ready-to-fire condition, but without the strong visual
cue as the 1911.

The visual cue on the 1911 isn't what makes them safe. See the above. That's what makes them safe. Don't get me wrong, I like my wife's Glock. But there is no way that it is more safe than a cocked and locked 1911.

Can anyone please comment on the "safety" mechanisms involved
in a 1911 manual safety vs. a manual safety on a striker-fired
firearm? Are they each as effective at preventing the weapon
from firing?

The 1911 safety doesn't just block the firing mechanism, it also blocks the slide from moving. With the thumb safety engaged, the 1911 slide is locked into place. Thumb safeties on other pistols don't do that. My USP Compact .40 has a thumb safety/decocker lever, and the slide can be racked with the safety engaged. You can't do that with a 1911, as the safety locks the slide.

Hope that helps.

[kalipsocs]

Whatever gets the job done really. There are so many hybrid systems now I just look at how it operates. For instance, my Walther P99 is striker fired DA/SA with a decocker which I my fav setup for a CC piece (i don't CC it, just sayin...). Taurus is weird because it is a DA/SA but functions like a SA in normal use and double action if there is a failure to fire (like reverse of the Walther) but no decocker. I like that my hammer guns HIT those primers though. Feel of the trigger and whether or not I can get it in the style I want (decocker is preferred, manual safeties avoided for CC) are primary concern. Strikers get a slight edge in my book because a enclosed firing mechanism reduces debris getting into the mechanics and causing a malfunction the moment you might need it most.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Excalibur, TAM, all:

Thanks for the information.

Can someone comment on the operation, pros/cons
of decockers? My assumption is that they safely
drop the hammer on a live round without firing it.

What is the safe operation of a decocker in order to
unload a firearm?

SIA

[wgoforth]

Whatever gets the job done really. There are so many hybrid systems now I just look at how it operates. For instance, my Walther P99 is striker fired DA/SA with a decocker which I my fav setup for a CC piece (i don't CC it, just sayin...). Taurus is weird because it is a DA/SA but functions like a SA in normal use and double action if there is a failure to fire (like reverse of the Walther) but no decocker. I like that my hammer guns HIT those primers though. Feel of the trigger and whether or not I can get it in the style I want (decocker is preferred, manual safeties avoided for CC) are primary concern. Strikers get a slight edge in my book because a enclosed firing mechanism reduces debris getting into the mechanics and causing a malfunction the moment you might need it most.

Some of the Taurus's DO have decockers. I have the 24/7 OSS striker fired with decoker.If you note some models with DS in the name, it stands for Deckocker Safety.