Decocking a 1911

[mud99]

So I just picked up my Kimber tonight from jail - the manual says NOT to decock the gun by holding the hammer and lowering slowly.

It recommmends that I dry fire it, otherwise I could damage the sear?

Doesn't make sense to me, can someone explain? I've always been told to never dry fire a gun.

Mark

[G60]

the only safe way to decock a 1911 is by unloading it first.

[mud99]

understood, thus the reason I said "dry fire"

[dirtykoala]

you can dry fire newer guns, doesnt hurt them.

older guns had crappier metal sometimes, and dry firing would sometimes lead to the firing pin breaking. thats not really the case anymore.

[InGrAM]

Dry fire your 1911 all the time, it is good for you.

[SLO1911Fan]

you can dry fire newer guns, doesnt hurt them.

older guns had crappier metal sometimes, and dry firing would sometimes lead to the firing pin breaking. thats not really the case anymore.

There are a great many exceptions to this statement, but MOST 1911s are perfectly safe to dry fire.

[PRCABR4Christ]

There are a great many exceptions to this statement, but ALL 1911s are perfectly safe to dry fire.

fixed it for you...

your 1911 is just fine to dry fire, I would even encourage it so you can get used to the wonderful single action trigger pull

[negolien]

Yup, the way the trigger engages the sear can cause damage if lowered by the thumb and btw it's kinda hard with the beaver-tail safety lol. Dry firing allows the natural blending of the surfaces. This is one reason people are a little uncomfortable with Single Action pistols. The only way to decock safley is by dropping the magazine, racking the slide, making sure chamber is empty by visual inspection and maybe poking a pink in the chamber then dropping the hammer by dry firing.

[Mr310]

Better yet, just don't decock it!

[five.five-six]

if you "decock" your 1911 by slowly lowering the hammer, as it was not meant to do, just think about where your hands are when your thumb slips and ADs on you, probable trip to the hospital and months of PT

[bubbapug1]

The only way to decock safely is by dropping the magazine, racking the slide, making sure chamber is empty by visual inspection and maybe poking a pink in the chamber then dropping the hammer by dry firing.

I would say this is the only way to dry fire any gun, and its what I see practiced at any pistol match by every shooter at the end of his stage.

Its a great practice to adopt in all situations.

[IrishPirate]

i was told not to dry fire a GLOCK in a shop one time because it would break it.....i asked how anyone could test the trigger before buying and they looked just as confused as i did when they said it was bad to dry fire GLOCKs. I left it at that because they obviously didn't know what they were talking about.

nothing wrong with dry firing a 1911, and if anything happened you would be able to say it was still under warranty since that is normal usage.

[JTROKS]

i was told not to dry fire a GLOCK in a shop one time because it would break it.....i asked how anyone could test the trigger before buying and they looked just as confused as i did when they said it was bad to dry fire GLOCKs. I left it at that because they obviously didn't know what they were talking about.

nothing wrong with dry firing a 1911, and if anything happened you would be able to say it was still under warranty since that is normal usage.

If you don't dry fire a Glock then how can you field strip it. There is a warning about repeated dry firing exercises and will cause this


In all my years of dry firing a 1911 I have only experienced one problem and it was due to a faulty firing pin stop. The FPS cracked once during dry firing and the other during an USPSA practice stage. I only use firing pin stops from these manufacturers: EGW, Ed Brown, Wilson Combat. So far no more cracked firing pin stop.

Decocking a 1911 with a loaded chamber takes a lot of care, if you must do condition 2 on a 1911 I advice getting insurance first. I highly advice against it with Series 70 1911s. With Series 80 that has some type of firing pin safety for some folks it is acceptable. Just make sure you have a good hold of that hammer when lowering it all the way or to the half cock notch.

Here's a Youtube video that explains it

[c3 rolling]

Carrying in condition 3 is ridiculous.

[negolien]

Ya I would do condition 1 now but I have spent alot of time with my SA Kimber II. It did take some time to be comfortable for me to carry that way though. Only because I hadn't carried a SA before. I also think alot of the IDF carry condition 3 IIRC since they're always in a populated area and even hitchike with they're weapons lol unless they're on duty I assume.