Decocking..

[CrossedRifles]

This is a question specifically for Sig Sauer and HK SA/DA models that have a decocker, and any other firearms that do apply.

Is decocking with a round in the chamber 100% safe? This is of course with the barrel facing a safe direction. There must be secondary measure to prevent AD / NG correct?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_(firearms)#Decocker

States that : "A decocker or manual decocking lever allows the hammer to be dropped on a live cartridge without risk of discharging it, usually by blocking the hammer or retracting or covering the firing pin before releasing the sear."

But by closely looking, I am failing to see when / where / how this happens.

My Sig P226, has sort of like a 2 stage drop, does this lighten the hammer to a point where it doesn't have enough force to fire a cartridge? Or is there another safety feature?

For my HK USP-C, the hammer falls in all the way on a dry fire, but on a decock the hammer falls short, I'm guessing something is preventing the hammer to drop all the way in?

Are there even more additional safety features or is it just what I see?

Odd questions, but I personally want to know my own firearms and how they operate specifically.

In before decocking humor.

[sjm9877]

The decocker is 100% safe, unless the firing pin safety is removed. The firing pin cannot go forward unless the trigger bar depresses the firing pin safety. That only happens when the trigger is pulled.

[QXSOUP]

in a Sig, the only time when its NOT safe is when you DON'T use the decocker.

[JeremyS]

What sjm said. These guns have firing pin blocks, which only move out of the way when the trigger is pulled. That physical thing that blocks the firing pin's forward movement stays in place when you use the decocker. Even in the event that the hammer slams into the back of the firing pin, the pin will not move forwards. That firing pin block also acts as a drop safety so the inertia of the firing pin (were you to drop the gun on the muzzle) can't make it shoot out and hit the primer. Nor could a drop on the hammer that caused the hammer to slam home cause it to fire.

All that said, most decockers still put a secondary block up in there as you depress the lever. But they don't really have to. Some guns, like CZ, have all of these things in place and still only decock to a sort of "half cock" position... they don't even let the hammer drop fully down. I don't recall if that's the case with all/most Sigs or H&K though. Been a while since I've played with one.

[davidwow]

Thanks for the responses I was curious about this as well...

[bigbearbear]

I have a Beretta Px4 Storm 9mm, Type F that comes with a decocker that also functions as a safety level. When you decock, you also engage the safety. On this gun, there is firing pin block that is only retracted when you pull the trigger.

The gun is completely safe to decock even with a live round chambered. I have done this a few times at the range. My colleague likes to fire handguns in double action so when he was firing mine he always decock, then flip the decocker/safety to the off position again to fire. Works fine.

In this picture, you can see the firing block being raised as the trigger is pulled back (the bar raising up from the slide):

[FNP45TACTICAL]

Its safe and i am still not thrilled with doing it in all locations. Ive always been taught and have always stressed to others that all guns are always loaded and always ready to fire. The loud crack from de cocking makes me un easy.

[diveRN]

The internal portion of the decocker on my S&W 4006 actually rolls forward to cover the firing pin and prevents the hammer from ever coming in contact with it. This is a 915, but the mechanism works the same.

[penguinofsleep]

Perfectly safe on every hk usp and after that I've tried. Aside from the block, they only defrock to half cock. I think sig is the same.

[kingjoey]

Nevermind, not worth wasting my time to explain to people that don't give a ****.

[QXSOUP]

Its safe and i am still not thrilled with doing it in all locations. Ive always been taught and have always stressed to others that all guns are always loaded and always ready to fire. The loud crack from de cocking makes me un easy.

Then you need to get over your fear of loud noises. the pistol is 100% safe when decocked- its much safer than in SA mode.

[Coolcom]

Anything mechanical is not 100% foolproof. The gun should obviously be pointed in a safe direction when decocked because once in a blue moon they do fail. Generally I prefer to manually decock the gun since it doesn't involve hammers beating on decocker parts.

Wait...what?! With a live round in the chamber?! Wow, man. Using the decocking lever is far, far more safer than manually decocking.

I would trust the decocking lever 100% of the time. I would not trust my thumb and index finger to not slip 100% of the time.

[CessnaDriver]

I believe a cop was killed because he did not use the de-cocker and let the hammer down instead, dropped the firearm and it discharged.

[QXSOUP]

If you manually decock a Sig, the firing pin block will NOT engage. it is by no means safe.

Just decock the damn thing like it was designed to do. Parts are replaceable, your (or another persons) life is not.

[kingjoey]

Nevermind, not worth wasting my time to explain to people that don't give a ****.