Decocking..

[kingjoey]

Based upon what you are describing (thumb and index finger) you are manual decocking in a very UNSAFE way. The ONLY way to ensure safety when manually decocking a DA/SA firearm is to wedge your thumb between the rear of the slide and the hammer, pull the trigger to release the hammer, then let go of the trigger and slide your thumb up, the hammer will catch on the half-cock notch. No way for the hammer to slip from between your fingers.

And before you try to give me grief about manually decocking, my DA/SA gun is a CZ-75B, and the only way to decock it is manually. I dislike carrying that gun cocked-and-locked, so I always decock it after chambering a round at the range, because I like to practice with first shot DA.

Winner winner chicken dinner

[Pauliedad]

Walther P99 AS.
If not cocked, first pull is DA. Then on its a nice break. Striker so decocker is only option short of complete clear. Fun little gun.

[pumpkinshooter]

Ruger P-series, Beretta M9's, CZ52's, and several others. Any pistol that has a mechanical block for a decocker will end up getting deformation or damage if used often enough, you just can't hit two pieces of metal against each other repeatedly without something eventually giving out.

Interesting, I had no idea this was even an issue.

[kingjoey]

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

[Coolcom]

I can't imagine using the decocker so much as to cause it to break. I would never decock with live rounds unless pistol was pointed in a safe direction, regardless of my opinion. And I can only assume you manually decock in the same manner.

[kingjoey]

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

[QXSOUP]

It's a random thing, like everything else on a gun it might last a million uses, it might break the first time. Decockers rarely fail, but I've seen enough issues that I'd rather manually decock and save the decocker for times when its not convenient to do it manually.

I'm sorry but you are a total idiot. That's like saying that you never roll the windows down on your car because one day the window MAY break.

Use the god damn thing like it was designed to do.

[Coolcom]

It's a random thing, like everything else on a gun it might last a million uses, it might break the first time. Decockers rarely fail, but I've seen enough issues that I'd rather manually decock and save the decocker for times when its not convenient to do it manually.

With this opinion, I'm surprised you even own or are willing to fire a gun!

Sigs and HKs specifically are combat tested and designed guns which go through rigorous testing and use. They are also guns...they don't release weapons that have random parts that could break the very first use. While it is true they may break, I will not coddle it, simply because it could break. (Like the previous posters car window analogy) I won't throw it on the ground and run it over with a truck, but I will use the included features (decocker) as they were designed and intended.

But honestly, do whatever you want man.

[kingjoey]

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

[Voo]

I dont' have a beretta or an HK for comparison, but in terms of Sigs, the force on my P226 decocker is not sufficient to impact the firing pin with any real force..

1) First off, the firing pin block is pretty robust.. I mean, it blocks the pin.. Even if it gets mangled, smashed, it still blocks the pin from moving forward..

2) there's also a firing pin spring that keeps the pin from moving forward.. It has to be hit with a sufficient amount of force to overcome inertia and strike the primer.. I've tried to decock it 'quickly' and the hammer on "my" P226 doesn't snap forward fast enough to actually do anything..

3) the small hammer rebound spring also reduces the angular moment of the hammer..

With all 3 of these things, the argument that it "can" happen is difficult to comprehend.. I agree, crazy ***** does happens.. Nothing is foolproof, but it's sort of like the Infinite Monkey Theorem.. It's an interesting concept, but it still doesn't get you anywhere trying to worry about it..

In all honestly, even if I were to ever witness a decocking system fail, I would still recommend/advocate using the decocker over manually dropping the hammer using the thumb as a stop.. With your thumb, you have only 1 thing keeping the gun from firing... Using the decocker provides you multiple layers of protection..

[Bill Steele]

Reading the various manuals of manufacturers of pistols which have decockers is interesting and revealing (about the cultures maybe).

My old Beretta 92 manual mentions the decocker as the way to safely lower the hammer, but no admonishments about thumbing the hammer.

My SIG manual specifically states the decocker IS THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO LOWER THE HAMMER and specifically forbids the user to thumb the hammer down, stating it disables the full complement of safety features.

Yah, das is a good German gun, signs zee papers old man!

[neouser]

***UNLOAD AND CLEAR YOUR PISTOL BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY OF THIS***

For people who own a Sig, you'll notice that your firing pin is recessed and the hammer never touches it. If you attempt to push your hammer forward without pulling the trigger, the hammer will not budge. Once the trigger is pulled all the way back and held in the rearward position, you will find that you can push the hammer forward, making contact with the firing pin. The hammer block occurs before the firing pin block even comes into play. If the hammer somehow bypasses the initial safety feature, the firing pin block is a secondary measure to prevent the pistol from an accidental discharge.

As for H&K pistols, there is a little pivoting intercept bar that prevents the hammer from moving to the full forward position. When the trigger is pulled, the intercept bar pivots up, lining up with a notch that's cut into the lower part of the hammer, and allows the hammer to fall to the full forward position. When using the H&K decocker, the intercept bar does not pivot up and the hammer falls on the intercept bar. This is also before the hammer ever comes in contact with the firing pin. Should the intercept bar wear down or fail, the firing pin block is a secondary measure to prevent an accidental discharge.

[Bill Steele]

I posted this on the other thread on the subject, so if I am crosswise with copyright, maybe I get sued twice..

Straight from the SIG owners manual:

"Always use the decocking lever to decock your SIG SAUER pistol. This is the
only way to safely lower the hammer from the cocked position and prevent an
accidental discharge. This warning applies to all pistols with decocking levers.
The positive way to safely lower the hammer is by use of the decocking lever.
Never lower the hammer by pulling the trigger and attempting to ease the
hammer forward manually. Manually lowering the hammer is dangerous and
prevents full application of the pistol’s safety features.
The decocking lever is the only proper means of lowering the hammer and
assuring that the hammer rests in the intercept notch.
Again, DO NOT THUMB THE HAMMER DOWN:
the consequence can be serious injury or death – only and ALWAYS use the
decocking lever!"

Any questions?

[SoCalEnthusiast]

I've just been afraid when I've put one in the chamber at home, and then decock it. If something goes wrong and there's an ID, I'm sure the cops will show up to front door wondering, what the hell happened.

The way I roll with mine, is I just put a loaded mag in there, not one in the chamber. If someone comes through my front door, I'll def put one in the chamber with that bad boy cocked.

I save all the practice for the range, theres really no need to put one in the chamber and get the pistol ready to rock and roll. Unless of course you live in a really dicey area, or of SHTF kinda scenario.

[Coolcom]

If you are afraid of an ID in your house while using the decocking lever, you might want to rethink having guns?

The last thing you want is some BG busting down your door, you go for your pistol, and in the half-awake state that you will invariably be (unless you are some spec ops, but then there'd be a round chambered...), forget to rack the slide. Then you are putting yourself and family in danger.