Which is more safe?

[sigfan91]

So, I heard a story from my best friend which he said he was at the range and some one next to him accidentally popped off a round when manually decocking his firearm (no one was injured). As a result the person said he never uses the decocking mechanism because they are mechanical and do fail. So, what do you guys think is the more safe way? Also, can any one explain to me how a decocker actually works.

Yes, mechanical parts do fail.

Here's the better question though: how much more likely is a human to fail than a machine to fail?

[SoCalEnthusiast]

I don't get this though. So you guys put one in the chamber and pull the hammer back, ready to rock? How about putting on in the chamber and leaving the hammer forward, the trigger pull is more but much more safe. I don't know anyone who throws one in the chamber and then holsters it, or puts it in the safe ready for action. It just seems stupid and looking for an ND. Right?

[003]

Unless you know about a weapon that I am not familiar with, it is impossible to chamber a single action pistol (think 1911) and not end up with it with it being cocked. Once chambered and cocked is the issue.

I do acknowledge that some of the modern pistol can be chambered with the safety on, and in that configuration, the hammer will automatically follow the slide forward and you can end up with a round chambered and the hammer down.

[SoCalEnthusiast]

So what do you do, put one in the chamber and then decock?

[whipkiller]

I use the de-cocker on my Sigs with no problem, though I always point down range. I often do this so that I can practice DA.

As Lead Waster mentioned, when I used to use a CZ SP01 I had to put it in Sa mode prior to starting a match, which I disliked. Why not allow it to be cocked and locked? I felt their policy was needlessly reckless.

Yeah, manually decocking is dumb. Forcing you to manually decock an SP-01 at USPSA is really stupid. THe gun has a safety, the DA part is more a "second strike opportunity" than a "carry it decocked" feature, IMHO.

Yeah, I agree with you guys that this is kind of a funky rule.

It's interesting to note that per CZ-USA's specs, the SP-01 is not called out as DA/SA, but rather SA/DA, as in Single action with second strike capability, as Lead Waster pointed out.

The SP-01 Tactical (with the de-cocker) is listed as DA/SA.

Is this rule USPSA only? What about IDPA, or Steel Challenge?

[Squidward]

Oh and OP "Which is safer?" not "Which is more safe?"

Sorry, I have kids and I keep an ear/eye out for this kind of stuff. Yep, I'm a grammar nazi!

Though mow that I think about it, I guess "which is more safe" is not strictly incorrect, is it?

And, clearly not a "Spell Check Nazi".

[bulletblood]

I don't get this though. So you guys put one in the chamber and pull the hammer back, ready to rock? How about putting on in the chamber and leaving the hammer forward, the trigger pull is more but much more safe. I don't know anyone who throws one in the chamber and then holsters it, or puts it in the safe ready for action. It just seems stupid and looking for an ND. Right?

Woah, not all semi-auto handguns function the same. Guns like 1911's, glocks, etc, automatically get cocked when you put one in the chamber. The act of pulling the slide back to chamber a round cocks the gun. These guns are not meant to be decocked. 1911's are either cocked and locked, or left decocked with an empty chamber. Glocks are cocked and loaded, or empty chambered.

Standard SA/DA guns with a decocker, like Sigs, allow you to safetly de-cock after loading your gun.

Some guns, where the manual saftey and decocker are the same, allow you to chamber a round without cocking or having to de-cock afterwards. This is because you can load a round in the chamber while the lever/decocker is on safe. Berretas come to mind.

[SoCalEnthusiast]

Is it safe to use the decocker at home? I'm just afraid if theres a mechanical problem the gun goes off. Cops show up questioning, what the hell happened.

[Sunday]

Safe is in the hands of the beholder. These days there is a lack of common sense and critical thinking about even the simplest things.

[SoCalEnthusiast]

Well its not always safe to handle a loaded weapon. I mean there's some risk everytime you pick up a gun with ammo inside, you have to agree with that.

[Deimos887]

^ correct, however yes, the decocker is safe to "use at home". As long as you arent playing with a loaded gun & treat the gun as... well, a gun (all guns are always loaded). The chances of a ND, while higher than if you werent handling it are slim indeed.

Ive kept a Glock 22 in loaded & chambered in a quick safe in my nightstand for 5 years now... and I assure you a Glocks trigger is both shorter & lighter than the DA (chambered & decocked) trigger on your Beretta 92fs, SoCal.. have never had a ND or a close call. All guns are always loaded..
+ your Beretta was designed to be carried like that.. if it was so unsafe, the military never wouldve adopted it as a general issue sidearm (often to support troops with less gun handling experience than yourself).. its actually "overly safe" in my opinion. But makes sense for a general issue sidearm for a large military, not all Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen are shooters, but may be deployed anyway... I dont think "those" guys/gals carrying Glocks would be a great idea personally.

[18Dmedic]

Depends on the troops carrying it. I don't have a problem with my guys carrying Glocks. Which we did btw...

But decockers work fine and as long as you do your part and follow all safety precautions, it's a non issue.

[whipkiller]

Well its not always safe to handle a loaded weapon. I mean there's some risk everytime you pick up a gun with ammo inside, you have to agree with that.

It's not always safe to MIS-Handle a loaded weapon.

I handle a loaded weapon at least a couple of times per day, every day.

I guess there's a risk the could be an earthquake, and something could fall off the wall, hit me in the hand forcing my finger into the trigger guard after bouncing off of the safety, etc.

Guns don't fire themselves.

[SoCalEnthusiast]

It's not always safe to MIS-Handle a loaded weapon.

I handle a loaded weapon at least a couple of times per day, every day.

I guess there's a risk the could be an earthquake, and something could fall off the wall, hit me in the hand forcing my finger into the trigger guard after bouncing off of the safety, etc.

Guns don't fire themselves.

In a nutshell if you handle with care and don't have drunk idiots round them, they'll serve their purpose at level that most level will appreciate.

[whipkiller]

In a nutshell if you handle with care and don't have drunk idiots round them, they'll serve their purpose at level that most level will appreciate.

I don't know what that means.