de cocking 686+

[sandmanx408]

So i got my 686+ out of jail today, excited to fire it, as i was messing around with it, i began to wonder, how do i decock this if i pull the hammer back?

online it saw on you tube that i hsve to hold the hammer, pull the trigger and bring both at the same time slowly to their idle positions, seems kinda unsafe, is there any best practices for decocking a revolver?

[ChuckDizzle]

The best practice is to never cock it unless you are on target and ready to fire in single action.

There is no reason to cock a loaded double action revolver, then uncock.

[NaClAddict]

That's how you do it. Keep it pointed in a safe direction during the process.

[javaduke]

1. Point the gun to the SAFE direction
2. Assuming you are holding your gun in your right hand, place your left hand around the cylinder and your left thumb over the hammer, so that it rests between the hammer and the firing pin, and apply light pressure on the hammer.
3. While applying the pressure on the hammer, pull the trigger.
4. Slowly (!) lower the hammer.

Again, when decocking your double action, ALWAYS point the gun to the safe direction.

[Mayor McRifle]

So i got my 686+ out of jail today, excited to fire it, as i was messing around with it, i began to wonder, how do i decock this if i pull the hammer back?

online it saw on you tube that i hsve to hold the hammer, pull the trigger and bring both at the same time slowly to their idle positions, seems kinda unsafe, is there any best practices for decocking a revolver?

You need to practice doing it over and over again (unloaded, of course) until you're very comfortable with it. Then practice it at the range over and over again with a loaded gun pointed down range until you're confident that you can do it safely every time. After awhile, it will become second nature to you. But even then, always decock your gun with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

In the meantime, if you're ever in doubt, put your offhand thumb under the hammer. Hold onto the hammer spur, pull the trigger, and as the hammer is released, slowly and gently lower it onto your offhand thumb. Take your finger off the trigger, and then very gently allow the hammer to move forward as you slide your thumb out of the way.

Edit: javaduke gave you the answer (above) while I was still typing.

[trigger945]

javaduke FTW!

Pratice with or without snap caps first... If you want to practice with live ammo, go to the range and point towards the backstop.

It takes practice. Good luck!

[Your ad here]

1. Point the gun to the SAFE direction
2. Assuming you are holding your gun in your right hand, place your left hand around the cylinder and your left thumb over the hammer, so that it rests between the hammer and the firing pin, and apply light pressure on the hammer.
3. While applying the pressure on the hammer, pull the trigger.
4. Slowly (!) lower the hammer.

Again, when decocking your double action, ALWAYS point the gun to the safe direction.

What you is very wrong. Never put you hand around or near a loaded cylinder. Here's what you do. Point the gun in a safe direction. If pointing at a wall take in consideration whats on the other side. Hold the gun and Pull the hammer back with both thumbs to take off the forward tension. Hold the hammer back and pull the trigger. Slowly let the hammer go forward. As your letting the hammer go forward let tension off the trigger and let it go forward to. First practice with the gun unloaded.

[Old4eyes]

1. Point the gun to the SAFE direction
2. Assuming you are holding your gun in your right hand, place your left hand around the cylinder and your left thumb over the hammer, so that it rests between the hammer and the firing pin, and apply light pressure on the hammer.
3. While applying the pressure on the hammer, pull the trigger.
4. Slowly (!) lower the hammer.

Again, when decocking your double action, ALWAYS point the gun to the safe direction.

I'll add a 3.5 here. After pulling the trigger and the hammer is being lowered REMOVE YOUR FINGER FROM THE TRIGGER. This should prevent the firing pin from being engaged should the hammer slip. I know this works on my Smith 686, Ruger Gp100 and Taurus Tracker (no snickering).

I know it doesn't work on my Smith 27-2. Then again putting your thumb between the frame and the hammer that has the firing pin on it is a tight squeeze.

[axhoaxho]

So i got my 686+ out of jail today, excited to fire it, as i was messing around with it, i began to wonder, how do i decock this if i pull the hammer back?

online it saw on you tube that i hsve to hold the hammer, pull the trigger and bring both at the same time slowly to their idle positions, seems kinda unsafe, is there any best practices for decocking a revolver?

Just practice it a lot (I've done it since the 80's )

If you view the revolver from the side when you are practicing it very slowly, you can actually see the firing pin going into the cylinder (i.e. striking the primer if there is a round in it), and then the firing pin retrieves back.

Then use it as an mental image to understand how the whole de-cocking and firing-pin moving work, plus other valuable comments from other posters here; it would help you confidently doing it with enough practices.

[IVC]

I'll add a 3.5 here. After pulling the trigger and the hammer is being lowered REMOVE YOUR FINGER FROM THE TRIGGER. This should prevent the firing pin from being engaged should the hammer slip.

This is a VERY important step. New S&W-s have a safety where the firing pin block will be engaged by retracting trigger *before* falling hammer gets to the pin. The idea is that if the sear fails on a cocked revolver and the hammer starts falling at the same time trigger starts traveling forward, the trigger will win the race and block the firing pin.

So, as soon as hammer starts moving forward make sure the trigger is free.

[sandmanx408]

Thanks guys I have been just doing this the whole day, since i got it at noon today from Reeds, Now that I am about to go to sleep I am going to clean it and get it ready for shooting sometime in the next few days

thanks again everyone

[Cactus_Tim]

That is one light trigger in single-action.
Definitely practice a few times with it unloaded to get the feel for it.
I tried it over and over until I felt confident.
Stuck my left thumb in front of the hammer.
Pulled the trigger and eased the hammer forward onto my thumb.
Released the trigger, pulled my thumb out, and eased the hammer down.
You could see that the safety bar was preventing the hammer from touching the firing pin.
But I'll stick with not cocking it until I'm on target and ready to fire.

Great question, Sandman.
I just picked mine up and hadn't gotten to considering decocking.

[Mayor McRifle]

Unsolicited Advice: Definitely learn to safely decock your revolver -- that is extremely important. But practice shooting it in double action (without cocking it manually) as much as you can. Get to the point that you are just as comfortable, proficient, and accurate in double action as in single action (even with .357 magnums). If you ever get into a situation where you really need that revolver to defend yourself, you're going to want to just aim and fire in double action (probably several times). Manual cocking will slow you down and is unnecessary. It might even lead to an unintentional shot under stress or during movement if your trigger finger is near the trigger. Like Cactus_Tim said, that single action is light. Get good with double action.

[Cactus_Tim]

Sound advice.
I'll be practicing double action, for sure.

[SacTown]

I never cock the hammer on a revolver unless I fully plan on pulling the trigger immediately afterwards.