Anyone carry their 1911 like this???

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

brookstexas

New member
I carry my Kimber Pro Carry IWB, round in chamber, safety off BUT hammer forward. I have practiced drawing it an cocking the hammer back with my thumb, its faster than taking the safety off for me. Anyone else do this?
Brooks
 
Ouch.

So what happens when you slip that once... either when putting the hammer down, or when pulling it back?

I'd strongly suggest you learn to take the safety off as you bring the gun to the ready position... if you don't care about your personal safey or the lives and property of those around you, then consider that "easing" the hammer is going to damage the sear...

Yes, here it is on page 20 of my Kimber owner's manual:** (Discussing lowering the hammer on an empty chamber)
5. Pull the trigger allowing the hammer to free fall forward on the empty chamber. Do not "ease" the hammer down by holding or blocking it. Doing so can mar the sear tip which will result in a substandard trigger pull.
Click to expand...
The 1911 has been around longer than either of us, and the manual of arms is well understood... and there for a reason; please, please consider changing this habit!

-Jorah


**PS: My manual is for the Kimber Compact, but I suspect that this holds true for your gun, too. Have you considered getting a DAO pistol if you don't care for the controls on the 1911?
 
Please explain why slowly lowering the hammer on a 1911 model pistol (empty chamber of course) can damage the sear (or anything else for that matter).
 
Sheesh! If Condition One carry bothers these guys so much, why don't they get a wheelgun? Or a Beretta? I mean, geez. Gimme a break.

I'll have to admit, Condition One bothered me a little at first. (I'm a revolver guy) But when my holster is filled with a 1911, it's cocked and it's locked.

There is no other way. Get over it or get a revolver.

Callahan
 
I don't see how cocking the hammer can be faster than dropping the safety, then again, my grip has me riding the safety, so it is a non-issue for me. God help you if your thumb should ever slip and you have an ND or AD.
 
After many years of carrying a revolver or other DA pistol, it was a little unnerving to holster and carry around a 1911 cocked and locked. So, what I did was (always remembering that I had an unloaded pistol on me so not to get into a bad situation) I carried it around empty for about a week. When alone or in the back yard, I'd practice drawing and thumbing off the safety. When I was totally comfortable that I wasn't going to remove vital organs, I loaded it and never looked back.

BTW, in my opinion, thumbing off the safety is no more difficult than doing so with other pistols. And I'm a firm believer that if the firearm has a manual safety, it should be used!!!!
 
TimC, I'm a newbie at all this stuff (only had a pistol for 2.5 years)

so I'm not at all sure about the answer to your question, but figure Kimber probably knows their own product. My suspicion is that the sear is built in such a way that the trigger releases the spring tension against the sear in a very crisp manner, and letting-off the hammer while the trigger is back causes the mating surfaces on the sear to drag over the sharp corner in some way.

I'm sure that someone who knows 1911 inside and out will come in sooner or later on this thread and either explain it for real, or tell me I'm full of it.

What it comes down to for me, is... the dang thing is designed to have the hammer dropped by the trigger; John Moses Browning was the genius... I just like the guns he designed.

-J.
 
I just looked checked out my Springfield Armory 1911 manual, and it mentions pulling the trigger while slowly lowering the hammer with the opposite hand! (on an empty chamber of course) Weird how they have opposite recommendations. It doesn't say NOT to let the hammer drop, but does seem to recommend the above procedure. I'm just trying to understand how the sear can be damaged if one fully depresses the trigger while lowering the hammer (empty chamber once again)...not that I'm saying it cannot cause problems.
 
I'm just trying to understand how the sear can be damaged if one fully depresses the trigger while lowering the hammer (empty chamber once again)...not that I'm saying it cannot cause problems.
Click to expand...

Because Kimber uses a MIM sear.
 
Before we get into another MIM debate, I should point out the reason why this method of carry is such a bad idea.

Apart from having to lower the hammer onto the firing pin with a round in the chamber, there's the matter of walking around with the hammer like that...any bump on the hammer will send 230 grains through you or your friends. Walk carefully and get some life insurance.
 
Springfield Armory 1911

I believe Springfield makes a 1911 that is single/double action and is made to be carried with the hammer down. You might be more comfortable with that option, unless you are truly just trying to get a rise out of people. If you are i guess i just wasted my time reading this and replying.
 
brookstexas - That's called trolling and we do not take kindly to it around here.

Please note the distinct lack of any smilie. You should re-read rule #3 of the TFL policies followed by rule #4.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top