Hammer-fired vs Striker-fired

Score one for the single-shot shotgun! I have a Pardner in 410, 20, and the 12-guage that my dad gave me when I was young. I have hunted just about everything there is with that old thing.

Maybe that's why I prefer hammer-fired also. Two of my first firearms were a Ruger Single Six and the single-shot 12 guage.
 
Maybe I missed it, but I haven't seen any mention of the main advantage of a hammer fired auto pistol. That is that the hammer and sear are fixed to the same solid piece of metal, the frame, and cannot get out of alignment or have the trigger pull change due to the movement of other parts.

When the striker is in the slide and the sear in the frame (the usual arrangement), trigger pull can vary depending on the relationship of the slide to the frame. At best that makes little difference; at worst, the slide fit to the frame is such that the slide is dragged along as the sear moves down to disengage in response to trigger pull. A really good trigger pull is nearly impossible since the trigger will be moving the heavy slide with its own spring pressure as well as the sear.

In addition, in order to ensure safety, the sear engagement is usually rather long, to make up for wear in the slide/frame fit, where when the sear and hammer are in the frame, the engagement can be reduced to a minimum.

Added: Just to prove there is a worse system, I cite the BHP. The sear and trigger are in the frame, but the "around the corner and down the street" trigger/sear connection manages to combine the worst of both systems.

Jim
 
Some of the designs are better than others, but I think distinguishing between "hammer" and striker is misleading, especially when some designs basically feature a hammer hitting a striker.
Some seem to think a massive hammer is more reliable than a lighter striker, but the mass of the hammer is only part of the equation. A stronger spring and lighter striker can hit just as hard as a hammer and correct strength spring.

Slide hammer versus sledge hammed.
 
Some of the designs are better than others, but I think distinguishing between "hammer" and striker is misleading, especially when some designs basically feature a hammer hitting a striker.
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If that's the case then it's a hammer fired gun. If a hammer hits a firing pin (even if some call the firing pin a striker, which is incorrect) then it's a hammer fired gun. A striker fired gun has no hammer of any kind. An internal hammer is still a hammer. I hope this helps clarify what's being discussed.

tipoc
 
The biggest issue for me is a trust in mechanical devices, or the lack there of. Striker fired pistols have a spring loaded firing pin (called a striker) that can only be released in two ways. The way it is released in firing, by pulling the trigger and the way it is "made safe" with a decocking mechanism. I know of many?? decocking mechanisms that either failed or (and more likely) fired the chambered round through the fault of the operator. Adding another mechanism is adding another failure point. I am not saying that it is necessarily bad but it is one more thing that can fail. Mechanisms do wear and they do fail.
With a hammer I can let the hammer down on a loaded chamber in a controlled fashion to render the gun "safe". (not cleared but safe) With a double action I can then pull the trigger to fire the chambered round. There are no extra steps necessary. In fact When I am at the range my CZ is holstered with the hammer down on a loaded chamber. If I was to use the gun as a carry piece that is the way it would be carried. It is possible for the hammer to slip and fire the gun as it is lowered so I am extremely careful and aware when I lower the hammer. I could leave the hammer cocked and use the safety but there again you are relying on a mechanical device that can wear and fail. Having carried revolvers my whole life I would have to relearn my draw to release the safety before I got it on target. It is easier for me to just pull the trigger like I do with my revolver.
I do own a couple of striker fired guns - in 22LR - and I hate that I have to fire them on an empty chamber to store the gun. It is hard on the firing pin and on the rear of the chamber. The guns were both inherited and mean a great deal to me so I will never get rid of them but I have a strong dislike of striker fired pistols.
 
I do own a couple of striker fired guns - in 22LR - and I hate that I have to fire them on an empty chamber to store the gun. It is hard on the firing pin and on the rear of the chamber. The guns were both inherited and mean a great deal to me so I will never get rid of them but I have a strong dislike of striker fired pistols.
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Out of curiosity what guns are these?

tipoc
 
I hate that I have to fire them on an empty chamber to store the gun.
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snap caps!

Problem solved.

cheap alternate is a fired case, inserted so that the firing pin does not strike the spot struck when the case was fired.

It cushions the firing pin fall enough to prevent damage.
 
Shootist I am curious why you have to release the striker to store your .22 pistols. The handling practices don't change and the amount of tension on the partially or fully cocked striker spring will not effect function based on my study and experience.
 
Length wise the striker fired appears to have an advantage. My striker fired Glock with 4" barrel has about the same length as the hammer fired Walther P5 with 3.5" barrel. Both are 9mm.
 
I prefer hammer fired guns as I like to "ride" the hammer (or hook it on SA guns) into the holster as one more step against negligent discharge. I do keep a G29 as a compromise on that but its one more thing that leaves me worrying.
 
Shootist I am curious why you have to release the striker to store your .22 pistols. The handling practices don't change and the amount of tension on the partially or fully cocked striker spring will not effect function based on my study and experience.
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See HK's response to this issue in post no.10-whether you buy into their rationale or not, it does pose legitimate questions.
 
Kmac,
I know it won't hurt the spring or gun to leave it in a cocked position I just like to have it in a rest state.

tipoc,
The guns are a first generation Ruger (before mark 1) and a High Standard M101. i have an accessory second barrel for the M101 that is 24" long. I never got around to making a rifle stock for it but I might someday.
 
I know it won't hurt the spring or gun to leave it in a cocked position I just like to have it in a rest state.
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If the spring isn't "hurt" by being in the cocked state, I guess I'm just curious as to why you prefer to keep it in a "rest state" and am interested as to why you prefer that configuration, given your already stated predilection to not have to dry-fire a gun before storing it:

It is possible for the hammer to slip and fire the gun as it is lowered so I am extremely careful and aware when I lower the hammer. I could leave the hammer cocked and use the safety but there again you are relying on a mechanical device that can wear and fail. Having carried revolvers my whole life I would have to relearn my draw to release the safety before I got it on target. It is easier for me to just pull the trigger like I do with my revolver.
I do own a couple of striker fired guns - in 22LR - and I hate that I have to fire them on an empty chamber to store the gun. It is hard on the firing pin and on the rear of the chamber.
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dgludwig asked
If the spring isn't "hurt" by being in the cocked state, I guess I'm just curious as to why you prefer to keep it in a "rest state" and am interested as to why you prefer that configuration, given your already stated predilection to not have to dry-fire a gun before storing it:
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It is a combination of the way I was taught and plain old personal preference. I don't store any of my guns with the mainspring compressed. I do store magazines in a loaded condition. Go figure. :)
 
ShootistPRS,

The guns are a first generation Ruger (before mark 1) and a High Standard M101.
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Nice guns. But as I recall the Duramatic is striker fired and the Ruger has an internal hammer. Both good pieces. HS made very good 22s. I've never owned an HS mostly cuz I've worried about spare parts, or my perceived lack of them..

tipoc
 
I'm a fan of hammer fired guns, with decockers. The reason is one that I don't hear discussed often, but it's very important to me.

After decocking the gun, the user can place their thumb on the lowered hammer while reholstering. With the thumb on the hammer, the hammer is prevented from moving rearward, even if the trigger were inadvertently pulled.

To me, this is perfect solution. In my mind, the most dangerous time for the user of a firearm is when unholstering and reholstering. The long pull of a DA/SA gun is a good preventative when unholstering, and a thumb on the hammer is a good safety measure when reholstering.

Works for me.
 
After decocking the gun, the user can place their thumb on the lowered hammer while reholstering. With the thumb on the hammer, the hammer is prevented from moving rearward, even if the trigger were inadvertently pulled.

To me, this is perfect solution. In my mind, the most dangerous time for the user of a firearm is when unholstering and reholstering. The long pull of a DA/SA gun is a good preventative when unholstering, and a thumb on the hammer is a good safety measure when reholstering.

Works for me.
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Works for me too.
 
jackstrawIII: said:
I'm a fan of hammer fired guns, with decockers. The reason is one that I don't hear discussed often, but it's very important to me.

After decocking the gun, the user can place their thumb on the lowered hammer while reholstering. With the thumb on the hammer, the hammer is prevented from moving rearward, even if the trigger were inadvertently pulled.

To me, this is perfect solution. In my mind, the most dangerous time for the user of a firearm is when unholstering and reholstering. The long pull of a DA/SA gun is a good preventative when unholstering, and a thumb on the hammer is a good safety measure when reholstering.

Works for me.
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Goes double for me too, I just got an HK P2000 .40S&W V2 LEM trigger variant, and I'm thinking this may well be one of the best possible carry gun setups, with the LEM, every trigger pull is the same, and that trigger won't move if I thumb-cover the backplane of the slide when I (re)holster it.
 
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The only two pistols I own are both hammer fired, so I guess I like hammer fired best. Both of them are dependable and accurate.
 
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