Why buy a gun with a decocker??

A

AAshooter

New member
I ask the question not to offend but want to understand why this is preferred. I realize it is very popular by PDs in an effort to limit liability. If you have one as a service firearm I can understand why you might want to stay with the same type of handgun.

However, as a personal defense weapon for a shooter that isn't already familar with guns with decockers, why would they want a gun that needs a decocker? Why get a SA/DA gun? It seems like a straight SA would be a better choice.

When would you recommend one to a new shooter?

Thanks in advance for the comments.
 
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Simple safety.
After you have fired rounds you can drop the hammer safely with a decocker as opposed to trying to ride the hammer home and having an unwanted discharge.
 
All my DA/SA guns have decockers, except for the last two I bought. I finally lowered the hammer of my CZ 75B on a chambered round for the first time last night and it was pretty scary!

I'm sure I'll get used to it. I also got a Taurus 85 Ultra-Lite. I haven't lowered its hammer on a live round yet, but that hammer is a little easier for me to grip than the CZ 75.

I like having a decocker. I would think a new shooter would be more comfortable using a decocker.
 
Sorry for the confusion. I understand the purpose of the decocker and the desire to have one on a SA/DA pistol. But why buy the pistol in the first place. I'll try to edit my initial question for clarity.
 
'Cause that way, just like a revolver, you know that it'll go off if you pull the trigger.

I know, I know...makes no sense to me either. Different strokes...
 
If I'm not mistaken you mean why buy a DA/SA gun over a straight SA semi-auto like a hi-Power or 1911..right?
If thats what you mean, the reasons are many. Some people just arent sure enough that they will remember to flick the safety off when the SHTF. Who among us can honestly say they have never missed a phesant or covey of quale because you forgot the safety was on.
One of the reasons most law enforcment agencys dont carry single actions, is what do you do with the safety if you have to hold a suspect at gunpoint. If you draw your weapon, but dont need to fire immediatly (as in a felony stop), and leave the safety on, you may forget it if things quickly get hairy. If you take it off when you draw, it could be an AD waiting to happen with all the adrinalin pumping.

Pesonaly, I prefer a da/sa or safe-action type pistol, fully loaded with the safety off for concealed carry. The long first pull afords an extra measure of safety and I dont have to worry about forgeting to undo any safety catches. Ofcource, we all practice perfect gun handleing skills at the range, but when things suddenly go south at the least expected moment, even the most steely among us can get jumpy.
 
Whats this business about trying to "ride the hammer home" to prevent an unwanted discharge ?

I suppose this idea is in reference to a SA auto, eg 1911, which was never intended to be decocked anyway.

After you shoot, you put the safety back on, and dont need to
decock.
 
2 options in semi auto

Either carry (1) cocked and locked SA, or (2) a decocked DA/SA.

Option 1 makes a lot of people uncomfortable, especially new shooters. Also, you have to remember to work the safety after you draw it.

Option 2 requires less dexterity. When you decock the gun you are not under stress. When you draw and press the trigger, the gun will fire. Period. This assumes you don't have (or use) a decocker/safety.

My nightstand gun, which my wife might have to use in my absence, is a decocking CZ-75BD.
 
To answer why buy in the first place you might think of why you wanted that particular gun in the first place.

Different gun, different primary purpose.

I picked up an H&K Compact .45. It is DA/SA with a decocker.

The reason I like DA is that I can carry with a round in the chamber and the gun can be fired just like a revolver. So if I need it for self defense I just aim and shoot, no need to think about safetys etc.

At the same time I am not happy about a round in the chamber with a cocked gun, safety be dammed.

So the decocker provides me with a very safe mechanism with which to put the hammer in a safer position, even with a round in the chamber.

From a practical standpoint, well who cares about being practical? All of my gun purchase decisions have been factually presented and backed by the best emotions I could muster!
 
lonegunman:
What about the CZ? The decocker is just a safety device in newer pistols that have DA, even the newer CZ's have them. If DA/SA guns didn't have decockers you couldn't easily go back to condition 2 in DA. The whole point being that condition 2 in DA would be more desirable safety wise. I understand that some folks like SA and this is a moot point to them.
AAshooter:
On a DA/SA gun you can engage a target and then go back to DA in condition 2 then safety and holster easily, theoretically making it more safe than having to unload or keeping it SA. Sorry I should have clarified myself.
 
AAshooter....

I'll echo the comments expressed by Carbon 15 and others - I am very uncomfortable with a SA cocked & locked arrangement, but one in the pipe with a DA/SA gives me the same degree of comfort that a revolver does, in terms of carry or otherwise being prepared. Almost all my semi's are decock types. ;)
 
As to why police like them I'd give a W.A.G. that on average they hold 1000 people at gun point for every time they actually fire. If your single action you have the option of leaving the safety on a 1911 type gun increasing the chance you will forget to take it off if you need to, fumbling trying to get it off, or (most likely) taking it off then forgetting to put it back on. The other option being taking the safety off and having 1/4" and 4# being the only thing to keep you from pulling the trigger accidently (Alvarez case ring a bell ;) ).

I know, I know, finger off the trigger till you need it. But face facts most police are not gun guys and shoot less with thier firearms in a year than most of us shoot in a month, you gotta take that into account.

As for the millitary, a decocker, safety AND the longest 15 pound double action pull available still can't keep them from shooting themselves in the butt repeatidly with thier M-9's (Thats not a flame just a fact). Don't really know what to say about that but a 1911 would not appear to be any safer.
 
Well, I can see everyone's point-

To the 1911 fan's: Carrying in the "cocked and locked" mode;
the idea is, if it's needed, shoot till it's dry.:) There is no better
safety than a empty magazine and an empty chamber.

To the fans's of decocking device's: If after you began a cycle
of fire, and you decide to stop for what ever reason; then the
hammer can be safely lowered without and AD.:cool:

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
A 12 lb trigger pulls and decockers were designed with beaurocrats in mind. Beaurocrats know more than the rest of us, but fortunately are willing to protect the rest of us from ourselves.
 
Well, on my SIG P226, the hammer is pretty minimal and is partially shrouded by the slide when down. This means that I don't have a hammer digging into my side if I carry it decocked.

The SIG decocker only style setup is great, becuse you don't have to flip any safety off to use the weapon. I know, 1911 fans say, "it's all part of the draw", but you have to learn that draw technique and stay proficient.
 
When would you recommend one to a new shooter?
Click to expand...

When the shooter is left-handed. I keep a Sig P220 in my nightstand, topped off with the hammer down. Being part of the "sinistrous sixth," not having a (righties-only) safety to fiddle with is a plus. Clearly, this can be cured with a good gunsmith and some more parts -- but why bother?

If I need my nightstand gun it will be in one of two scenarios:

1. Wake-up to find looming stranger in the doorway. In which case I snatch and squeeze. The action will be up close, personal and very fast. I don't want to hear a click when there should be a bang.

2. "Honey, there was a strange noise in the kitchen." In which case I've got plenty of time to quietly cock the hammer before the Huns kick down the door. Plus, when it turns out to be the dogs knocking things over, I can decock quickly and reliably in the dark and go back to sleep.

Besides, I'm shooting a .45 ACP. I probably won't need to shoot it empty unless a whole bunch of Huns come through the door. Probably best not to have a cocked pistol close at hand when a jumpy, newly sworn deputy responds to the 911 dispatch.
 
decocker best for new shooter

i would have to agree that a pistol with a decocker lever would seem to be best for a new shooter. I know quite afew new shooters who are nervous enough with a firearm on DA, let alone on SA right off the bat.

On a personal level i prefer the decocker to a safety, I feel sfaer knowing that the gun is DA, especially if it were to drop. I have never seen the nedd to carry "cocked and locked", but that does not mean that there are no sound safety or tactical reasons to do it. It just doesn't float my boat.

I guess the best thing to do would be to stick with what you are comfortable with. Which for me is my SigPro 2340 w/ a decocking lever.
 
Why buy a gun with a decocker?
So that if I ever NEED my gun I don't have to mess with a safty.


When would you recommend one to a new shooter?
All the time.
SIG 226 and 229 are great guns that I recommend often.
 
why buy a gun with a decocker?? personal preference comes to mind. there are so many valid reasons for C&L with a SA or decocked with a DA/SA, but the reason that stands out to me is personal preference. i would buy a gun with a decocker <did, walther p99> because that was what i wanted in that gun, my next one might be different. is one better than the other?? depends on which side of the fence you sit on. is one right and the other wrong?? i don't think so <but remember this is just my opinion>.

Adept
 
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