Why Striker?

JoeSixpack, my polymer striker fired pistols are tools. They meet every criteria, i.e., reliable, accurate, light weight, durable, with good capacity while being easily and comfortably carried. I am able to use them to effectively. That they are reasonably priced is a happy bonus. I don't give a rip if they possess a soul, great beauty, or any other characteristic that has nothing to do with the job they were designed to do.

I understand collecting fine firearms. While I'm not a collector, I don't own only polymer striker fired pistols. What I don't understand is the idea that their popularity dimishes other types of handguns. There are plenty of other options, and many buying them. We can buy high quality hammer fired handguns​ made of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or polymer in many calibers and configurations. It's​ all good in my humble opinion.
 
Agreed, K Mac. I love hammer fired guns just as much. HKs, CZs, Berettas, etc... For a loooong time, Glock was the only real option for a high cap, striker fired, poly framed pistol and the market was saturated with hammer fired guns. Now there's more competition in striker fired guns, but hammer fired isn't going anywhere. In fact, there's a ton of hammer fired stuff that's still new. The P30sk is still new. The SDP is still quite new. There are a lot of new striker guns hitting the market right now but many are simply a byproduct of the military trial. I like the consistency of striker fired guns and I like that there's no hammer digging into my love handles IWB, but you're right that they don't take anything away from hammer fired guns. Especially with how great a good DA/SA trigger can be!
 
JoeSixpack, my polymer striker fired pistols are tools. They meet every criteria, i.e., reliable, accurate, light weight, durable, with good capacity while being easily and comfortably carried. I am able to use them to effectively. That they are reasonably priced is a happy bonus. I don't give a rip if they possess a soul, great beauty, or any other characteristic that has nothing to do with the job they were designed to do.
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Great for you, Some of us collect them for more then their utility.. why not have a gun that is both?
If all they ever made was polymer guns I would own far FAR fewer guns then I do.

IMO other than size, Guns coming onto the market do very little to differentiate them selves from each other.. Like I said Im at the hardware store and I need a ratchet.. I don't need a half dozen of the same size.

I understand collecting fine firearms. While I'm not a collector, I don't own only polymer striker fired pistols. What I don't understand is the idea that their popularity diminishes other types of handguns. There are plenty of other options, and many buying them. We can buy high quality hammer fired handguns​ made of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or polymer in many calibers and configurations. It's​ all good in my humble opinion.
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You're looking at the small picture.. how many metal/hammer guns are coming onto the market?
Do you think every gun that's currently on the market will remain so? I don't think so, I have many guns on my "list of wants" that have been discontinued already, Im sure I can find a used example but finding old NIB gun get's pretty touch the further out you get from the end of production.

The "classics" will stick around, I would not be surprised if you can find a brand new 1911 50 years from now.. but the selection will be much smaller.
 
The market is the market, sorry but that's the truth. Most pistols made in the last few decades, unless they were a complete commercial flop, were made in significant quantities that you should be able to find them going forward. A used pistol doesn't have to be NIB to be perfectly serviceable. As for collecting if that's your goal and you're looking for something out of production then start saving. That's always been the way it is.


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Joe there are some around who still love naturally aspirated muscle cars, or listening to vinyl on vacuum tube amps, maybe both. Both are still available, at a price. Having discontinued guns on your wish list does not make a case for more new designs of hammer fired guns. Why are these guns discontinued? Why are there fewer new hammer fired guns being sold? Why are there more polymer striker fired handguns​ being developed? Here is the big picture answer: The market decides​. It doesn't care if you miss the window of opportunity to buy new guns that don't sell enough to justify production costs.
 
K Mac, you must be thinking of something else. The lpc ii is a hammer gun, if you can call that twitchy little paperclip a hammer.
 
Briandg you are certainly correct. I don't know why I had it in my head that it was a fully cocked striker. That may be the only mistake I've made today. Of course I haven't done much and the days not over yet! Thanks.
 
I honestly wonder if a striker firing pin system can fit into less than two inches, using a fraction of an ounce of steel. Punching a primer doesn't take a lot, but scaling all of the parts and their functioning down is a problem.
 
I honestly wonder if a striker firing pin system can fit into less than two inches,
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I am not certain, but there might be some pocket pistols (like something pre WWII and German...) that might qualify. The smallest striker I have is a Jennings .22LR and a quick and sloppy check with a tape measure says its a bit under 2.5" from the back of the slide to the rear edge of the ejection port.

So, 2", possibly a bit less might be done. There are pocket pistols smaller than the Jennings.

And, no, I didn't PAY for the Jennings :p It was a gift from someone who thought better of it than I do. I keep it as an example of what not to trust...

Here's a couple thoughts about the lack of new hammer fired designs...

First, its tough to significantly improve on those "ancient" designs. Second, it has to do with what current consumers expect. Remember that striker fired pistols have been around a LONG time, but were never more than pocket guns, other than the Luger, very FEW striker fired service class pistols were produced for many years.

In many cases, striker fired guns (or concealed hammer guns) could have been made, but were not, because the customers WANTED a hammer on the pistol.

Revolvers and hammer fired long guns were the common standard for generations before the first striker fired designs came along, and the hammer is the BIGGEST and most easily notice indication showing if the gun is cocked, or not, day OR night.

Today we have a generation of adults, a significant segment of whom have never dealt with anything BUT a striker fired design like the Glock.

I saw one of the "real" cop shows a while back where a younger officer took a revolver off a suspect, and didn't know how to unload it. People will, for the most part buy what they are familiar with. And the market will produce what SELLS, no matter what it is.
 
Actually, Joe, there is a new hammer gun on the market, that new Springfield XDE which is a striker fired handgun made into a hammer fired pistol. Really throws off the dynamic, doesn't it?

I just shot my first personally owned striker fired pistol and yes, it has many similarities to the Glock, which I have to use for work. However, Glock rested on their laurels and haven't really brought out anything inventive in some time and are looking at losing market share if they don't step up. This one is a HECK of a lot of fun.

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44,all good info.

Just like you, I took a casual look at my bodyguard. The actual hammer and mechanism take up about a square inch. Firing pin is a little over an inch, trigger and spring are about what one would expect. I think that it is amazing that a thing could be made that is so small and lightweight, and still reliably fire and feed, and be guaranteed to go through thousands of rounds without breaking down.
 
K Mac, you may have been thinking of the Ruger LC9 series.

They started with a hammer gun, and then came out with a striker version, calling it the LC9S. As far as I know, both are still being offered.

Now SIG still sells the P230 (hammer) and the P320 (striker). The 250 evolved into the 320 and looking at pictures from the side, I can't tell them apart.

There is room for both methods of firing, and I like both.

Bart Noir
 
briandg said:
I honestly wonder if a striker firing pin system can fit into less than two inches, using a fraction of an ounce of steel.
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I believe that the striker assembly in my J.P. Sauer Model 1930 (discussed earlier) does. Within the next few days, I'll try to dig it out of my safe and measure it.

Granted, its striker doesn't incorporate any sort of firing-pin-blocking safety mechanism as found in most modern striker pistols.
 
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Miniaturization in handguns is just as bad as it is with hamburgers. That 1/3 pound burger that I get at Jim Bob's becomes a McDonald's single.
 
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