One thing that I would like to suggest is that if you buy a new striker fired gun make sure that the firing pin and its chamber are 100% dry. Bought a M&P Shield once and was getting light primer strikes, Took out the firing pin and it had factory junk on it. cleaned and dried and never had the problem again. Guns do not come 100% clean from the factory.
I'd agree. Glock USA 🇺🇸 and the traditional 🇦🇹 location around 2018 or so began to seal, coat factory parts with a wierd "red brown" type packing grease. This is harmless but when you first field strip the pistol it looks wierd. 😏 S&W aka Big Blue uses different colors on the M&P recoil guide rods. This thin green, blue paint can wear off over a months. that's annoying too.
I had a SIG P-320 do the same thing. I began to get light primer strikes at the range one session so I spoke with a buddy behind the counter who took it in the back. He came back a few minutes later with all this green gunk that had poured out when he removed the striker.
@@DavidLLambertmobile The red/brawn grease in glock pistols is put there for the purpose. It has cuprum powder that give it that strange color and have slightly abrasive effects on moving parts of the gun ( slide/frame rails and trigeer parts) , to help them to brake in and work smoothly. Its better not clean this grease for about 1 thousand rounds.
Well, that's true m'friend, no gun comes clean from the factory, as they have to endure shipping, shelf time, etc, so all of them got some sort of long-lasting protective factory product on them. That's why all manuals explain how to clean your gun when you first get it, which also works even if it's a used one, or actually *specially* if it's a used one. Cheers.
I couldn’t decide between striker fired, DA/SA, SAO and DAO… so I decided to go with all of them. 21 handguns and counting. Edit: for anyone looking for a “do it all pistol”, I would recommend to take a look at the Walther PDP. Ironically, I don’t own one yet, but it seems to do everything and have all the features of my pistols in one package (except for the threaded barrel). I do have a PPQ Q5 and the few improvements that I wanted in it, they added with the PDP, while keeping what already worked well.
@@DrLanceFarr oh, I didn’t forget them: I have a .38spl Rossi, a .357 Ruger LCR, a 1873 Uberti and a .357 S&W 586. I’m still missing a .44mag… Revolvers are considered handguns along with pistols. Edit: I wrote 686, that’s the SS version. Mine is the blued one, the 586.
I’ve run striker for my EDC for as long as I can remember. Recently picked up a Sig p239 and switched back. Something really nice about an all metal DA/SA pistol.
My daily carry is a SIG P-229 and I trust it with my life. I started my law enforcement career with a Beretta 96-F and I trusted my life with it. When I had to give it back because we went to Glock, I hated it. I carried a Glock 22 because I had no choice however now that I am retired and that choice is given back, I went back to a DA/SA
I LOVE my 229, got some flush fitting 15rd mags recently and it's even better! Such a smooth handgun and perfect weight/size for me. Recently got a 365xl for daily carry and it is also very very nice, but I can't help but love my classic 229 more every year!
The Sig P226/229 is possibly the best pistol out there followed closely by the Beretta 92. The mall ninjas can keep there striker Tupperware toys but I’ll stick with my p229 and 92fs.
To help understand the firing mechanics: Hammer - the firing pin is pushed away from the cartridge primer by a spring. It doesn’t want to fire. It is forced to hit the primer by the hammer hitting it. Striker - the firing pin is pushed towards the primer by a spring, but is held back like a drawn bow just waiting for the bowman to loose their fingers. It wants to fire. So, carrying a striker-fired gun is like carrying a hammered gun with the hammer at least half-cocked. Some people aren’t comfortable with that. Note: not all hammers are exposed, some are internal.
@@N20Joe It depends on the striker fired pistol. The Glock is actually the safest in this regard. This is why the trigger pull of the Glock is spongey and kinda heavy to begin with, because technically with the Glock trigger, you're completing the cocking of the striker, in many ways, the Glock's trigger is closer to being a DA/SA than a SA. Which makes it the safest gun to drop out of all the striker fired pistols out there. Compare that to the Sig 320/M17/18, which is fully cocked and all the trigger does is allow the fully tensioned striker to drop.
@@joerobo682 I use to be of the opinion that Air Force folks are sissy’s. Lately I’ve been catching up on WW2 aces. Like Pappy Boyington (USMC), and one Army air corps ace Robin Olds. Here’s a guy that killed in prop planes and jets. What set him aside is a kill he did against a German formation, where he dropped his external fuel tanks but forgot to switch back to internal fuel. His engine stopped while pursuing his prey. Yet he was still able to down the German plane. This is likened to a gun fighter that can shoot six iron, modern revolver and striker fired. There was a detective in NYC (70’s) that took down 3 men with his snub nose revolver. That is a testimony to the “beware of the man with only one gun”. Have a great day 👍
There are plenty of striker fireds that replicate a good single action trigger pull and reset. Sorry, having the "been there, done that" I promise you that you won't notice the crispness or mushiness of either when you're on a fwo-way range.
@@pewpewTN I have a G34 with a Timney and no, it doesn't blow my mind. It's nice, probably the nicest pull of any striker I've fired, but it's mostly because of how light it is, not the break. My Beretta has a better break by far, and Berettas aren't known for having the best triggers.
Hammer fired guns tend to have better triggers and smoother actions as well as better safety features, but from other tests I’ve seen the enclosed system on a striker keeps dirt and mud out of the action better as well as performing better in sub-freezing temperatures.
From all the testing I've seen online, it's a wash up. Sometimes a striker does better in some tests, and sometimes a hammer fired gun does better in other, Garand Thumb had a test showing the Sandhawk 1911 winning with the M&P coming in close behind, MAC had testing where the Arex Rex (basically a DA/SA P226 copy) did the best out of all the guns he's ever tested. The hammer and heavier hammer spring is much more likely to smash through the crud that would realistically get inside of a pistol.
Can you picture him with a metal-framed, magnum auto loader? He uses one (AutoMag 180) for most of Sudden Impact, the fourth film in the series. If they do remake it, as some suggest is inevitable, he might use whatever big, impressive looking pistol is in vogue at the time. A Desert Eagle would be on that list, .50 caliber Glocks are a thing, who knows what weird thing they might go for. When making the first film Model 29s were rare and hard to find as was the AutoMag when they were making the fourth.
Not to argue but I prefer DA/SA hammer guns because I can dry fire repeatedly without having to pull the slide back every time. This gives me more trigger pulls per training session. I also have an untested theory that if someone is well trained on the heavy trigger pull of a DA gun then all other trigger pulls are inherently easier. Of course this is only anecdotal evidence, but when I shoot my buddies Glocks and M&Ps etc, I'm typically faster and more accurate even though the gun I train most on is a 7lbs DA trigger. Also, I find, from factory, DA/SA triggers are much more crisp with regards to their breaking point (excluding my Jericho 941, trigger is trash on it). Great video. Thanks guys!
I mostly carry a striker-fired pistol and prefer them for autoloaders, but definitely agree regarding training on a heavy trigger. My trainer pistol is a DA/SA .22 revolver. It has something like a 10-12 lbs trigger and I practice with it in double action more than anything. When you're used to such a long-heavy trigger and have thousands on thousands of dry and live-fire reps with it, lighter triggers are so easy to use smoothly.
You're dry firing incorrectly. Look at all the professional shooters who shoot their DA/SA at a high level, and listen to them talk about how to dry fire said pistol. They only pull trigger for the DA pull, and for the other pulls they only pull as far as the reset generally goes, even if nothing happens with the hammer or reset. If you had a revolver or DA only pistol, then your way would be correct.
I like the feel of hammer fired guns; striker triggers to me always feel like plastic bending until it crunches, or plastic bending until it snaps even the ones people gush about like the Wather PPQ or PDP. DA/SA is my jam and another benefit is when re-holstering I have a thumb on the hammer so if it moves something is caught in the trigger guard and I stop before the bang. To each their own and I have plenty of strikers, but there is something about hammer-fired that just does it for me.
Exactly what I was gonna say as well. I learned on a sig p229 and that's what I carry for work. I'm leaning toward purchasing a da/sa for concealed carry as well.
I agree, striker fired feels like a 2 stage AR trigger. I dont even understand why you would put a 2 stage on an Ar, but anyways I'm so used to Ar triggers i feel the need for a pistol with a similar trigger. Nice crisp break, not bendy springy brittle plastic til it snaps.
the Walther PDP is the first striker pistol I’ve shot where the trigger feels like a first class hammer fired trigger design. It seriously feels like a traditional trigger, and a very good one at that. Think CZ75 / Jericho / Baby Eagle good.
I carried a P-07 half-cocked in a dusty environment for awhile. Unfortunately, I did not fire it over a 2 week span. When I went to run it, it would not fire. Not for any amount of attempts at recycling and hammer drops. I eventually pulled it apart and found that a lot of crud had built up within the firing pin chamber. I cleaned it out and the firearm was back to normal.
Exactly. I carry with round in chamber and safety off. I like the peace of mind knowing my DA trigger isn't going to "trip" when I holster it, especially with my thumb on the hammer.
You guys reminded me of the difference I see when a neighborhood cat is walking atop my wooden privacy fence compared to one of the squirrels in the neighborhood. The squirrels race down the fence with wild abandon. I’d give ya both an A+ for straddling that fence! ❗️😹👍
This duo gets better and classier. Wonderful vid. For many it’s a visual, tactile thing, seeing and feeling a hammer and what position it’s in and there’s nothing wrong with that. Thanks cool duo!
Thats an interesting point. You made me think of why I considered, but ultimately haven't, changied my basement sump pump (pedestal type) for a less visible submersible type. I like see that float rod as an indicator.
That's not a mistake that's just a preference. I currently own six striker fired and one hammer fired which is a P22 Walther. I would like to get one of the new FN high powers which obviously is hammer-fired because I've liked high Powers since I worked in a gun shop in the early early '80s
I have a Glock 17 and it is a fine pistol that has never failed me. However, once I fired a CZ75B, I fell in love and got the compact PCR for EDC and a 97D which easily became my favorite 45. I think I'll leave instructions to bury me with my CZs! ;-)
Another commented on the emotional aspects of this. That has a real bearing on things. I'm an old man. Naturally, I'd lean towards older things. I have but two autoloaders amongst several revolvers. Being a 1911A1 and a S&W Shield 9mm. Sure I'm going to say I prefer the 1911A1, but that's based upon my own personal use and experience. However, the Shield is a remarkable piece of engineering, and it sure isn't going to be sold or traded. I like them both. Emotions aside, the reality of it is that if weapons design stopped, we'd still be using flintlocks. Right?
@@patrickdaly5068 Sure. It's flat. Compact. Has never exhibited any malfunctions in a years time. Very accurate. And a breeze to clean and maintain. And this is a first issue model with the safety, with tritium fiber optic sights to boot. In fact, it's the ONLY polymer framed autoloader I own.
I'm a Glock fan but I think the pro's and cons of either system are mostly theoretical. If either system is well made, it will do the job reliably. One thing I like about hammer fired systems is - if they are DA - they can have a second strike capability. But again, if you train for malfunctions by immediately tapping the slide and racking a new round, that too becomes kind of academic.
@@chupacabra4897 You are correct. The average person does not take the time to train himself and practice skills necessary if you want to carrry a pistol for SD.
@@AllAhabNoMoby I got 12 maga I put one bullet in each mag then I fire a round drop the mag reload and engage the next target . People don't realize the importance of training. But you can have all the Glocks and ARs you want and if your not trained and your adversary is you'll die in a gun fight same applies if you got 40 guns and no ammo 🤣😂😂
Takes a lot longer to tap rack or just rack than pull the trigger. Ppl will sometimes keep pulling the trigger wether it went off or not so they could correct the problem without even realizing it. Otherwise dead trigger.
@@jefferyboring4410 But very often that second strike doesn't resolve anything. And now you're just slower than the guy who immediately took the surest route and chambered a new round. All I'm saying is, there is no single best method. Pick one and get good with that, and you'll most likely do well.
A double-single action semi-auto pistol with long, heavy trigger pull on the first shot, and a manual safety that includes a hammer drop and firing pin block, is the only handgun that can be carried safely. For those who diss manual safeties, they gain a half second in drawing and firing but at the possibility of shooting themselves in the lower regions when pulling their weapon in a highly stressful situation.
I prefer a double action, single action for my carry gun over a striker pistol. They make me more confident, when carrying in the appendix position, that something bad won't happen if I had to use it under stress.
I like and prefer the second strike capability with a hammer. That being said I carry a 43X MOS with a 507k most of the time. If manufacturers would make newer hammer fired guns the size of a P365 with the larger magazine capacity that newer subcompacts have I would buy one and give it a try.
Take a look at the Ruger LCP Max……it’s a very nice hammer fired 380 that is smaller than the P365…….if you’re not stuck on the “9mm or nothing” thought process…….
Mock all you may like, but I have an XDM, where the trigger acts more like an SMG sear and just tips down; unlike many where the sear cocks the striker back with the trigger pull. So light you barely feel it.
There are very high quality aftermarket triggers available for several striker fired guns that can cast a pall on a 1911 trigger. Apex and Timney are two examples. Even with the purchase and installation of those it's still cheaper than a quality 1911.
What matters more than anything else is a handgun that fits you, that you can shoot accurately. Any firearm you don’t regularly practice with makes both points worth little. “Beware the man with one gun, he probably knows how to shoot it” Clint Smith
P. S. I’ll tell you what firearms work best but if I do you must agree to purchase and carry the same as Me. I purchase and carry whatever I want to and those are always the best.
I love a hammer with a decock Visually I can see what the tension on trigger will be I have options on how it will fire. Decock and holster Remove from holster with a double action Remove from holster pull hammer back for accurate single action. Store back in holster after decock for safer carry. And best of all I don’t need to think about Safety. Safety is for well trained or suckers. I’m not well trained. Simple stuff for this simple mind.
@@taylortisaac agreed. I like holstering my decock at 8 pounds. And follow up with 3 Both are great. I would go either or but still hesitant with 1911. Need to train a lot for me to carry this. I don’t have time or money to train that much
@@pewpewTN holster hoptions so you don’t accidentally shoot your self below the waist. It’s an amazing option that most don’t understand until they carry a decock Sig p229 And cz line ups have them
I have yet to fire a striker fired handgun that even comes close in smoothness to the action on a hammer fired gun. Striker fired has it's place for a simple, repeatable trigger to protect yourself with. Hammer fired guns on the other hand are great for those of us with more refined taste.
Absolutely. Never fired a glock that I liked. Not even a little bit. Spoiled with 1911s, CZ 75 for auto loaders, and SUPER spoiled with Smith 686 and other revolvers for fine shooting.
You guys are terrific. I own - and greatly admire - MANY hammer and striker fired handguns. HOWEVER, I respectfully believe you significantly underemphasized the potential safety issues of striker fired, no manual safety, autoloaders (Glocks are a primary example) - especially for unschooled, only occasional, and marginal or no appreciation of “the details” shooters (unfortunately, there are many such individuals). I own Glocks, M&Ps, and K-Series Kahrs that fall into this (striker / no manual safety) category, BUT I am exceedingly methodical and careful, particularly in re-holstering these weapons. Steve properly mentioned a holster (probably its strap) activating a Glock’s trigger, but so could (for example) an individual’s shirttail or his underwear. And, as we all know, a major percentage on negligent discharges occur when holstering. Moreover, there obviously are several rather vital body parts within about an inch of the muzzle when re-holstering AIWB.
Definitely have to agree I have seen the accidental discharges during holstering and it should bear mention. They probably wanted to stay on the fence and assume the shooter was on their gun safety p's and q's.
Following logic you should be correct, however there are striker fireds with manual safeties available on the market. HOWEVER, in my time (20+ years) as a range officer, I've seen far more NDs from inexperienced and experienced shooters with 1911s, probably more than all other types combined. I don't see a way to correctly and adequately study it without test bias, but it appears to me that for many shooters the manual safety is a dangerous crutch. The triggers of 1911s are generally unforgiving in their precision and so many 1911 safeties are disengaged without immediate user perception. Safe handling and safe training was also one of the factors why 1911s were replaced in military use.
Frankly, the issue should be the holsters, not the firearms. IWB and AIWB are only marginally better for concealment than OWB for most carrier and firearm combinations. IWB are much much worse than a quality OWB holster in terms of retention v. opposition in terms of "winning" the encounter. If you're not dropping at least $80 on a holster that's designed and manufactured for that one particular make and model you're not just negligent, you foolish to the point of recklessness. Simple matter is, buy what you want...nobody cares and it matters for naught if you trained for less than 100 hours on how to carry and use the weapon. Too many people want the cool factor of exercising their rights but very few actually commit to doing it responsibly.
I like striker fire pistols but the hammer single action double action is probably your best setup because you know there's a safety behind the weight of the trigger. and for the exposed Hammer part they do make some firearms with the hammer shaved down or flush to the back of the gun might be a little bit more expensive but they're out there
I grew up on my dad's p229 so I'll always prefer the Da/Sa route. Wish we had actual options for single stack Da/Sa firearms that could compete with EDCs like the P365 & the Shield.
@@bartvanriel6767 I understand losing a round or two for the hammer, but complicated? I don't agree. I understand that's obviously going to be the case when your first experience is with the action, but once someone sees and feels a cleared Da/Sa gun/trigger, and racks the slide to feel the reset and single action pull, it's pretty damn straightforward. Trying to explain it is harder than understanding it in person, especially with the visual and feel of the external hammer, which itself acts as a safety (thumbing the hammer).
The most important differences are: 1. number of firing modes (Glock has one, Beretta M9 has two - DA/SA) and 2. the number of exposed buttons and levers (hammer, decocker, safety). If you want to compare the hammer-fired handguns to their striker-fired counterparts from the mechanical standpoint only, the most fair comparison would be to compare a Glock to a Beretta PX4 Storm Type C - Constant Action. The latter is operated EXACTLY like the glock and you can see the partially cocked hammer. It will not fire with hammer down and it won't allow you to fully cock the hammer. It does not have neither the second strike capability nor the full single action firing mode, but it is still hammer fired. Now, the PX4 has a rotating barrel design, but it is a different story completely.
In the plus category, with a Hammer it is visibly obvious whether or not it is cocked. If you carry the way you should with one in the chamber there is no question whether or not it is ready to fire.
I prefer hammers, and exposed ones at that. This is because I'm typically carrying, and I like being able to put my thumb on that hammer while holstering the weapon, just for that extra peace of mind.
I like the DA/SA action for carry(sig p229). That first long trigger pull seems less likely to accidentally discharged when your stressed. I shoot a lot of revolver too so it also just what I’m used too.
DA-SA or TDA/traditional double action was popular for years. I recently saw a Orlando PD 👮🏽 officer engage in a shooting event. He was using a older P226 9mm DA/SA. Not a DAK(DA only). June 2022. Orlando Florida police have used-issued SIG P226s P229s in 9x19mm, .40 since 1990.
I own both types as a lot of folks here do also. To me it reduces to a training thing. It’s nice to have a consistent trigger pull from the very first round but I also like to put my thumb over the hammer when I re-holster my gun. But from my view I would always pick the hammer-fired action first. My only exception is my HK VP9SK.
Every company cuts corner when it comes to cost and profits , some just do it better then others (meaning they know where to cut cost so it doesn’t affect the performance and reliability of their firearms )
Grew up shooting steel frame, hammer fired Makarov and CZ pistols. Shot my first glock last year and it was a foreign experience to my hands. Can't really place it. Wasn't bad, just different.
If I’m not not mistaken the makarov is a fixed barrel and glock isn’t. The different you felt wasn’t from the hammer/striker but it was the recoil distribution from the gun.
I find that the biggest issue isn't Hammer vs Striker, since most people have little to no knowledge of the pros and cons of the two systems from an engineering point of view. In reality what they're really arguing is DA/SA pull vs anything resembling a standard SA pull. Many people prefer a singular trigger pull (like on a Glock, 1911, etc) over mastering the initial DA pull and then transition to a SA pull of a Beretta, Sig P226, CZ75, USP, P30, P2000, etc. I've personally found the DA/SA to be safer, and once mastered, you have a really nice trigger for the remainder of your magazine. This is why a lot of people in the tactical world are looking into 2011s. They get the feeling of a hammer fired trigger, while having only one type of trigger pull to learn/contend with. Although I will say, the DA/SA isn't hard to master and some of the worlds best shooters use those guns for competitions. If they were a detriment to performance, they wouldn't be used.
Main difference for me when shooting my reloads, is second strike ability with a DA hammer fired handgun in case the rounds don’t go bang the first time. That being said, my wife and I carry Shield 9mm.
That's where my thoughts take me too.. seems my 1911 (cocked) trigger pull is much lighter than my G19. I would have liked kyle to maybe go a tad deeper in the differences (basically to the shooter is it's trigger or force to 'rack') - get'em both - shoot'em up!!
That isn't even a striker vs hammer thing. Glock has the semi-double action going as a safety feature, but nothing stops a striker from being cocked all the way with a hair trigger. Look at the H&K p7. You cock the striker back with the squeeze action and the trigger is very crisp. Similarly to the Glock; someone could design a hammer fired gun that partially cocks back until you pull the trigger and you'd get the same mush. It has nothing to do with hammer vs striker.
@@nextlifeonearth well I'm not a Glock guy. I don't shoot them well. I have shot a SIG 365. Again I'm not used to the trigger. I'm looking at a SIG 320. I'm sure I could eventually get the fee of it.
The key to which is better lies in Steve's comment "a glock (striker fired) is perfectly safe, AS LONG AS your holster (or anything else) doesn't trip the trigger when holstering". With a hammer fired pistol, when holstering and your thumb on the back of the hammer, nothing can trip the trigger because the trigger won't pull with something (your thumb) blocking the hammer from moving. A striker fired pistol has no hammer to hold down, so there is a greater chance that something (anything) could trip the trigger.
For me, just being able to see whether my gun is cocked or not is enough to go for a hammer-fired gun, not to mention that the hard pull of the trigger to fire the first round is a much better guard against accidental discharge, like that of a revolver.
I’ll go with the design that gives me a good trigger. Been carrying a 1911 for about 45 years now. I’ve owned Glocks and Springfield XD series, but can’t love a mushy trigger. Use what works for you.
I've noticed that some hard primers won't ignite under striker but a hammer will get it to go. Striker is usually cheaper and easier to carry under some circumstances. But a hammer fired gives you more control and options. Plus you can generally tell the condition at a glance. Having said that I carry Striker fired or a revolver most of the time.
True. I reloaded 1500 rounds of 9mm using PMC primers which were the only thing available at the time. My M&P9c would only set off 1 out of every 3. All the duds went bang when I put them in a model 92 or 5906.
This debate will last for centuries. I like both. As noted, striker fired are cheaper to manufacture. Although I note more internal hammers. I agree, train. I love SA/DA for training...
Striker fired guns do not have an extremity that can become snagged and doesn't require extra architecture for the hammer to operate. The other thing we also have to remember as well is that when people think of hammer-fired, they're referring to a 1911 or a revolver. Me personally, I'm going to use a Glock all day every day. This is especially true with the Timney Alpha trigger. I don't own anything outside of a modified Glock 34 with a 26 Grip in Gen 5 that was 3D printed, and a Glock 48 for carry.
My daily carry is a 1911, .45. A few years ago I got a Hi Point, 9mm. I fire at 7yds. There is no difference in accuracy or competent function except one. The trigger on the 9mm snapped forward so hard, after 20 or so rounds my finger was red and starting to blister. I had it fixed, for a six pack of Busch.
What is the benefits of carrying striker over hammer in appendix carry? What is the benefits of carrying hammer over striker in hip carry? How can one be safer than the other depending on training?
It's very odd to me that this has become a "thing" in recent years. The method of smashing a steel stick (firing pin/striker) into a primer doesn't dictate how accurate, reliable, or safe a firearm is. The broad-strokes arguments that I see are completely indefensible. For example, I've seen people declare that hammer fired guns are more reliable than striker fired. How does that even make sense? A specific hammer fired gun can be more reliable than a specific striker fired gun but if that's not the argument being made.
For defensive use i prefer striker as you dont have to worry about a manual safety or have a double action first shot. But i dont really feel there is much difference in terms of reliability. Although with exposed hammer fired pistols i suppose its possible for dirt, sand, lint or whatever to get in front of the hammer and cause a light strike/failure to hit the pin etc. Striker fired being more sealed up from dirt is theoretically more reliable in certain conditions. But youre most likely not going to have an issue either way.
The flip side is that striker pistols, (until recently) never accommodated people wearing gloves. Which is why I have gravitated towards hammer guns. I carry a P07 for that very reason. If I have to use a pistol, I want to be able to, with whatever is on my hands. Also the double action allows more control with gloved fingers, and lowers the chances of an ND when presenting the firarm with gloves. A light Tigger every time makes clumsy gloved fingers more dangerous.
@@herknorth8691 Yes and no... a double action can require more travel of the trigger. But until recently it did. Why hasn't glock changed their frame layout for undercuts and wider guards. I mean the whole industry just started this trend within the last four to six years?
@@TheTyrial86 I agree with you that Glocks should have bigger and better-designed trigger guards. I had a Beretta APX for a while that had a much bigger trigger guard than the Glock and that was a positive thing. That said, I got rid of the APX and still have the Glocks so I guess some sins can be forgiven if the rest of the package is good enough.
Ok. Some hammer models TCP and LCP are partially cocked single action with a longer pull simulating a double action feel. The real question is what models can be dry fired 500 times or more without damage?
@@knrz2562 .22lr guns should Never be dry fired. Unless its specifically stated as ok by the manufacturer or youre using snapcaps. Striker fired pistols can be dry fired all day long without any issue. .Most hammer fired guns can also be dryfired, usually only really having problems on cheap guns
It's the same argument as lever gun vs bolt action. It just comes down to wants and needs. Sometimes you wanna be a cowboy, other days a sniper. To each his own...
Great analysis as always guys. Keep up the good work. Find the firearm that's right for you and your application, find a professional trainer that will help you deploy that arm safely and efficiently and effectively, and pray to God you never have to use it.
I’ve been wondering this myself for a long time myself. Bought a hammer and striker handgun to specifically find any differences. You gentlemen added to that today. Thank you for insightful conversation.
Great video ! Better or safer ? I’ve seen more negligent discharges at the range in the past 20 years than I’ve ever seen in my life and all were striker fired guns ! Of the ones I’ve fired I didn’t like them ! Barrera 92 FS I’ve shot but not as much as a 1911 and I like both ! Browning hi power I like ! Glock I do not like as I don’t like that style or feel and that’s it’s striker fired! Appendix carry may be okay for a lot of people but I’ve found no comfort with that carry !
100% agree on "ya are best with what you are comfortable with". I'll take my model 12 (that I grew up shooting) over my Benelli, pheasant hunting every time, but never the opposite for waterfowl hunting. Same with EDC from summer to winter for purpose based. As long as you are comfortable with a "tool", you can choose the right one for the job regarding situational changes.
I started shooting as a kid back in the '80s and hammer guns were the in thing at the time, so that's what I grew up with. In recent decades I've added several striker guns to my collection too. I love them both. If I like a pistol I don't care whether it has a hammer and firing pin or a striker.
As a Glock fanboy I will say I love GLOCKS, but that Old style Milled Sig P229’s slide is by FAR my favorite Sig! I wish they’d bring back that milled slide!! I have a few in the safe, & my favorite are the P229 milled with the Beavertails on them. Their name & designation escapes me right now, but the longevity of them certainly doesn’t!! Bring back the MILLED P229 Slides!!
I prefer hammer fired DA/SA pistols. This is no insult to striker fired pistols. Glocks run, M&P’s run etc. it’s just personal preference. One advantage that goes to DA/SA pistols is restrike capabilities which is also why the walther p99, and various Canik pistols have a lot of lure to me.
When holstering a hammer fired pistol, putting your thumb on the hammer helps you know if the trigger has caught on anything (e.g., clothing) while pushing the gun into the holster. If the hammer moves, stop.
My first handguns were hammer-fired revolvers. All my current revolvers are hammer-fired. My first semi-automatic pistol was striker-fired. All my subsequent semi-automatic pistols are hammer-fired. I personally prefer hammer-fired handguns.
Guns with pre-tensioned strikers are basically single-action guns. I can hit with my G22 at 25 yards; when I shot a Ruger Security-Six the added double-action trigger work made 25 yards problematic as heck for me.
The biggest point I tell my customers is that a Striker will give you the same trigger pull every time while a Hammer gives you 2 different pulls (assuming it’s a DA/SA), but the SA pull is extremely easy to get hits with. That usually helps people make a decision
The opposite of a low-point would be a plateau. Since the "low" in 'low-point' infers that there are higher points, the line could be anything from a straight line on an angle, to a sine wave which alternates between a consistent peak and valley over a given distance or time. Therefore the opposite of a low point would be a plateau.
I don’t have a strong preference, I can work with either. But if given my druthers I tend to opt for DA/SA. Currently running a CZ P07. I wouldn’t try to steer anyone either way. Learn to be effective with both, carry what you want.
For me striker fired is more convenient with conceal way smaller pistols and for everyone talking about accidentally discharging your finger shouldn't be on the trigger if you don't want to shoot it. Trigger safety is key yes it might be a high stress situation but I want my gun out as quick as possible with no snags and have a consistent pull everytime. 5 to 4.5 lbs is the perfect trigger pull for a conceal carry.
One thing I've found is that it is easier to do a trigger job on a hammer fired gun than a striker fired gun. Doing a trigger job on a striker fired gun mostly involves buying a parts kit and changing the parts. A trigger job on a hammer fired gun can be done without buying a parts kit. By filing, sanding, smoothing and polishing the internal parts of a hammer fired gun you can do a better job at smoothing the action, reducing the trigger pull all without buying a parts kit.
One benefit to a striker is that it is generally a bit easier to make the pistol have a low bore axis, which helps to reduce muzzle flip. The pivot of the hammer is usually located in the upper grip area, just ahead of the tang, which most of the time takes up a little space and forces the grip shape to be one that lowers the shooter's hand _slightly._ That said, it's not enough of a factor to make a huge difference, and skilled shooters have no problem making fast follow up shots, even from guns with relatively high bore axes, like the SIG-Sauer pistols, for example.
4,03 As Long As The Holster Does Not Trip The Trigger.........or your shirt! Anytime the fireing pin is under tension there is a risk for the gun to go off if there is no manual safety blocking the firing pin. An old saying......."Choose the gun and caliber where you can put three shots in the center from the distance you intend too shoot at". NEVER chamber a round unless you intend to fire your weapon. ALWAYS have the SAFETY ON untill you are ready to fire your weapon.
If i were to speculate. I think the reason why firearms were initially designed with hammers is because the technology and metallurgy then, didn't allow manufacturers to create a small simple coil spring that would push a firing pin with enough force to ignite the primer. The hammer, with enough mass and inertia was the only elegant solution then to drive that pin with sufficient force and fire the gun reliably. Advancements in technology and manufacturing process has now made it possible to create spring powered strikers, just like it is now possible to create guns made of "plastic".
The bottom line is:
Shoot what YOU are comfortable with.
Opinions are just that: OPINIONS
opinions are like a$$holes, everybody has one
@@lacie5522 .., And most of them stink. 😁
@@lacie5522...and they all stink, in some way.
@@lacie5522 Well U R! LOL@U!
One thing that I would like to suggest is that if you buy a new striker fired gun make sure that the firing pin and its chamber are 100% dry. Bought a M&P Shield once and was getting light primer strikes, Took out the firing pin and it had factory junk on it. cleaned and dried and never had the problem again. Guns do not come 100% clean from the factory.
I'd agree. Glock USA 🇺🇸 and the traditional 🇦🇹 location around 2018 or so began to seal, coat factory parts with a wierd "red brown" type packing grease. This is harmless but when you first field strip the pistol it looks wierd. 😏 S&W aka Big Blue uses different colors on the M&P recoil guide rods. This thin green, blue paint can wear off over a months. that's annoying too.
Same here with my Taurus G3. Started getting a bunch of light strikes, took it to a gunsmith, and paid $58 to have him remove some cosmoline lol
I had a SIG P-320 do the same thing. I began to get light primer strikes at the range one session so I spoke with a buddy behind the counter who took it in the back. He came back a few minutes later with all this green gunk that had poured out when he removed the striker.
@@DavidLLambertmobile The red/brawn grease in glock pistols is put there for the purpose. It has cuprum powder that give it that strange color and have slightly abrasive effects on moving parts of the gun ( slide/frame rails and trigeer parts) , to help them to brake in and work smoothly. Its better not clean this grease for about 1 thousand rounds.
Well, that's true m'friend, no gun comes clean from the factory, as they have to endure shipping, shelf time, etc, so all of them got some sort of long-lasting protective factory product on them. That's why all manuals explain how to clean your gun when you first get it, which also works even if it's a used one, or actually *specially* if it's a used one. Cheers.
I couldn’t decide between striker fired, DA/SA, SAO and DAO… so I decided to go with all of them.
21 handguns and counting.
Edit: for anyone looking for a “do it all pistol”, I would recommend to take a look at the Walther PDP. Ironically, I don’t own one yet, but it seems to do everything and have all the features of my pistols in one package (except for the threaded barrel). I do have a PPQ Q5 and the few improvements that I wanted in it, they added with the PDP, while keeping what already worked well.
As the founders intended.
Thats what im talking about!
Do you conceal carry all 21 at the same time?
I like the way you think .... don't forget the wheel guns!
@@DrLanceFarr oh, I didn’t forget them: I have a .38spl Rossi, a .357 Ruger LCR, a 1873 Uberti and a .357 S&W 586. I’m still missing a .44mag… Revolvers are considered handguns along with pistols.
Edit: I wrote 686, that’s the SS version. Mine is the blued one, the 586.
I’ve run striker for my EDC for as long as I can remember. Recently picked up a Sig p239 and switched back. Something really nice about an all metal DA/SA pistol.
DA/SA the way to go. With a de-cocker.
The " low point " bit made me laugh more than i should've 😂
We all knew what he was getting at already, that just gave us a laugh. XXXD
I really felt that it was the “High Point” of this conversation and episode. 😏
From now on when ppl ask me what i carry...🤣
What's the opposite of a 'low point'? 🤔
Hmmm... Let me think about that for a little bit. 😅
2:51
My daily carry is a SIG P-229 and I trust it with my life. I started my law enforcement career with a Beretta 96-F and I trusted my life with it. When I had to give it back because we went to Glock, I hated it. I carried a Glock 22 because I had no choice however now that I am retired and that choice is given back, I went back to a DA/SA
Totally agree i went from a Glock 19 to Sig M11 A1 and i am much more proficient with the Sig they are all i carry
Yes, the P229 is a far superior pistol than any striker fire gun, especially the Sig P229 Legion! I agree 100%!
I LOVE my 229, got some flush fitting 15rd mags recently and it's even better! Such a smooth handgun and perfect weight/size for me.
Recently got a 365xl for daily carry and it is also very very nice, but I can't help but love my classic 229 more every year!
The P229A-1 is one of the most underrated handguns.
The Sig P226/229 is possibly the best pistol out there followed closely by the Beretta 92. The mall ninjas can keep there striker Tupperware toys but I’ll stick with my p229 and 92fs.
To help understand the firing mechanics:
Hammer - the firing pin is pushed away from the cartridge primer by a spring. It doesn’t want to fire. It is forced to hit the primer by the hammer hitting it.
Striker - the firing pin is pushed towards the primer by a spring, but is held back like a drawn bow just waiting for the bowman to loose their fingers. It wants to fire.
So, carrying a striker-fired gun is like carrying a hammered gun with the hammer at least half-cocked. Some people aren’t comfortable with that.
Note: not all hammers are exposed, some are internal.
Never thought about it like that but yeah it makes sense. They say that glocks pin is like 80% cocked and even that sounds iffy to me.
@@N20Joe It depends on the striker fired pistol. The Glock is actually the safest in this regard. This is why the trigger pull of the Glock is spongey and kinda heavy to begin with, because technically with the Glock trigger, you're completing the cocking of the striker, in many ways, the Glock's trigger is closer to being a DA/SA than a SA. Which makes it the safest gun to drop out of all the striker fired pistols out there. Compare that to the Sig 320/M17/18, which is fully cocked and all the trigger does is allow the fully tensioned striker to drop.
I prefer hammer fired as I can get it in DA/SA....I feel that makes it safer for concealed carry
In no world is a hammer fired more safe than a striker fired gun for ccw 🤣🤣🤣🤡
@@jhh600 no reason to throw a clown emoji because you don’t understand
Very good point. But my G3 has second strike. Sooo. Its a double single.
@@JoeArn1 please explain hahah then u can’t
Thats why i chose beretta 92
The operator behind the trigger is the deciding factor.
almost always
@@joerobo682 %100 ALWAYS
@@Acidburn3141 naah, I've had weapons malfunction. they're not infallible
@@joerobo682 but if you shoot good ammo and have a good gun. you shouldn't have any issues.
@@joerobo682 I use to be of the opinion that Air Force folks are sissy’s. Lately I’ve been catching up on WW2 aces. Like Pappy Boyington (USMC), and one Army air corps ace Robin Olds. Here’s a guy that killed in prop planes and jets. What set him aside is a kill he did against a German formation, where he dropped his external fuel tanks but forgot to switch back to internal fuel. His engine stopped while pursuing his prey. Yet he was still able to down the German plane. This is likened to a gun fighter that can shoot six iron, modern revolver and striker fired. There was a detective in NYC (70’s) that took down 3 men with his snub nose revolver. That is a testimony to the “beware of the man with only one gun”. Have a great day 👍
Crispness of a single action hammer fall, will never be replicated with a striker mush. To each his own.
I have a 19x with a Timney trigger that would blow your mind.
There are plenty of striker fireds that replicate a good single action trigger pull and reset.
Sorry, having the "been there, done that" I promise you that you won't notice the crispness or mushiness of either when you're on a fwo-way range.
My Canik Mete SFT pro I used to have and my current Walther PDP raise that bet.
Provided it's tuned properly!
@@pewpewTN I have a G34 with a Timney and no, it doesn't blow my mind. It's nice, probably the nicest pull of any striker I've fired, but it's mostly because of how light it is, not the break. My Beretta has a better break by far, and Berettas aren't known for having the best triggers.
Hammer fired guns tend to have better triggers and smoother actions as well as better safety features, but from other tests I’ve seen the enclosed system on a striker keeps dirt and mud out of the action better as well as performing better in sub-freezing temperatures.
From all the testing I've seen online, it's a wash up. Sometimes a striker does better in some tests, and sometimes a hammer fired gun does better in other, Garand Thumb had a test showing the Sandhawk 1911 winning with the M&P coming in close behind, MAC had testing where the Arex Rex (basically a DA/SA P226 copy) did the best out of all the guns he's ever tested. The hammer and heavier hammer spring is much more likely to smash through the crud that would realistically get inside of a pistol.
I like the hammer better. And access to the hammer. But I'm Gen X- we are a strange lot.
Some how I just can't picture Harry Callahan with a striker fired, polymer handgun.
I can imagine that if pushed by the department, he'd upgrade to a 1911 ostensibly as a backup.
@Lungho LOL Yes a social justice "They" with a pleasant attitude will do it for me.
@@lenholt7419 Will they call it "Clean Harriet"?
Can you picture him with a metal-framed, magnum auto loader? He uses one (AutoMag 180) for most of Sudden Impact, the fourth film in the series. If they do remake it, as some suggest is inevitable, he might use whatever big, impressive looking pistol is in vogue at the time. A Desert Eagle would be on that list, .50 caliber Glocks are a thing, who knows what weird thing they might go for. When making the first film Model 29s were rare and hard to find as was the AutoMag when they were making the fourth.
Glock Model 40
Not to argue but I prefer DA/SA hammer guns because I can dry fire repeatedly without having to pull the slide back every time. This gives me more trigger pulls per training session. I also have an untested theory that if someone is well trained on the heavy trigger pull of a DA gun then all other trigger pulls are inherently easier. Of course this is only anecdotal evidence, but when I shoot my buddies Glocks and M&Ps etc, I'm typically faster and more accurate even though the gun I train most on is a 7lbs DA trigger. Also, I find, from factory, DA/SA triggers are much more crisp with regards to their breaking point (excluding my Jericho 941, trigger is trash on it).
Great video. Thanks guys!
I mostly carry a striker-fired pistol and prefer them for autoloaders, but definitely agree regarding training on a heavy trigger. My trainer pistol is a DA/SA .22 revolver. It has something like a 10-12 lbs trigger and I practice with it in double action more than anything. When you're used to such a long-heavy trigger and have thousands on thousands of dry and live-fire reps with it, lighter triggers are so easy to use smoothly.
You're dry firing incorrectly. Look at all the professional shooters who shoot their DA/SA at a high level, and listen to them talk about how to dry fire said pistol. They only pull trigger for the DA pull, and for the other pulls they only pull as far as the reset generally goes, even if nothing happens with the hammer or reset. If you had a revolver or DA only pistol, then your way would be correct.
I like the feel of hammer fired guns; striker triggers to me always feel like plastic bending until it crunches, or plastic bending until it snaps even the ones people gush about like the Wather PPQ or PDP. DA/SA is my jam and another benefit is when re-holstering I have a thumb on the hammer so if it moves something is caught in the trigger guard and I stop before the bang. To each their own and I have plenty of strikers, but there is something about hammer-fired that just does it for me.
Thank you for making my comment for me
Exactly what I was gonna say as well. I learned on a sig p229 and that's what I carry for work. I'm leaning toward purchasing a da/sa for concealed carry as well.
I agree, striker fired feels like a 2 stage AR trigger. I dont even understand why you would put a 2 stage on an Ar, but anyways I'm so used to Ar triggers i feel the need for a pistol with a similar trigger. Nice crisp break, not bendy springy brittle plastic til it snaps.
Only striker Ive encountered that didnt feel a little like that is Kahr, but it has a longer smoother pull than most striker fired.
the Walther PDP is the first striker pistol I’ve shot where the trigger feels like a first class hammer fired trigger design. It seriously feels like a traditional trigger, and a very good one at that. Think CZ75 / Jericho / Baby Eagle good.
I carried a P-07 half-cocked in a dusty environment for awhile. Unfortunately, I did not fire it over a 2 week span. When I went to run it, it would not fire. Not for any amount of attempts at recycling and hammer drops. I eventually pulled it apart and found that a lot of crud had built up within the firing pin chamber. I cleaned it out and the firearm was back to normal.
Yeahhh that’s the only problem with the hammer fired guns. I’ve since decided to stick with the Glock 19.
Personally, I like having the safety of a more firm pull in double action and having my thumb on the hammer when reholstering appendix carry.
Exactly. I carry with round in chamber and safety off. I like the peace of mind knowing my DA trigger isn't going to "trip" when I holster it, especially with my thumb on the hammer.
You guys reminded me of the difference I see when a neighborhood cat is walking atop my wooden privacy fence compared to one of the squirrels in the neighborhood. The squirrels race down the fence with wild abandon. I’d give ya both an A+ for straddling that fence! ❗️😹👍
This duo gets better and classier. Wonderful vid. For many it’s a visual, tactile thing, seeing and feeling a hammer and what position it’s in and there’s nothing wrong with that. Thanks cool duo!
Thats an interesting point. You made me think of why I considered, but ultimately haven't, changied my basement sump pump (pedestal type) for a less visible submersible type. I like see that float rod as an indicator.
My 1st pistol was a striker-fired/polymer design. I learned from my mistake. Now it's been all metal hammer-fired pistols since
So what did you end up with? I’m curious because I’m considering making the switch too.
@@zackiinu7194 Seecamp 32acp, Ruger LCR 327 Fed Mag, S&W J/frame 442 38S, Bersa FireStorm 380, Bond Arms Roughneck 327 FedMag, Bul Armory 1911 45acp, Beretta 96a1 40S&W, Ruger New Model Hunter 22lr/22mag, Ruger MK4, NAA 1860 Sheriff 22Mag
That's not a mistake that's just a preference.
I currently own six striker fired and one hammer fired which is a P22 Walther.
I would like to get one of the new FN high powers which obviously is hammer-fired because I've liked high Powers since I worked in a gun shop in the early early '80s
I have a Glock 17 and it is a fine pistol that has never failed me. However, once I fired a CZ75B, I fell in love and got the compact PCR for EDC and a 97D which easily became my favorite 45. I think I'll leave instructions to bury me with my CZs! ;-)
@@stephenschroeder6567 so much for the lonely Glocks once your time is up here
Another commented on the emotional aspects of this. That has a real bearing on things. I'm an old man. Naturally, I'd lean towards older things. I have but two autoloaders amongst several revolvers. Being a 1911A1 and a S&W Shield 9mm. Sure I'm going to say I prefer the 1911A1, but that's based upon my own personal use and experience. However, the Shield is a remarkable piece of engineering, and it sure isn't going to be sold or traded. I like them both. Emotions aside, the reality of it is that if weapons design stopped, we'd still be using flintlocks. Right?
Can you elaborate on what you like about the Shield? Thanks!
@@patrickdaly5068 Sure. It's flat. Compact. Has never exhibited any malfunctions in a years time. Very accurate. And a breeze to clean and maintain. And this is a first issue model with the safety, with tritium fiber optic sights to boot. In fact, it's the ONLY polymer framed autoloader I own.
Hey! There’s nuthin wrong with flintlocks!
@@paulcolbecksr.3876 True! And percussion revolvers and rifles. I use 'em all!😁
@@paulcolbecksr.3876 I was about to type that haha
I'm a Glock fan but I think the pro's and cons of either system are mostly theoretical. If either system is well made, it will do the job reliably. One thing I like about hammer fired systems is - if they are DA - they can have a second strike capability. But again, if you train for malfunctions by immediately tapping the slide and racking a new round, that too becomes kind of academic.
Average person may not do that under the stress of a gun fight
@@chupacabra4897 You are correct. The average person does not take the time to train himself and practice skills necessary if you want to carrry a pistol for SD.
@@AllAhabNoMoby I got 12 maga I put one bullet in each mag then I fire a round drop the mag reload and engage the next target . People don't realize the importance of training. But you can have all the Glocks and ARs you want and if your not trained and your adversary is you'll die in a gun fight same applies if you got 40 guns and no ammo 🤣😂😂
Takes a lot longer to tap rack or just rack than pull the trigger. Ppl will sometimes keep pulling the trigger wether it went off or not so they could correct the problem without even realizing it. Otherwise dead trigger.
@@jefferyboring4410 But very often that second strike doesn't resolve anything. And now you're just slower than the guy who immediately took the surest route and chambered a new round.
All I'm saying is, there is no single best method. Pick one and get good with that, and you'll most likely do well.
A double-single action semi-auto pistol with long, heavy trigger pull on the first shot, and a manual safety that includes a hammer drop and firing pin block, is the only handgun that can be carried safely. For those who diss manual safeties, they gain a half second in drawing and firing but at the possibility of shooting themselves in the lower regions when pulling their weapon in a highly stressful situation.
That's what I loved about the Walther P99 (AS). Striker fired, but functions like a DA/SA hammer fired pistol (including 'second strike' capability).
And also has a decocker, and an amazing factory trigger with a crazy reset 🙂
2:47
Yes, I don't know why a certain manufacturer would call themselves opposite of a "low point" to imply quality. I agree
I prefer a double action, single action for my carry gun over a striker pistol. They make me more confident, when carrying in the appendix position, that something bad won't happen if I had to use it under stress.
Yes Sir, I agree especially if you have a de cocker!
'Low Point' 🤣 Yeah, I caught that one! That's friggin hilarious!!!
Each for it's own use, everything else is just emotions.
I like and prefer the second strike capability with a hammer. That being said I carry a 43X MOS with a 507k most of the time. If manufacturers would make newer hammer fired guns the size of a P365 with the larger magazine capacity that newer subcompacts have I would buy one and give it a try.
Take a look at the Ruger LCP Max……it’s a very nice hammer fired 380 that is smaller than the P365…….if you’re not stuck on the “9mm or nothing” thought process…….
I’ve never seen a striker fire with as good a trigger as my 1911. I’ll stick with the old school. Enjoyed the video. You guys are great.
Mock all you may like, but I have an XDM, where the trigger acts more like an SMG sear and just tips down; unlike many where the sear cocks the striker back with the trigger pull. So light you barely feel it.
There are very high quality aftermarket triggers available for several striker fired guns that can cast a pall on a 1911 trigger. Apex and Timney are two examples. Even with the purchase and installation of those it's still cheaper than a quality 1911.
What matters more than anything else is a handgun that fits you, that you can shoot accurately. Any firearm you don’t regularly practice with makes both points worth little.
“Beware the man with one gun, he probably knows how to shoot it” Clint Smith
P. S.
I’ll tell you what firearms work best but if I do you must agree to purchase and carry the same as Me.
I purchase and carry whatever I want to and those are always the best.
I love a hammer with a decock
Visually I can see what the tension on trigger will be
I have options on how it will fire.
Decock and holster
Remove from holster with a double action
Remove from holster pull hammer back for accurate single action.
Store back in holster after decock for safer carry.
And best of all
I don’t need to think about Safety.
Safety is for well trained or suckers.
I’m not well trained.
Simple stuff for this simple mind.
Quality carry strikers don’t have safeties, just a thought. Just draw and shoot
Why do you need any option other than "aim & pull trigger"?
@@taylortisaac agreed.
I like holstering my decock at 8 pounds.
And follow up with 3
Both are great.
I would go either or but still hesitant with 1911.
Need to train a lot for me to carry this.
I don’t have time or money to train that much
@@pewpewTN holster hoptions so you don’t accidentally shoot your self below the waist.
It’s an amazing option that most don’t understand until they carry a decock
Sig p229
And cz line ups have them
@@doniyel My EDC is a CZ 75D compact PCR. Love the decocking function and its tight groupings. All my other pistols became range guns.
I think flintlock is better
I have yet to fire a striker fired handgun that even comes close in smoothness to the action on a hammer fired gun. Striker fired has it's place for a simple, repeatable trigger to protect yourself with. Hammer fired guns on the other hand are great for those of us with more refined taste.
Totally agreed
Absolutely. Never fired a glock that I liked. Not even a little bit. Spoiled with 1911s, CZ 75 for auto loaders, and SUPER spoiled with Smith 686 and other revolvers for fine shooting.
I use both. I have a 226 bedside and carry a 19 most of the time. I love both. Great video.👍
You guys are terrific.
I own - and greatly admire - MANY hammer and striker fired handguns. HOWEVER, I respectfully believe you significantly underemphasized the potential safety issues of striker fired, no manual safety, autoloaders (Glocks are a primary example) - especially for unschooled, only occasional, and marginal or no appreciation of “the details” shooters (unfortunately, there are many such individuals).
I own Glocks, M&Ps, and K-Series Kahrs that fall into this (striker / no manual safety) category, BUT I am exceedingly methodical and careful, particularly in re-holstering these weapons. Steve properly mentioned a holster (probably its strap) activating a Glock’s trigger, but so could (for example) an individual’s shirttail or his underwear. And, as we all know, a major percentage on negligent discharges occur when holstering. Moreover, there obviously are several rather vital body parts within about an inch of the muzzle when re-holstering AIWB.
Definitely have to agree I have seen the accidental discharges during holstering and it should bear mention. They probably wanted to stay on the fence and assume the shooter was on their gun safety p's and q's.
Following logic you should be correct, however there are striker fireds with manual safeties available on the market.
HOWEVER, in my time (20+ years) as a range officer, I've seen far more NDs from inexperienced and experienced shooters with 1911s, probably more than all other types combined.
I don't see a way to correctly and adequately study it without test bias, but it appears to me that for many shooters the manual safety is a dangerous crutch. The triggers of 1911s are generally unforgiving in their precision and so many 1911 safeties are disengaged without immediate user perception.
Safe handling and safe training was also one of the factors why 1911s were replaced in military use.
Frankly, the issue should be the holsters, not the firearms. IWB and AIWB are only marginally better for concealment than OWB for most carrier and firearm combinations. IWB are much much worse than a quality OWB holster in terms of retention v. opposition in terms of "winning" the encounter. If you're not dropping at least $80 on a holster that's designed and manufactured for that one particular make and model you're not just negligent, you foolish to the point of recklessness.
Simple matter is, buy what you want...nobody cares and it matters for naught if you trained for less than 100 hours on how to carry and use the weapon. Too many people want the cool factor of exercising their rights but very few actually commit to doing it responsibly.
I like striker fire pistols but the hammer single action double action is probably your best setup because you know there's a safety behind the weight of the trigger. and for the exposed Hammer part they do make some firearms with the hammer shaved down or flush to the back of the gun might be a little bit more expensive but they're out there
I grew up on my dad's p229 so I'll always prefer the Da/Sa route. Wish we had actual options for single stack Da/Sa firearms that could compete with EDCs like the P365 & the Shield.
The reason we don’t is because a DA/SA is fairly complicated and requires more room in a pistol which doesn’t lend itself well to DA/SA designs
@@bartvanriel6767 I understand losing a round or two for the hammer, but complicated? I don't agree. I understand that's obviously going to be the case when your first experience is with the action, but once someone sees and feels a cleared Da/Sa gun/trigger, and racks the slide to feel the reset and single action pull, it's pretty damn straightforward. Trying to explain it is harder than understanding it in person, especially with the visual and feel of the external hammer, which itself acts as a safety (thumbing the hammer).
The most important differences are: 1. number of firing modes (Glock has one, Beretta M9 has two - DA/SA) and 2. the number of exposed buttons and levers (hammer, decocker, safety). If you want to compare the hammer-fired handguns to their striker-fired counterparts from the mechanical standpoint only, the most fair comparison would be to compare a Glock to a Beretta PX4 Storm Type C - Constant Action. The latter is operated EXACTLY like the glock and you can see the partially cocked hammer. It will not fire with hammer down and it won't allow you to fully cock the hammer. It does not have neither the second strike capability nor the full single action firing mode, but it is still hammer fired. Now, the PX4 has a rotating barrel design, but it is a different story completely.
In the plus category, with a Hammer it is visibly obvious whether or not it is cocked. If you carry the way you should with one in the chamber there is no question whether or not it is ready to fire.
I prefer hammers, and exposed ones at that. This is because I'm typically carrying, and I like being able to put my thumb on that hammer while holstering the weapon, just for that extra peace of mind.
I like the DA/SA action for carry(sig p229). That first long trigger pull seems less likely to accidentally discharged when your stressed. I shoot a lot of revolver too so it also just what I’m used too.
Think you meant the first long trigger pull is LESS likely to accidentally discharge
DA-SA or TDA/traditional double action was popular for years. I recently saw a Orlando PD 👮🏽 officer engage in a shooting event. He was using a older P226 9mm DA/SA. Not a DAK(DA only). June 2022. Orlando Florida police have used-issued SIG P226s P229s in 9x19mm, .40 since 1990.
@@cncmillman corrected, better an accident with a keyboard than a trigger
Thank you guys for making this video it will help me narrow down my decision for my ccw
I own both types as a lot of folks here do also. To me it reduces to a training thing. It’s nice to have a consistent trigger pull from the very first round but I also like to put my thumb over the hammer when I re-holster my gun. But from my view I would always pick the hammer-fired action first. My only exception is my HK VP9SK.
Every company cuts corner when it comes to cost and profits , some just do it better then others (meaning they know where to cut cost so it doesn’t affect the performance and reliability of their firearms )
*than (a comparison)
then = point in time
Grew up shooting steel frame, hammer fired Makarov and CZ pistols. Shot my first glock last year and it was a foreign experience to my hands. Can't really place it. Wasn't bad, just different.
If I’m not not mistaken the makarov is a fixed barrel and glock isn’t. The different you felt wasn’t from the hammer/striker but it was the recoil distribution from the gun.
I find that the biggest issue isn't Hammer vs Striker, since most people have little to no knowledge of the pros and cons of the two systems from an engineering point of view. In reality what they're really arguing is DA/SA pull vs anything resembling a standard SA pull. Many people prefer a singular trigger pull (like on a Glock, 1911, etc) over mastering the initial DA pull and then transition to a SA pull of a Beretta, Sig P226, CZ75, USP, P30, P2000, etc.
I've personally found the DA/SA to be safer, and once mastered, you have a really nice trigger for the remainder of your magazine. This is why a lot of people in the tactical world are looking into 2011s. They get the feeling of a hammer fired trigger, while having only one type of trigger pull to learn/contend with. Although I will say, the DA/SA isn't hard to master and some of the worlds best shooters use those guns for competitions. If they were a detriment to performance, they wouldn't be used.
Main difference for me when shooting my reloads, is second strike ability with a DA hammer fired handgun in case the rounds don’t go bang the first time. That being said, my wife and I carry Shield 9mm.
I like both
Having my P220 for over 20 years, I find the striker fire trigger is different. It would take awhile to get used to.
That's where my thoughts take me too.. seems my 1911 (cocked) trigger pull is much lighter than my G19. I would have liked kyle to maybe go a tad deeper in the differences (basically to the shooter is it's trigger or force to 'rack') - get'em both - shoot'em up!!
I agree. The difference is very subtle- but it's definitely 'there'.
That isn't even a striker vs hammer thing. Glock has the semi-double action going as a safety feature, but nothing stops a striker from being cocked all the way with a hair trigger. Look at the H&K p7. You cock the striker back with the squeeze action and the trigger is very crisp.
Similarly to the Glock; someone could design a hammer fired gun that partially cocks back until you pull the trigger and you'd get the same mush. It has nothing to do with hammer vs striker.
@@nextlifeonearth well I'm not a Glock guy. I don't shoot them well. I have shot a SIG 365. Again I'm not used to the trigger. I'm looking at a SIG 320. I'm sure I could eventually get the fee of it.
The key to which is better lies in Steve's comment "a glock (striker fired) is perfectly safe, AS LONG AS your holster (or anything else) doesn't trip the trigger when holstering". With a hammer fired pistol, when holstering and your thumb on the back of the hammer, nothing can trip the trigger because the trigger won't pull with something (your thumb) blocking the hammer from moving. A striker fired pistol has no hammer to hold down, so there is a greater chance that something (anything) could trip the trigger.
For me, just being able to see whether my gun is cocked or not is enough to go for a hammer-fired gun, not to mention that the hard pull of the trigger to fire the first round is a much better guard against accidental discharge, like that of a revolver.
I’ll go with the design that gives me a good trigger. Been carrying a 1911 for about 45 years now. I’ve owned Glocks and Springfield XD series, but can’t love a mushy trigger. Use what works for you.
I've noticed that some hard primers won't ignite under striker but a hammer will get it to go. Striker is usually cheaper and easier to carry under some circumstances. But a hammer fired gives you more control and options. Plus you can generally tell the condition at a glance. Having said that I carry Striker fired or a revolver most of the time.
True. I reloaded 1500 rounds of 9mm using PMC primers which were the only thing available at the time. My M&P9c would only set off 1 out of every 3. All the duds went bang when I put them in a model 92 or 5906.
An extended firing pin usually ends that problem.
This debate will last for centuries. I like both. As noted, striker fired are cheaper to manufacture.
Although I note more internal hammers.
I agree, train. I love SA/DA for training...
Striker fired guns do not have an extremity that can become snagged and doesn't require extra architecture for the hammer to operate. The other thing we also have to remember as well is that when people think of hammer-fired, they're referring to a 1911 or a revolver. Me personally, I'm going to use a Glock all day every day. This is especially true with the Timney Alpha trigger. I don't own anything outside of a modified Glock 34 with a 26 Grip in Gen 5 that was 3D printed, and a Glock 48 for carry.
@@steveb855 What's there to laugh about with a gun that weighs more than a 1911 and holds 15 rounds in a larger magazine than a Double stack 1911?
@@steveb855 Yes, because they're synonymous with those firearms.
My daily carry is a 1911, .45. A few years ago I got a Hi Point, 9mm. I fire at 7yds. There is no difference in accuracy or competent function except one. The trigger on the 9mm snapped forward so hard, after 20 or so rounds my finger was red and starting to blister. I had it fixed, for a six pack of Busch.
Unlike the Sig 320, I have never known a self firing hammer gun.
What is the benefits of carrying striker over hammer in appendix carry? What is the benefits of carrying hammer over striker in hip carry? How can one be safer than the other depending on training?
It's very odd to me that this has become a "thing" in recent years. The method of smashing a steel stick (firing pin/striker) into a primer doesn't dictate how accurate, reliable, or safe a firearm is. The broad-strokes arguments that I see are completely indefensible. For example, I've seen people declare that hammer fired guns are more reliable than striker fired. How does that even make sense? A specific hammer fired gun can be more reliable than a specific striker fired gun but if that's not the argument being made.
For defensive use i prefer striker as you dont have to worry about a manual safety or have a double action first shot. But i dont really feel there is much difference in terms of reliability.
Although with exposed hammer fired pistols i suppose its possible for dirt, sand, lint or whatever to get in front of the hammer and cause a light strike/failure to hit the pin etc. Striker fired being more sealed up from dirt is theoretically more reliable in certain conditions. But youre most likely not going to have an issue either way.
The flip side is that striker pistols, (until recently) never accommodated people wearing gloves. Which is why I have gravitated towards hammer guns. I carry a P07 for that very reason. If I have to use a pistol, I want to be able to, with whatever is on my hands. Also the double action allows more control with gloved fingers, and lowers the chances of an ND when presenting the firarm with gloves. A light Tigger every time makes clumsy gloved fingers more dangerous.
@@TheTyrial86 so going back to my OP, you realize that the firing mechanism doesn't dictate how big the trigger guard is, right?
@@herknorth8691
Yes and no... a double action can require more travel of the trigger.
But until recently it did. Why hasn't glock changed their frame layout for undercuts and wider guards. I mean the whole industry just started this trend within the last four to six years?
@@TheTyrial86 I agree with you that Glocks should have bigger and better-designed trigger guards. I had a Beretta APX for a while that had a much bigger trigger guard than the Glock and that was a positive thing. That said, I got rid of the APX and still have the Glocks so I guess some sins can be forgiven if the rest of the package is good enough.
Ok. Some hammer models TCP and LCP are partially cocked single action with a longer pull simulating a double action feel. The real question is what models can be dry fired 500 times or more without damage?
Dry firing damages your weapons
But maybe 22lr or 32 acp can survive till the end of time
@@knrz2562 .22lr guns should Never be dry fired. Unless its specifically stated as ok by the manufacturer or youre using snapcaps. Striker fired pistols can be dry fired all day long without any issue. .Most hammer fired guns can also be dryfired, usually only really having problems on cheap guns
@@ryanpeck3377 I still use snap caps in my hammer guns.
If John Browning didn't invent it I don't want it
"If you live in the past, you die in the past." - Mike Ditka.
As long as they're reliable,go with whichever works for you. I've used hammer fired and striker fired . They both work well.
It's the same argument as lever gun vs bolt action.
It just comes down to wants and needs.
Sometimes you wanna be a cowboy, other days a sniper.
To each his own...
Great analysis as always guys. Keep up the good work. Find the firearm that's right for you and your application, find a professional trainer that will help you deploy that arm safely and efficiently and effectively, and pray to God you never have to use it.
I’ve been wondering this myself for a long time myself. Bought a hammer and striker handgun to specifically find any differences. You gentlemen added to that today. Thank you for insightful conversation.
Everyone shits on hi-point but it's a gun that goes bang for
SCCY is another decent affordable choice at that price range too.
Great video ! Better or safer ? I’ve seen more negligent discharges at the range in the past 20 years than I’ve ever seen in my life and all were striker fired guns !
Of the ones I’ve fired I didn’t like them !
Barrera 92 FS I’ve shot but not as much as a 1911 and I like both ! Browning hi power I like !
Glock I do not like as I don’t like that style or feel and that’s it’s striker fired!
Appendix carry may be okay for a lot of people but I’ve found no comfort with that carry !
100% agree on "ya are best with what you are comfortable with". I'll take my model 12 (that I grew up shooting) over my Benelli, pheasant hunting every time, but never the opposite for waterfowl hunting. Same with EDC from summer to winter for purpose based. As long as you are comfortable with a "tool", you can choose the right one for the job regarding situational changes.
I love my CZ P10S. But still, my 1911A1, CZ Shadow 2 and even my Kimber Micro 9 are all very shootable and useful firearms. Great video.
I'm an old 1911 guy. But when I decided to CC a couple of years ago I bought a Sig P365. I ain't disappointed!
DA/SA is the way. No better "safety" than being able to thumb your hammer as you holster.
The first striker fired 9mm pistol was NOT manufactured by Glock, it was the H&K VP70(which was the first polymer pistol.
I started shooting as a kid back in the '80s and hammer guns were the in thing at the time, so that's what I grew up with. In recent decades I've added several striker guns to my collection too. I love them both. If I like a pistol I don't care whether it has a hammer and firing pin or a striker.
As a Glock fanboy I will say I love GLOCKS, but that Old style Milled Sig P229’s slide is by FAR my favorite Sig! I wish they’d bring back that milled slide!! I have a few in the safe, & my favorite are the P229 milled with the Beavertails on them. Their name & designation escapes me right now, but the longevity of them certainly doesn’t!! Bring back the MILLED P229 Slides!!
They both have their place and use. Personally I prefer a external hammer and S/D . My 2 favorites of mine, my CZ P07 with the decocker and G19 gen5.
I prefer hammer fired DA/SA pistols. This is no insult to striker fired pistols. Glocks run, M&P’s run etc. it’s just personal preference. One advantage that goes to DA/SA pistols is restrike capabilities which is also why the walther p99, and various Canik pistols have a lot of lure to me.
When holstering a hammer fired pistol, putting your thumb on the hammer helps you know if the trigger has caught on anything (e.g., clothing) while pushing the gun into the holster. If the hammer moves, stop.
My first handguns were hammer-fired revolvers.
All my current revolvers are hammer-fired.
My first semi-automatic pistol was striker-fired.
All my subsequent semi-automatic pistols are hammer-fired.
I personally prefer hammer-fired handguns.
Striker fired pistols have an advantage for concealed carry. No external hammer to snag on things, catch lint, or bite your hand. To each their own.
I like hammers and strikers. They work differently and if you like either great. I'm glad you own one and I hope you use and carry responsibly.
Guns with pre-tensioned strikers are basically single-action guns. I can hit with my G22 at 25 yards; when I shot a Ruger Security-Six the added double-action trigger work made 25 yards problematic as heck for me.
The biggest point I tell my customers is that a Striker will give you the same trigger pull every time while a Hammer gives you 2 different pulls (assuming it’s a DA/SA), but the SA pull is extremely easy to get hits with. That usually helps people make a decision
Being able to double strike with hammer is nice in the unlikely instance of a light strike.
@3:27 most people I hear talk about it like SIG for Pointing at their Junk , they better know the trigger & hammer location
both are striker fire 🎤 “mic drop” 🤣
The opposite of a low-point would be a plateau.
Since the "low" in 'low-point' infers that there are higher points, the line could be anything from a straight line on an angle, to a sine wave which alternates between a consistent peak and valley over a given distance or time.
Therefore the opposite of a low point would be a plateau.
Stop.... lol
I don’t have a strong preference, I can work with either. But if given my druthers I tend to opt for DA/SA. Currently running a CZ P07. I wouldn’t try to steer anyone either way. Learn to be effective with both, carry what you want.
The one thing I miss about iowa was my wife's job at Brownells hope all is well
For me striker fired is more convenient with conceal way smaller pistols and for everyone talking about accidentally discharging your finger shouldn't be on the trigger if you don't want to shoot it. Trigger safety is key yes it might be a high stress situation but I want my gun out as quick as possible with no snags and have a consistent pull everytime. 5 to 4.5 lbs is the perfect trigger pull for a conceal carry.
I like being able to thumb check the hammer when reholstering appendix for obvious reasons 😊
One thing I've found is that it is easier to do a trigger job on a hammer fired gun than a striker fired gun. Doing a trigger job on a striker fired gun mostly involves buying a parts kit and changing the parts. A trigger job on a hammer fired gun can be done without buying a parts kit. By filing, sanding, smoothing and polishing the internal parts of a hammer fired gun you can do a better job at smoothing the action, reducing the trigger pull all without buying a parts kit.
Always like to see your back and forth. The way you present pros and cons as you work through the myth is fun and sometimes funny!
One benefit to a striker is that it is generally a bit easier to make the pistol have a low bore axis, which helps to reduce muzzle flip. The pivot of the hammer is usually located in the upper grip area, just ahead of the tang, which most of the time takes up a little space and forces the grip shape to be one that lowers the shooter's hand _slightly._ That said, it's not enough of a factor to make a huge difference, and skilled shooters have no problem making fast follow up shots, even from guns with relatively high bore axes, like the SIG-Sauer pistols, for example.
Over the years I have become to love hammer fired love the double action single action choices.
OMG is that a Pitch Meeting mug? Love it.
UNDEED! 🥳😸👍 I was hoping someone else notice that, I'm a big Ryan George / Pitch Meeting fan! 😁😁
Caleb: there's a low point
Me: I see what you did there
4,03 As Long As The Holster Does Not Trip The Trigger.........or your shirt!
Anytime the fireing pin is under tension there is a risk for the gun to go off if there is no manual safety blocking the firing pin.
An old saying......."Choose the gun and caliber where you can put three shots in the center from the distance you intend too shoot at".
NEVER chamber a round unless you intend to fire your weapon.
ALWAYS have the SAFETY ON untill you are ready to fire your weapon.
BTW SIG DA/SA is the most safe & BEST IMHO I like both
If i were to speculate. I think the reason why firearms were initially designed with hammers is because the technology and metallurgy then, didn't allow manufacturers to create a small simple coil spring that would push a firing pin with enough force to ignite the primer. The hammer, with enough mass and inertia was the only elegant solution then to drive that pin with sufficient force and fire the gun reliably. Advancements in technology and manufacturing process has now made it possible to create spring powered strikers, just like it is now possible to create guns made of "plastic".
The primers were also less reliable