Archived Posts » 59,859,448
Can't ease the hammer down?
8/8/2011 6:10:54 PM
Hey guys I'm the new owner of a Special Edition Ultra Carry II. In the manual it says not to ease the hammer down. Does this mean when a round is chambered or when empty? Have any of you done this with no problems? And last, why do they say not to do that? Thanks for any help I just want to make sure I take the best care I can to the new addition to the family.
8/8/2011 6:34:15 PM
It is probably speaking of lowering the hammer on a full chamber, this is not a recommended procedure.
If you lose contact with the hammer while lowering it, a very loud noise and a good sized hole will occur.
ETA
If you're chamber is empty, really empty, there is no reason to lower the hammer, just press the trigger.
8/8/2011 6:55:51 PM
Originally Posted By 50-140:
It is probably speaking of lowering the hammer on a full chamber, this is not a recommended procedure.
It is probably speaking of lowering the hammer on a full chamber, this is not a recommended procedure.
If you lose contact with the hammer while lowering it, a very loud noise and a good sized hole will occur.
ETA
If you're chamber is empty, really empty, there is no reason to lower the hammer, just press the trigger.
Besides an accidental discharge, why can't you ease it down? I get what your saying I'm just curious.
8/8/2011 8:31:22 PM
Easing the hammer down causes wear on the sear and if done on a regular basis will degrade the quality of the trigger pull.
Whenever possible drop the hammer on a 1911, rather than easing it forward.
The other thing to avoid on a 1911 with a good trigger pull is to let the slide run forward on an empty chamber. Personally, I avoid it when loading a round as well and use a modified sling shot method
Whenever possible drop the hammer on a 1911, rather than easing it forward.
The other thing to avoid on a 1911 with a good trigger pull is to let the slide run forward on an empty chamber. Personally, I avoid it when loading a round as well and use a modified sling shot method
8/8/2011 8:52:00 PM
Originally Posted By DakotaFAL:
Easing the hammer down causes wear on the sear and if done on a regular basis will degrade the quality of the trigger pull.
Whenever possible drop the hammer on a 1911, rather than easing it forward.
The other thing to avoid on a 1911 with a good trigger pull is to let the slide run forward on an empty chamber. Personally, I avoid it when loading a round as well and use a modified sling shot method
Easing the hammer down causes wear on the sear and if done on a regular basis will degrade the quality of the trigger pull.
Whenever possible drop the hammer on a 1911, rather than easing it forward.
The other thing to avoid on a 1911 with a good trigger pull is to let the slide run forward on an empty chamber. Personally, I avoid it when loading a round as well and use a modified sling shot method
Does this go for all 1911's? Sorry if I have a million questions but being a mechanic I'm the kind of person that likes to know "why". What is the difference on the sear between the hammer falling at normal speed and falling slow? The reason I ask is because in my mind it's the same action just slower.
8/10/2011 3:00:42 AM
It does happen. I've handled guns all my life and not too long ago I let one go. I had my pistol cocked from hunting and had the hammer back with it on safety being that's the way your should carry a 1911 if you want to use it in a quick manner safely. Keeping a round in the chamber with the hammer down isn't as safe as the hammer back and safety on in my mine. However, this time when I decided to uncock the hammer to put the pistol away instead of just taking out the mag and racking the slide to unload the pistol I decided to let the hammer down on a loaded chamber. Now I use to do this all the time until I decided it would be safer to do it the other way. However, for some reason, I decided to take a short cut and let the hammer down. The hammer slipped and bang. Only thing saved me is I was a in a place where it was safe for a firearm to go off and had it pointed in a safe direction as you should always do even if you don't plan on shooting it.
Even though nothing bad happened it could have and I will never unload my 1911 like that again. Lesson learned, actually new the lesson, and took a short cut I should say. So leason learned on not to take short cuts.
Even though nothing bad happened it could have and I will never unload my 1911 like that again. Lesson learned, actually new the lesson, and took a short cut I should say. So leason learned on not to take short cuts.
8/12/2011 2:30:38 AM
aside from it generally being bad practice to lower the hammer on any gun that does not have a decocker it will also cause wear on the parts stated above. also kimber (not sure of other brands) has a secondary safety that if the hammer falls without the grip safety being depressed it will stop the hammer from falling all the way. it kinda looks like a half cock but its not. easing the hammer forward can damage this secondary safety on kimbers.
8/15/2011 2:02:10 PM
There is nothing mechanically wrong with lowering a hammer on a 1911.
There IS something wrong with doing it, it builds a bad habit that is a ND waiting to happen at best and an ND that might kill you or worse some one else.
As a mechanic I'm sure you know of several bad habits that while having nothing wrong with them can lead to a chain of events that lead to the possibility of an accident.
There IS something wrong with doing it, it builds a bad habit that is a ND waiting to happen at best and an ND that might kill you or worse some one else.
As a mechanic I'm sure you know of several bad habits that while having nothing wrong with them can lead to a chain of events that lead to the possibility of an accident.
8/15/2011 5:28:14 PM
Rack the slide without a mag in and eyeball to double check a empty chamber and pull trigger to decock, If it goes bang you did something really wrong
Condition 1: Cocked and Locked, the ONLY way to carry a 1911
Had to slip mine in here
Condition 1: Cocked and Locked, the ONLY way to carry a 1911
Had to slip mine in here
8/15/2011 6:05:53 PM
I've owned 1911s for a while now and I have never lowered the hammer. If I don't want it back, I pull the trigger.
8/15/2011 9:40:05 PM
You can't lower the hammer on any 1911 without pulling the trigger after first depressing the grip safety. So the hammer can't unintentionally drop on a mechanically sound 1911 unless you want it too. Dropping it too fast on a loaded chamber intentionally was the mistake I made. Deciding to take a short cut in the first place was wrong gun safety.
Since, I made that mistake the only way to empty a 1911 is mag out and rack the slide to eject round then pull trigger to lower the hammer.
Since, I made that mistake the only way to empty a 1911 is mag out and rack the slide to eject round then pull trigger to lower the hammer.
