Hammers or strikers?

[Boats]

I prefer hammers myself, they seem to strike primers with more authority across a range of handguns I have fired. Strikers strike me as delicate though I do have an M&P I like and had an XD that was okay.

 

[kokapelli]

Striker mechanism is simpler, has less parts and theoretically should be more reliable because of it's simplicity.

On of the most reliable pistol around is the striker fired Glock. As you mentioned, the XD is very reliable and the two striker fired Kahrs I have, have been 100% with all kinds of different ammo.

I believe a lot of rifles and shotguns are also striker fired.

 

[Black Majik]

Hammer. I like the double strike capability on DA/SA pistols or DAO pistols.

Also, I like to have the exposed cocked hammer locked so I can freak out the Glock guys that go onto a ranting tirade of how dangerous an exposed cocked locked carry is.

 

[Chrome]

Striker-fired, but only if DA/SA like my Walther P99. Otherwise, hammer time for me!

Later,
Chrome...

 

[jlbraun]

I like hammers because I can hold the hammer forward when holstering. A lot of accidents happen to police when reholstering because the trigger catches on something. I've resisted getting a Glock 19 for this reason.

 

[MT GUNNY]

I have both types but prefur hammer style IMHO

good ? 4 Poll!!

 

[mpmarty]

Hammer for many reasons.
1. More mass striking firing pin for more consistent ignition with hard primers.
2. Easy to cock, decock, verify state of readyness.
3. Easy to bring back to full cock with either thumb, faster than slide reset.
4. Amusing to have Glock owners tell me "Hey that thing's cocked" to which I reply "yes, and yours is half cocked"
5. That's just the way all my 1911s and High Powers come from the factory so it must be right, right?
6. Having the slide force the hammer back during recoil allows softer recoil spring and still slows slide velocity making pistol more durable.

 

[CPLofMARINES]

My Glock 19 has struck the primer over 3000 times and put a round
down range everytime.


Semper Fi!!

 

[JesseL]

1. More mass striking firing pin for more consistent ignition with hard primers.

Does that really make much difference when the firing pin is floating?

 

[HisSoldier]

I have a few with strikers, a Mauser P08, and Baby Browning's, but it's weird not being able to look at them and know if they are cocked.

 

[bg226]

Strikers hit the primer with less force than hammers.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

No preference, I own and use both. The hammer may strike the firing pin/primer a little harder than just the spring tension of the striker, but that would only come into play with very hard-primered ammunition.

 

[Seven©]

To each his own.

 

[rbernie]

To those that would suggest a hammer is more reliable in terms of ignition - most all bolt action rifles get by with using strikers just fine.

 

[simpleguy]

I do not have a preference, I have both, as long as they go BANG!

 

[polekitty]

I have two 1911’s and one 9mm striker fired “little thing.” I guess the 9 will be reliable, but can’t say---I’ve so far fired less than 1k through it.

Would one of you “seasoned old timers” tell me how to originate a new thread?

 

[Hoppy590]

im defiantly a hammer fan. single action semi autos to be specific.

 

[Jason_G]

I like hammers. DA/SA or SAO. I do like the simplicity of the striker-fired pistols, but I also feel uncomfortable not knowing exactly what's going on inside the gun. I know it's just a silly mental block type of thing, but if I can see the hammer cocked on a gun, I know it's ready to go. I don't get that same sense of security out of the striker-fired guns. I like the visual confirmation that the gun is cocked. Silly, I know, but I can't help it.

Jason

 

[sm]

Hammer.

 

[igpoobah]

Whatever makes it go "BANG!"

 

[PointOneSeven]

Flintlock .

 

[spyderdude]

I own both, and as long as the guns go bang when I want them to, and don't go bang when I don't want them to, I'm a happy camper.

 

[1911 guy]

Hammers. I've never seen a striker fired 1911.

Polekitty, go to the section of THR you want to start a thread in, say General Handguns. On the left hand side, above the list of thread titles, is a button like the reply button inside a thread. It will bring up a box just like the reply box in which you type the title and text of your thread. Submit it just like hitting the "Submit Reply" at the bottom of your post in this thread.

 

[easyg]

I like both so long as they work.

I like the visual confirmation that the gun is cocked. Silly, I know, but I can't help it.

You're not alone.
And some gun makers have taken notice....the SA XD pistols have a cocked indicator on the rear of the pistol, and it's very easy to visually confirm when a Glock is cocked....

Trigger to the rear means it's not cocked:



Trigger forward means that it is cocked:



And they both have "loaded chamber indicators" too.
So the shooter should never be in doubt when their striker fired pistol is loaded and cocked....at least with Glocks and XDs.