Multi-Strike Capability - How important?

[wbond]

Multi-strike is the capability to strike the primer again just by pulling the trigger again.

Revolvers and double action autos have multi-strike capability.

Single action revolvers, autos, and the partially cocked actions like Glock and Kahr and others do NOT have multi-strike capability. If they have a misfire, the gun must be cocked again before the trigger can be pulled again.

How important is multi-strike capability?

If you get a misfire the first time, how likely is it that pulling the trigger again will get it to fire the second or third try?

Obviously, the revolver has the advantage here since it tries a new cylinder each time.

What about semi-autos?

I'm considering getting a Kahr 9mm. I like most things about it, but it has a partially cocked type of trigger that does not have multi-strike capability.

How often do misfires occur with center fire handgun ammo? If a misfire occurs, is it likely that a second or third strike will do any good? Obviously this is an area where revolvers are superior, but what about autos?

 

[CAnnoneer]

IMO, multi-strike is over-rated. I have never had a misfire with my semi-autos.

 

[ChristopherG]

I wouldn't say it's all that important, only because it can't really be relied on. I mean, shooting a wheelgun, if I have a misfire in an on-the-clock situation (like in competition), I'm not going to bother to try to hit the same round again (i.e., after the cylinder completes its rotation), because the chance of its going off on the second strike is maybe 60/40. Much better to shoot your five and reload.

Now if you didn't have a reload, or you had a really slow one, I imagine you might feel differently. But really, if your gun is in shape, and you know your ammo, and you've practiced with the combination, the likelihood of a misfire is so low that I wouldn't let this ability enter into the decision of weapons in any serious way. I do think there are a lot of good reasons to choose a revolver for carry, but this one is not among the more significant.

 

[geekWithA.45]

Restrike's worthwhile, but no huge biggy. I've probably had about 3 or 4 rounds that needed hitting again to ignite, out of maybe 17,000.

 

[Majic]

Revolvers no matter if they are DA or SA do not have muti-strike capability. The cylinder will advance to the next chamber when you cycle the action again. Only when the cylinder has completed the entire rotation will the non firing cartridge come back up under the hammer.

 

[Old Dog]

Always good to try a search first ... I believe we hashed this out (again, as every few months) quite thoroughly in this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=184461&highlight=strike+capability

 

[HSMITH]

I give ZERO value to repeat strike capability. If it didn't go the first time I sure as heck am not going to try it again in a situation where I NEED the gun to work. Tap-Rack-Bang should happen on autopilot if you get a 'click' instead of a 'bang'. Too often a round that doesn't go off in a service type (read: UNMODIFIED!!) handgun on the first try will not go off with 10 hits. A tap rack bang takes or should take less than a half a second, and if it didn't go on the second hit you tried you just delayed getting a fresh round in the chamber by .15-.3 seconds IF you are quite fast. If you are average it is probably closer to a full half second for a second strike, if it doesn't go on the second hit you are at a FULL second once you execute the tap rack bang.

Second strike is total bunk to me. YMMV.

 

[Steve C]

The ability to get a second firing pin strike is only usefull when shooting handloads where the primer wasn't fully seated and some military surplus ammo that's hard primered for machine guns where the round may not go off the first hit.

 

[psyopspec]

Tap-Rack-Bang should happen on autopilot if you get a 'click' instead of a 'bang'.

Looks like we have a bingo!

 

[Soybomb]

I think you should train to rack if you have a misfire. But I sure don't think it hurts to have if you panic and start pulling the trigger repeatedly. Anythings better than nothing then.

 

[355sigfan]

QUOTE
I think you should train to rack if you have a misfire. But I sure don't think it hurts to have if you panic and start pulling the trigger repeatedly. Anythings better than nothing then.
END QUOTE

Actually you should tap rack access/bang. If you panic in a shooting situation your dead. If you live it will be by luck and the mercy of god.
Pat

 

[Henry Bowman]

It appears to be important to the .gov. All of the new handgun bid specs I've seen in the last few years have been for DAO or DA/SA, with or w/o a manual safety. Either they want the double strike capability or they are afraid of SAO/Condition 1 carry.

 

[treeprof]

A 2nd strike capability is generally not of any importance to me. However, as I type this, the thread just above this one pertains to gun selection for a disabled shooter. Although my personal opinion is that a revolver may generally be best for someome with limited strength/mobility or missing a hand/digits, 2nd strike *may* take on some added significance for someone for whom manipulating a slide is an inherently difficult task. Possibly for a wounded-shooter scenario as well.

 

[3rdpig]

Multi strike is a sales gimmick, it has virtually no real use. A properly trained shooter will never even use it. The proper method is tap, rack, bang if it doesn't go off the first time. It should be so automatic that it's built into muscle memory.

 

[355sigfan]

QUOTE
It appears to be important to the .gov. All of the new handgun bid specs I've seen in the last few years have been for DAO or DA/SA, with or w/o a manual safety. Either they want the double strike capability or they are afraid of SAO/Condition 1 carry.
END QUOTE

Actually GLock dominates leo sales and its does not have a second strike.
Pat

 

[wbond]

To TreeProf:

Quote: A 2nd strike capability is generally not of any importance to me. However, as I type this, the thread just above this one pertains to gun selection for a disabled shooter. Although my personal opinion is that a revolver may generally be best for someome with limited strength/mobility or missing a hand/digits, 2nd strike *may* take on some added significance for someone for whom manipulating a slide is an inherently difficult task. Possibly for a wounded-shooter scenario as well.

================================

Reply: Cooincidentally, I am a handicapped shooter with severe arthritis in my hands. With many brands and models of autos, I cannot pull the slide easily or quickly and must first cock the hammer before holding the gun sideways and pushing the slide back.

I previously owned a Glock 23 and I remember the slide being darn stiff to push back. I always figured that was mainly because there was no hammer to cock.

However, I notice the Kahr P9 is VERY easy to pull back. Yes I said pull. The Kahr is so easy I can pull it like most people pull with no need to push. In fact the Kahr is even easier than my Firestorm .32 ACP. That would make it among the easiest and fastest to rack.

 

[wbond]

To Henry Bowman:

Regarding multi-strike:

Quote: It appears to be important to the .gov...

Reply: I assume you mean the military?

 

[wbond]

Last round?

OK. I can see the sound logic in tap-rack-band when a dud round is encountered rather than pulling the trigger again (assuming the gun can multi-strike). The tap-rack-bang drill makes sense.

However, wouldn't it be funny if it was your last round and you racked it onto the ground?

I'll bet you'd wish you'd tried the mult-strike then. Ha ha.

OK. I'm being a smart aleck mostly, but it is a sobering thought.

Oh well, no procedure can be perfect for all circumstances. The tap-rack-bang idea seems sound most of time (i.e. - you'd probably have more than one round left).

 

[Henry Bowman]

To Henry Bowman:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regarding multi-strike:

Quote: It appears to be important to the .gov...

Reply: I assume you mean the military?

Yes, I meant the military and the fed.gov purchases that are given to other countries.

 

[wbond]

Someone, forgot who emailed me this:

The procedure for a single action pistol is tap-rack-bang.

The procedure for DAO or DA/SA is pull trigger a second time, then if that didn't fire it, then tap-rack-bang.

That's what someone from HighRoad emailed me. Forgot who.

Seems to make sense though. Especially in light of my scenario about ejecting your last round for a tap-rack-empty.