Question about hammer autos

[ChCx2744]

I've sometimes observed a slide manipulation method that has me curious. Sometimes, when I see people pull back the slide on a hammer auto to do a safety check or just lock the slide back or whatever, they first manually pull the hammer back, then pull the slide back. I know you don't HAVE to do this, but is there a reason? Does it reduce wear and tension? Is it better for the gun? Is it worse? Does it not matter? Just curious to see how many of you do this and why.

 

[KAS1981]

I've seen this to, and it I can only guess it's because the slide is slightly easier to pull back. Otherwise I have no idea.

 

[GMcBoozer]

I guess I haven't seen enough people slide rack an auto with a hammer. I know I don't do that with my P95, the thought to never crossed my mind.

 

[Frank Ettin]

Racking the slide with the hammer down you must work against the tension of both the recoil spring and the mainspring. If you cock the hammer first, you're only working against the recoil spring, so the slide is easier to rack.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

If you've got a heavy recoil spring, thumbing the hammer back takes the pressure of the hammer (main) spring out of the mix, and makes the slide easier to pull back.

 

[ATLDave]

Does it reduce wear and tension? Is it better for the gun?

Certainly not this. The slide pushes the hammer back every time the gun cycles! As others have noted, this is surely about getting one of the springs' tension off the slide to make it easier to rack.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

It makes the slide easier to rack because you've taken the additional tension of the hammer (main) spring out of play.

 

[Rollis R. Karvellis]

I, have found myself doing it a few times, I, think it is just to feel the action, the same thing as when you do it with a revolver.

 

[Zerodefect]

It's easier to chamber check that way. It won't hurt a thing, no difference in wear etc. anywhere.

Not a concern to me. All my pistols with hammers (1911's), have their hammers cocked 24/7 anyways. Only time their hammers are down is when they go "BOOM".

 

[jack_burton]

For me it's just easier to rack the slide with the hammer back

 

[Steve C]

I've had women who where having difficulty racking the slide in the normal manner do this as it reduces the grip strength and effort needed and allows them to rack the gun.