Bobbing A CCW Revolver

[jsmosby]

I have a Ruger SP-101 3" for CCW. I'm wondering whether it would be smart to bob the hammer so that there is no chance of a clothing snag in case I have to draw from IWB. I don't believe that Ruger sells any hammerless parts.

The real question is whether there is any reason to keep the hammer for SA firing purposes. I certainly wouldn't hold a burglar at gunpoint in SA mode. LIkewise, in a defensive shooting at close range, no one uses SA mode.

The only situation that I can think of in SA mode is a scenario like the Colorado church shooting where the lady CCW holder who emerged from concealement and got the drop on the killer, could have fired SA on her first shot for more precision if she had wanted to.

With a good action job and Wolff springs, the DA pull on an SP-101 can be 6 pounds. In contrast, a good SA pull might be 4 pounds. I'm not so sure that there's that much of an accuracy difference at 5 yards.

What is your advice on bobbing the hammer?

 

[critter]

The only advantage to a bobbed hammer, it seems to me, is the fact that the un-bobbed spur MIGHT catch on the draw. If your carry mode makes this seem unlikely, I'd leave it along. I'm with you on the fact that you MIGHT need to be able to shoot in the SA mode.

 

[kludge]

Good news:

* Hammer Assembly, Standard Finish KW24000A All SP101 Models $18.50
* Hammer Assembly, Spurless, Not Illustrated KW24004A All SP101 Models $17.50

Bad news:

* Parts designated by an asterisk must be factory fitted. These parts are fitted on an exchange basis only. We will not return the replaced parts. We will not return any part that is broken, malfunctioning, badly worn or has been modified. See “Warning — Parts Purchasers” back cover.

http://www.ruger.com/Firearms/PDF/PartsBooklets/D12.pdf

I really don't like the bad new... I would like to have a spurless hammer for my Service Six for carry, but I want to keep the original hammer too, so I can test the accuracy of me relaods at the range in single action...

Maybe I'll have to find a snub.

 

[jfh]

Re those factory-fitted parts:

I had a local gunsmith bob my SP101 years ago. I no longer am up to speed on Ruger 'smithing, but I suspect your local gunsmith can order in the parts to 1) install a bobbed hammer, and 2) let you keep the original hammer.

Having said that, I prefer a DAO / hammerless type of revolver for carry anyway. IMO, a hammer spur prevents reliable use from a pocket--and that's a real consideration for me.

Jim H.

 

[Old Fuff]

Just prior to switching to automatics, a number of larger police departments went to double-action only (DAO) revolvers after some high profile lawsuits where a bottom feeding/scumbag attorney tried to win a wrongful death suit by claiming that the unfortunate bad guy was shot accidentally when the officer cocked his pistol and then the "hair trigger pull" set it off. This was pure bull, as the officer had shot double-action in the first place - but it was hard to prove. When it comes to juries and guns you never know what might happen.

But anyway, if your revolver (or pistol for that matter) is DAO this issue goes up in smoke.

Then there is the matter of hammer spur snagging if the gun is carried under a covering garment or in a pocket. Besides that a sawtooth-checkered hammer spur can abrade and ruin the covering garment if the holster doesn't cover the hammer spur. This factor is often overlooked.

Think twice about that 6 pound double-action trigger pull. Each time you drop a pound by going to lighter springs you reduce the reliability of your weapon. Not too good an idea.

Also leaving the single-action functional after de-spurring the hammer can leave you hanging if the hammer is cocked and you have no safe way to lower it. One slip and you may have a major problem, and you’ve set yourself up for legal trouble of the kind I described in the first paragraph.

Testing loads in the double-action mode is not difficult if you support your forearms on a sandbagged bench.

Last but not least, check outfits like The Gun Parts Corporation/Numrich at: www.e-gunparts.com for a spare hammer, modified or otherwise. You’ll get none of the hassle involved in sending the revolver back to the factory. If you do send it in for whatever reason, remove the original hammer and any other parts you don’t want to lose first.

 

[ravencon]

For a CCW I much prefer DAO/bobbed hammer for the reasons you cited. Yes, there are scenarios where the ability to take a single action shot would be advantageous. But, for civilians those situations are far from common.

I think the greater risk in a high stress self-defense situation would be cocking the hammer inappropriately and having a negligent discharge. I'm just not that worried about needing to take a precision shot and only having DA available. YMMV.

 

[kludge]

Then there is the matter of hammer spur snagging if the gun is carried under a covering garment or in a pocket. Besides that a sawtooth-checkered hammer spur can abrade and ruin the covering garment if the holster doesn't cover the hammer spur. This factor is often overlooked.

That's my issue.

Also leaving the single-action functional after de-spurring the hammer can leave you hanging if the hammer is cocked and you have no safe way to lower it. One slip and you may have a major problem, and you’ve set yourself up for legal trouble of the kind I described in the first paragraph.

Exactly.

Last but not least, check outfits like The Gun Parts Corporation/Numrich at: www.e-gunparts.com for a spare hammer, modified or otherwise. You’ll get none of the hassle involved in sending the revolver back to the factory. If you do send it in for whatever reason, remove the original hammer and any other parts you don’t want to lose first.

Thanks for the ideas!

 

[JT'sDad]

I had a gunsmith bob the hammer on my SP101 about 12 years ago and have never regretted it.

 

[Serpico]

A 3 inch ain't no ankle or pocket gun so in a decent holster, the hammer should not be an issue...I'd leave it alone...maybe do a little meld job on it so it's not as sharp....

 

[RustyShackelford]

DA only hammers/SA use in critical incidents

If I were in your place, I'd look into the Ruger DA only .357 model SP-101. That was my first handgun in 1993. It already has a DA only trigger and a bob style hammer(no spur).
For most duty/protection/CC use I'd highly suggest a DA only revolver or a DA only revolver with the spur removed. I use a DA only Ruger GP-100 .38spl AKA; Ruger GPNY. It was a surplus duty weapon for the NYPD(New York City PD).
The only conditions I could see for a CC/protection revolver to use a spur or be DA/SA is if you are wounded, ill or have a major injury that requires you shoot one handed or use the spur to fire single action. The S&W model 638 or Taurus Protector models are examples of this type of small frame handgun.

I would use a S&W model 638 for a back-up/2nd gun or as a pocket gun for limited CC use.

Rusty S
PS: Check out www.geminicustoms.com for some great Ruger SP-101 custom work. Gemini Customs offers several DA only(no spur) designs.
For S&W DA only/spur removal check; www.clarkcustomguns.com

 

[esq_stu]

Bad news:

* Parts designated by an asterisk must be factory fitted.

Here's what I did. I bought a used SP101 parts set without the frame, with spurless DAO hammer - on Gunbroker. I put the hammer on my SP101. I sold the parts set without the hammer, making it very clear that the set had no hammer. I got enough from the resale that the part cost me about $15. For a speed six, I bought one online at Numrich. Both worked perfectly without fitting. Sometimes you need to wait a while before the parts get listed, but if you're patient, you'll get'r done. Check the Numrich site - you may get lucky.

 

[esq_stu]

BTW, the factory spurless hammers work DAO - they cannot be cocked.

 

[Rexster]

I managed to find a spurless Ruger Six hammer on evilbay, and it dropped right into my Speed Six, no fitting required, working fine in SA and DA. Another such hammer I had bought at a gun show years ago works fine in DA in my Security Six, but does not engage properly for SA, though it does have an SA notch. Eventually, I will probably have the latter hammer rendered DAO by a 'smith. I also found an SP101 DAO hammer on evilbay, and it awaits the right home, a 3-1/16" SP101, or, perhaps, a customized SP101 that might wear a 4" to 5" barrel, someday. That would be sweet. As for my present SP101 snubbies, one left the factory as a DAO, and went though Jack Weigand's shop before arriving at my local dealer. A second followed the same path, arriving with the spur removed from the regular hammer, but retaining SA capability. My third snubby has a spur, and remarkably, arrived from the factory with a trigger stroke as smooth as my customized snubbies, just a bit heavier. Somebody at Ruger did everything right on the day that one went out the door! Life is good.

 

[Jack2427]

How nutty am I about DAO? My 649 has the hammer spur and SA notch removed. Action is the best DA I have ever felt. Actually I put in a hammer from a M60 that had been factory DAOed. Will never give it up. Although my go to snub is usually my 940 with some 9mms that are 95gr SP leaving the barrel at about 1,000 FPS, using low flash powder, the moon clips give the fastest reload of any wheelgun.

 

[bigmike45]

Since I shoot all my revolvers DAO, that is except for my hunting revolver, DAO revolvers are something I really prefer....hence my two Rugers. One is a GP-100 and the other is a SP-101. Both are stainless and both are factory DAO.

 

[9mmepiphany]

i just got my S&W 696 back from my psitolsmith after having the action tuned. i also had the hammer bobbed as i only shoot my wheelguns in DA anyway.

i've been told that the reduced mass actually allows a lighter trigger pull...increases the velocity of the pin strike

 

[Old Fuff]

Can't say about revolvers, but experiments with reduced weight and even bobbed hammers in .45 Government Model pistols didn't show any meaningful increase in lock time.

 

[Mannlicher]

I converted these two S&W revolvers to DAO, with bobbed hammers. I think they are just about perfect for CCW.
On the left is a Model 60 in .38 Special, on the right, a Model 65 in .357.