Could a handgun possibly Discharge when using Decocker?

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LexusNexus

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I'm wondering if that the factory designed decocker, such as on Sig P226, or HK USP, has a totally reliable firingpin blocking system, so that when you're decocking to lower the hammer with a round in the chamber, it wont' go off. So is it totally safe?

Has anyone heard of a discharge when doing a decock to lower hammer? To clarify, I'm of not talking about the practice of "thumb lowering" 1911 type of single-action hammer.
 
Modern decocking pistols are as safe as anything man can make. Most incorporate a firing pin block and remove the aft end of the firing pin from the hammer blow or prevent the hammer from reaching the firing pin.
Earlier designs, such has the P-38 were known to have some failures.
My rule of thumb is to always point any weapon being loaded, unloaded, or decocked in a safe direction. Even if Mr. Murphy shows up he can't hurt you.
 
I'm wondering if that the factory designed decocker, such as on Sig P226, or HK USP, has a totally reliable firingpin blocking system, so that when you're decocking to lower the hammer with a round in the chamber, it wont' go off. So is it totally safe?
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I do not recall ever hearing of a problem myself. Perhaps others with more experience have heard any any such problems. However, since this is only a mechanical device and could possibly break/malfunction I follow the rule "Never point your firearm at something you do not wish to destroy." and point the firearm in a safe direction when using the de-cock lever. That way you can avoid a potentially deadly accident and make it only a terribly embarassing occurence.
 
I've heard of this as a failure mode of some of the early Walther P38, never seen it happen. I'd hope all current designs have taken this remote possibility iinto account.

--wally.
 
The way I've heard to check a CZ-52 is the following:

Put a pencil in the barrel, so the eraser end touches the firing pin. Then try the decocker. If the pencil moves AT ALL, it means the decocker has become another trigger.
 
Yes its possible especially with the older P38 , I got a hole in my leg to prove it ! (Ouch damn cold weather!)
 
Can happenwith the CZ52...had one of those that would fire when decocked. For that matter, if a part cracks or fails, the system can still LOOK good and act good, but can fire.

Think the best bet is to treat the loaded gun correctly and point it in a safe direction when using a decocker....have seen little kelvar capture pads for tehhard-core worry-wart.
 
Actually, couldn't the pencil move just a little teeny bit even if the gun is safe in this regard? There is some vibration caused by decocking the gun and the hammer slamming forward until it catches. What the pencil should not do is get flung out of the barrel and across the room and then have a nice little firing pin calling card on the eraser.

Must say that as a gun noob, decocking the hammer is a bit nerve-rattling. Mine doesn't ease the hammer up, it slams it forward and it catches right before contact. I guess that is just how decockers are though.
 
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I think the original Ruger P85s just relied on the firing pin block and there were a couple of malfunctions. IIRC, Ruger had a recall of the original guns and came out with a hammer block for the decocker to solve the problem.

IMHO, muzzle awareness is the most important gun safety rule. Never point the gun in an unsafe direction. That is especially important when you're decocking or doing anything to cause the hammer or striker to fall. Ask the DEA agent that shot himself in the school gun safety class with his Glock. :rolleyes: Well, maybe he ain't the authority, but he found out what Murphy has to say on the subject.:D
 
Apparently the issue with the CZ-52 was a weak firing pin. Some of the replacements used to fix this do not allow for the use of the decocker, so it in effect becomes a second trigger.
 
With the Sig, it feels a little safer because it seems to ride down. The H&K's on the other hand seem to drop the hammer quite violently.

The gun should always be pointed in a safe direction, even when decocking.

On my Sig P229, I ride the hammer down. It seems to go down in 2 stages. On my USPc, the goes down very quickly and I've never had a problem with that. On my P2000, I use the decocker and my left thumb to ride the hammer down.

They're mechanical devices and they cannot be fully trusted. It's better to error on the side of caution.
 
Happened to somebody I know, but it was with a Walther PPK. Safety/hammer drop broke when the hammer impacted the safety. These guns had no firing pin block and apparently some broken element of the safety impacted the firing pin, discharging the gun. An individual nearby was injured. It was an early post war Walther and apparently, this was a rather well known occurance within the circles of Walther enthusiasts. I imagine supeior metallurgy and/or design improvements have taken care of the problem but you won't catch me letting that hammer drop on any Walther PPK or derivative design. I just don't trust it. Haven't heard of any problems with recent (last 30 or so years) designs. In today's lawyer happy world, god help the company that doesn't make damn sure these incidents can't happen.
 
If you look at how a Beretta 92 decocks, I have a hard time seeing how it could ever lead to a AD. As with anything, it is always possible but you have to look at the construction of the decocking device to see which is most safe. I think SIG is similar to Beretta so I would rank it as very safe as well.

The CZ-52 is another story all together. I had one and it was free from a decocker problem but I could see how it might malfunction. Mine was old and worn and had other problems like sometimes the hammer would follow the slide home and leave you with a non-cocked pistol. The CZ-52 is a great fun gun but I have heard that some people are actually using them as serious self defense guns. I think this is a bad idea and there are a lot of better more modern and safer and more reliable choices out there to mess around with the CZ-52. I like the gun and I have a C&R but for life and death, I am not about history or being quaint. Give me a Beretta 92 or a S&W snubby if I am going CCW and I feel much better.
 
Apparently the issue with the CZ-52 was a weak firing pin. Some of the replacements used to fix this do not allow for the use of the decocker, so it in effect becomes a second trigger.
Click to expand...
The CZ-52 firing pin is actually quite durable if the pistol is not dry-fired. It will not tolerate dry-firing.

There are two issues with the decockers. One of them is, as you say, due to a replacement firing pin which disabled the firing pin safety in an attempt (successful, I might add) to improve the trigger pull. Since the firing pin safety is all that stops the firing pin from moving forward during decocking, bad things happen.

The other issue is that some of the original guns with all original parts can have the same kind of problem.

Neither is really directly related to a weak firing pin.
 
One of the Guru's (IIRC, it was Chuck Taylor) has said that he has personally seen it on several occasions.




Scott
 
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