External Hammer v/s Striker

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robinkevin

robinkevin

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So if you are following my posts you know I am looking at external hammer pistols and taking a liking to the CZ (Still no hands on time with it). But I did get the chance to hold a Ruger SR9 and must say it felt pretty good in the hand. However I do kinda like a external hammer better than striker due to single action option.

Here's my question, what is some pros and cons of both external hammer and striker. The SR9 seem to have a pretty nice trigger for DAO so I think I could live with out the single action option and follow up shots. Just figure I would get some insight on it before saying no to stiker fired pistols.

Thanks for all the help y'all have given me. The site has been a ton of help since I join.
 
Before you say no to a striker fired pistol be sure to try a Walther PPQ or at least dry fire one. I believe your opinion will become very favorable of the potential of a striker fired pistols after that.

The Walther PPQ can usually be found around $550 or under. Jet Guns has them on sale for $489 but are out of the 9MM as of now.
 
Both platforms work great, I own both types and dont prefer one over the other. Fitting your hand, and shooting comfort would be my concern.
 
I could come up with some theoretical advantages for one over the other, in either direction. As a practical matter, it is simply preference. I would base the decision more on what feels right to you and what you can shoot best (try to rent or borrow some guns if possible), not to the operating mechanism. But don't confuse apples and oranges like the poster who wanted to know which he should buy, a Ruger LCP or an S&W Model 29.

Jim
 
The SR9 seem to have a pretty nice trigger for DAO so I think I could live with out the single action option and follow up shots. Just figure I would get some insight on it before saying no to stiker fired pistols.
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This is the exact opposite experience that I had with the SR9. I thought the trigger pull was absolutely horrendous....However, I did stick with the striker fired style and went with an M&P9, and I recommend you look into it before saying no to striker fired pistols.
 
Not confusing apples and oranges, just looking at pros and cons.

I like the mind set of being able to carry the hammer gun (da/sa) with hammer down compare to a striker thats is either part or fully cocked and can only be let down buy pulling the trigger (safety mind set, yes I know both are actually safe). Striker fired pistol gives a consistent trigger pull which I think would be good under stress. Hammer gives a second stike option on most DA pistols, good option for the case of a hard primer.

What I don't know is unforseen pros and cons. Which lasts longer, which is more prone to light strikes (if either), or any number of others.
 
M&P is a very nice pistol but out of my price range, I did think the S&W SD9 seem nice (no hands on looks as of yet) there is some down side to living in the boonies.
 
The exposed hammer means the option of true single action operation in most cases. The Striker fired guns aer mostly DAO or at least feel that way. Generally striker fired are less precise triggers. You also get 2nd strike capabilithy if your gun is not SAO.

The biggest advantage to striker fired is better reliability. One less opening for dirt to get into the gun. One less external moving part to malfunction or break.
 
I happen to like hitting what I shoot at. I shoot single action almost univerally better than double action. DOA and strikerfired are somewhere in between to me. That is why I like traditional double/single on both my auto loaders (usually a sig or beretta) and my revolvers (Ruger SP101 and GP100). If I need and quick off the cuff shot to save my arse, I can. If I have 1 second to cock it to single (which I practice regularly) I much prefer that. The added bonus, for all you SA guys, is becuase it has the double, I don't need a manual safety, just the the one between my ears. To me, it is the best of both worlds. The problems with CCW that may arise with hammers can easily be solved with a little training and some decent gear. Best of luck to you.
 
I will never ever consider a pistol without external hammer and without DA/SA option....I only tolerate my Kel-Tec P-11 because it is a pocket piece and because of its DA only design and very long and heavy trigger pull.

Maybe it's just me but I consider a Glock an accident waiting to happen....no thanks...
 
It is personal preference of course but I'll take a moment to share mine. The only advantage a DA/SA gun has over striker fired is a good crisp SA trigger pull. Sadly not every DA/SA gun has that. If it has significant take-up and over travel it might as well be the sort of in between DA and SA that striker fired is but with a longer first trigger pull.

Of course if it has a good SA pull and you are willing to put the time into training with the DA pull, or better yet a DA/SA you can go cocked and locked with, that is what I prefer.
 
RobinKevin, it really comes down to preference. I've yet to hear of any professional trainer who advocates 2nd strike capability over a tap-rang-bang clearance drill. There are also a few striker fired pistols with true DA capability.
This is the exact opposite experience that I had with the SR9. I thought the trigger pull was absolutely horrendous....However, I did stick with the striker fired style and went with an M&P9, and I recommend you look into it before saying no to striker fired pistols.
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When both pistols came out I couldn't have agreed more. S&W does rolling changes (continuous improvement) now. The current M&Ps have a horribly long trigger reset, and there's a false reset halfway out.

When the SR9c came out it had the new trigger that's now in all Ruger SR series pistols. It's a vast improvement over the old SR series trigger. While it's a little bit heavy it breaks cleanly, and the reset is clean & short.

RK, since you're open to the SR series now rent one if you can find a place that has one available. The SR series fits my hands really well, and my SR9c is the first pistol I've ever shot better than I shoot my 1911s. I was shocked to say the least.
 
Not all striker-fired pistols are double action. The XD isn't.
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The vast majority of them aren't double action. They're somewhere in between. The striker is left partially cocked, but not quite all the way.

Honestly, there really isn't much to worry about. The striker fired guns will NOT feel like a hammer fired DAO if you've fired those before (S&W Sigma excepted). Most will come in with 5-7 lbs triggers, whereas almost all double-action guns I've fired had at least 12+ lbs DA triggers. Heck my M&P is striker fired and with the Apex competition kit my trigger pull is down around 3 lbs. As someone with almost exclusively hammer-fired guns, the striker fired action doesn't bother me one bit.

PS - While I don't own an SR9, I have had some range time with one (put 100 rounds through one). I really liked the gun personally. If they made a 5" barrel version without the thumb safety or mag disconnect, I would have gotten that over my M&P 9L.
 
The thing that stands out to me between the two in appearances only is that a hammer fired gun looks like a machine and a striker fired gun looks like "technology".

I base that feeling on the fact that hammer fired guns tend to have metal frames and all the casting and machine work associated with making guns of those types. There can be more user interaction with a hammer fired gun. Cock, uncock, safety on/off, decock.

The "technology" feeling of striker fired guns comes especially from guns like a Glock. It lacks the external machining on the slide of hammer fired guns, its controls are minimal on the exterior. It's almost like it's an iPad or iPhone of firearms.

Okay that has nothing to do with pros and cons. :D
 
I don't base my handgun buying on striker vs. hammer fired. As long as SOMETHING is hitting the primer and making the gun go BANG I figure I'll be ok. I think both setups have proven they work.

What's more important to me is the gun overall, the feel of the grip, the trigger pull, the action type (DAO, DA/SA, SAO), etc.
 
What's more important to me is the gun overall, the feel of the grip, the trigger pull, the action type (DAO, DA/SA, SAO), etc.
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That's the way it should be for sure.

I just had a revelation in the last few weeks about all this. I have never really liked any of the striker type guns for lots of the reasons given above, being a 1911 guy for pretty much all of my life.

But, I started shooting an XDm and I have to say, I shoot it very well and have decided to quit worrying about looks and style and go with function and my ability to shoot it.

Fact is that, for whatever reason, I shoot this XDm just a little better and a little faster from concealment than my 1911 so...... I'm carrying a striker fired gun now. Never thought that would happen but once I let go of nostalgia for the good old days it worked out fine.
 
I began with a Sigma then a Taurus. I have three hammer-fired and four striker-fired pistols. I learned and train with either. I like SA for fun and accuracy and DA for rapidity.

I suggest you go with the way you feel is more comfortable.
 
TexasRifleman said:
That's the way it should be for sure.

I just had a revelation in the last few weeks about all this. I have never really liked any of the striker type guns for lots of the reasons given above, being a 1911 guy for pretty much all of my life.

But, I started shooting an XDm and I have to say, I shoot it very well and have decided to quit worrying about looks and style and go with function and my ability to shoot it.

Fact is that, for whatever reason, I shoot this XDm just a little better and a little faster from concealment than my 1911 so...... I'm carrying a striker fired gun now. Never thought that would happen but once I let go of nostalgia for the good old days it worked out fine.
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That's funny, my first CCW gun was a subcompact XD. I loved that little gun, I kinda regret not having it around but I wanted an EMP.

I keep thinking about picking up a used XD to keep as a kickaround gun...
 
I love the look of the Hi Power with a commander hammer, but I also like the look of the Glock line. The hammer vs striker question was not even in my mind when I decided to go with Glock over 1911 or Hi Power. It was more a choice of overall ergonomics, price, durability, and capacity. I shoot as well with the Glocks as I do with a 1911. The Hi Power, however, seems to make everyone a marksman. I doubt it's the hammer, however, since few praise the trigger pull of the Browning HP with mag safety still installed, even if it is SA. All down to personal preference in my book.

By the way, did anyone read about the police officer in NY this past summer/fall who stopped a criminal from shooting him by wedging his finger between the hammer and the frame on the criminal's revolver. It apparently broke his finger because the bad guy kept pulling the trigger trying to shoot the police officer, but he never managed to dislodge the officer's finger. If it had been a striker fired semi-auto the officer would probably be dead. Reverse the rolls, and perhaps a striker fired handgun has at least one advantage, as unlikely as the scenario may be. It does happen.
 
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