"Pull the Trigger" Disassembly Guns

[Grump]

I hear a lot of complaints lately (=the fashionable thing to do, I guess) about the requirement to pull the trigger on the Glock pistols in order to disassemble them.

Starting from years ago, I've seen the bloody aftermath of people not properly clearing the firearms first.

But the much-beloved Springfield XD (based on the many posts by those who own and love them) requires the same step and I don't hear anyone griping about the XD and whether human forgetfulness makes them "dangerous" or whatever because of the takedown procedure.

What other semiautos require the dreaded trigger-pull, and how many of us have heard/read reports of Blammo! events when people were starting to, or finishing up, cleaning them?

Inquiring minds want to know....

 

[NG VI]

Never been a problem with mine or my formerly owned Sigma, I was always very careful to rack, rack, and re-rack the slide before any dissassembly.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If you need to pull the trigger to disassemble, the proper procedure is to lock the slide back and check by inserting your little finger in the chamber.

I have seen an ND caused by a broken extractor -- the round was left in the chamber, and no amount of racking the slide could have removed it.

 

[1KPerDay]

The new XDm doesn't require the trigger pull, I believe.

If you check carefully enough, EVERY TIME, trigger pull disassembly is no more dangerous than dry firing.

 

[SuperNaut]

But the much-beloved Springfield XD (based on the many posts by those who own and love them) requires the same step and I don't hear anyone griping about the XD and whether human forgetfulness makes them "dangerous" or whatever because of the takedown procedure.

That's because the XD take-down procedure is quite different. In order to manipulate the take-down lever you MUST drop the mag and you MUST lock back the slide. This results in a cleared gun before you ever get to the part where you pull the trigger.

I'm not saying that it is idiot-proof, a better idiot always comes along; but it reduces the risk.

 

[CountGlockula]

Glocks have become the red-headed step child of the polymer semi-auto family. They have been blamed for poor ergonomics, no manual safety, self destruct and just plain 'ol butt ugly. So you'll get the complainers, whiners and praisers.

Personally, pressing the trigger for dissassembly is a smart procedure because it's a constant reminder to gun safety: Always treat EVERY firearm as if they were loaded.

 

[weisse52]

I am no Glock fan, tried but could not make the leap.


But, to blame any handgun for a ND is really streaching in my book. Just because the take-down procedure requires a trigger pull does not make it a problem. Lock the slide back and visually check for a round.

And for gosh sakes, stop blaming the tool.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If you check carefully enough, EVERY TIME, trigger pull disassembly is no more dangerous than dry firing.

If everyone checked carefully and performed perfectly every time, there would be no NDs, automobile accidents or industrial accidents. Airplanes would never crash. And shooters would never miss.

 

[Black Majik]

I agree with weisse52, the owner should never be blamed for a ND.

I'm a happy Glock owner, but I could do without the "pull trigger for disassembly." My gripe is the requirement to break 1 of the 4 rules to disassemble the gun.

 

[1KPerDay]

Do you ever dry fire? Do you consider that to be a violation of the 4 rules? Just curious.

If everyone checked carefully and performed perfectly every time, there would be no NDs,

My point exactly. There is simply no excuse for pulling the trigger on a loaded chamber when you don't want to. It's very easy to check, EVERY TIME.

 

[Black Majik]

Ok. Point taken.

 

[blkbrd666]

Never heard anyone gripe about having to pull the trigger on a Walther P1/P38 to disassemble either...maybe it's just 'cause people like to gripe about Glocks(it's the "IN" thing, ya know?).

 

[bmitchell]

Steyr M (and probably S) series semiautos require a trigger pull to disassemble. Never had any problems with mine.

 

[jpatterson]

That's because the XD take-down procedure is quite different. In order to manipulate the take-down lever you MUST drop the mag and you MUST lock back the slide.

Your XD's mag has to be dropped in order to disassemble? Mine doesn't..?

 

[gunhappy]

In my Glock manual it states that you are to pull the slide to the rear slightly, depress the disassembly levers and release the slide, wherupon it will be able to ride foreward off the rails. I have done this and it DOES work.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

Do you ever dry fire? Do you consider that to be a violation of the 4 rules

I dry-fire all the time.
You should still obey 3 of the 4 rules when dry-firing. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot, and know your target and what's behind it!

When you pull the trigger to disassemble, keep it pointed in a safe direction.

 

[SuperNaut]

Your XD's mag has to be dropped in order to disassemble? Mine doesn't..?

DELETED BAD INFO:

You are absolutely correct jpatterson!

 

[1KPerDay]

You should still obey 3 of the 4 rules when dry-firing. Keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot, and know your target and what's behind it!

When you pull the trigger to disassemble, keep it pointed in a safe direction.

Certainly.

 

[1KPerDay]

In my Glock manual it states that you are to pull the slide to the rear slightly, depress the disassembly levers and release the slide, wherupon it will be able to ride foreward off the rails. I have done this and it DOES work.

WITHOUT pulling the trigger on an empty chamber first?

 

[1KPerDay]

Never heard anyone gripe about having to pull the trigger on a Walther P1/P38 to disassemble either

I don't have to pull the trigger to disassemble my P38...

How to field-strip (disassemble) Walther P38: 1) remove the magazine by pressing the magazine release button; 2) check that the chamber is empty; 3) pull the slide all the way back and lock it there with slide stop lever; 4) turn the disassembly lever down and forwards (located at the front of the frame, on left side); 5) while holding the slide, release the slide stop lever and carefully ease the slide into battery, then push it forward and out of the frame; 6) turn the slide upside down, and push forward the small pin at the base of the barrel, this will unlock the barrel from the slide; 7) pull the barrel out of the slide.
Reassemble in reverse order.

 

[Sunray]

"...people not properly clearing the firearms first..." Operator failure is not the fault of the firearm's design.
"...ever dry fire?..." Dry firing, safely, is a long recognised training technique. It's great practice for sight picture and trigger control. Centre fire only, of course.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

You should still obey the safety rules when dry-firing though, as I said earlier.

You never know when you might not notice it's loaded one day. (This happened to a member here, in fact, he's glad he obeyed the safety rules.)

 

[jocko]

if a person uses that excuse for not buying a glock, then indeed Glock Inc. is better off with you not owning a "glock". Wow

 

[fineredmist]

The proper sequence to clear any semi auto pistol:
1. Remover the magazine
2. Point the pistol in a safe direction, retract the slide and lock it open
3. Check the chamber, if empty go to #4, if loaded remove the round and then go to #4
4. Release the slide and drop the hammer (or striker)

The pistol is now cleared and safe (This is standard IDPA proceedure when a shooter has completed a stage)

When the Glock pistol is cleared and safe, retracting the slide approx 1/4" and depressing the take down lever will permit the slide to be removed without pulling the trigger. If you retract the slide too far you have reset the trigger and you must pull it before the slide will come free.

 

[gunhappy]

I am soooo wrong...

I spoke in error, please forgive me.