Striker fired pistols

[TexasPatriot.308]

I just had my first experience with a striker fired pistols, a Remington RP. The only autoloaders I own are 1911s and other pistols are Ruger hunting pistols, mainly Blackhawks and one SP101. Very quickly I noticed the absence of a safety, this is probably an old topic, but I for one haven't got a use for an auto pistol without a safety. I for sure don't want my better half to have one, she can barely rack the slide anyway. What are the other pros and cons of this type pistol?

 

[Sam1911]

What are the pros and cons of striker-fired pistols? Like Glocks, M&Ps, xDs, etc., etc.?

Meh, nothing earth shattering. A bunch of little things that may or may not matter to you. They're often pretty reliable. They're generally inexpensive due to the way and the precision of manufacture of their parts. They don't have an external hammer to snag on anything or "bite" you, and may have slightly faster lock time. The versions with no external safety don't have a safety that someone who's not very used to older designs might forget to swipe off. They don't have a change between a DA first shot and SA second, nor any need for a decocker like DA/SAs do. They tend to be constructed around polymer frames which have some interesting benefits.
Stuff like that.

Cartridge-firing handguns are a pretty "mature" technology. These variations that the gun companies and marketers say are groundbreaking and revolutionary are all pretty insignificant, really.

No reasons at all why you should buy one if you prefer your 1911s and revolvers. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[pblanc]

Well, the pros are simplicity of function. One type of trigger pull to master, no safety to forget to take off, no decocker to forget to use before holstering, and since most striker-action pistols have polymer frames, they are lighter to carry and cheaper to make. The trigger pull on most striker-fired pistols is somewhat longer and heavier than that of a single action pistol like the model 1911, or that of a cocked double action revolver, so proponents of striker-action pistols feel no safety is needed.

Having said that, there have been a fair number of accidental discharges while holstering striker-action pistols when a foreign body entered the trigger guard unnoticed and "pulled" the trigger. And there are striker-action pistols that offer the option of a safety. The SIG P320 is one, and the version of the P320 mandated by the US Army (XM17) will have a safety. Some SCCY pistols have safeties as do M&P Shields, at least as an option.

 

[Ed Ames]

What are the other pros and cons of this type pistol?

The core benefit of striker fired designs is having the barrel, slide, firing pin, mainspring, etc. in the slide simplifies manufacturing, takedown, maintenance, ETC.. It makes the design more modular.

The are striker pistols with safeties and hammer guns without. There are hammer guns with internal hammers that you couldn't tell were hammer guns without disassembling them.

 

[stchman]

I just had my first experience with a striker fired pistols, a Remington RP. The only autoloaders I own are 1911s and other pistols are Ruger hunting pistols, mainly Blackhawks and one SP101. Very quickly I noticed the absence of a safety, this is probably an old topic, but I for one haven't got a use for an auto pistol without a safety. I for sure don't want my better half to have one, she can barely rack the slide anyway. What are the other pros and cons of this type pistol?

A manual safety on a striker fired pistol is not necessary. I am of the opinion that a manual safety on almost any semi-auto pistol is not necessary. Your Ruger revolvers don't have a manual safety and you manage to get by.

As far as you not wanting your better half to not have one, it's not like slides on semi-auto pistols with a manual safety are easier to rack.

 

[VThillman]

My only striker-fired pistol is a Ruger SR40c. It has a thumb safety; not as accessible as I would like, but it's usable. The gun has a couple other safety mechanisms, but for my purposes I engage the thumb safety. My first two semiauto pistols were SA, carried cocked&locked, so I am used to thumb safeties. Any good SA pistol will have a better trigger than any DA; the Ruger trigger is better than the general run. I can operate it smoothly without moving the gun off target, so it'll do.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I think the hammer revolvers are the best safety around, especially in single action revolvers and the newer Rugers also have the transfer bar so you can carry a full cylinder. I think I'll pass on striker pistols without a safety.

 

[Sam1911]

I think I'll pass on striker pistols without a safety.

OK! Cool. Guess that's that, then.

Like I said, no reason to mess with them if you aren't of a mind to.

 

[Spats McGee]

I think I'll pass on striker pistols without a safety.

Fair enough, but some striker pistols are available with thumb safety. The S&W M&P line, and the Ruger SR9 and SR 40 come to mind.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I am looking at the M&P for my girlfriend, that is one she can rack and I like the safety, currently she is shooting a .38 special revolver. I am far from gun poor with only a few 1911s as far as autos, the GP100 will be my next revolver, a little big for pocket carry but I'm usually out in rural areas anyway, I got a feeling I will be owning that Remington RP soon anyway, will be one of my stashed guns hidden around the house for the SHTF situations.

 

[Spats McGee]

I think some of the XD/XDm/XDS pistols can be had with thumb safeties, as well.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I don't care for thumb safeties on strikers but I can understand some being more comfortable with one. Either way they are simple, reliable, and affordable. There are many quality strikers available so if you can't find one you like then they just aren't your thing.

 

[Plan2Live]

What are the other pros and cons of this type pistol?

The Pros seem to have been covered already so let's take a crack at some of the Cons. Moderately light trigger pull which has been proven over time to be prone to negligent discharge when something (keys, pen, strings, straps, clothing, etc) finds its way into the trigger guard while holstering. This makes some people (like me) very nervous during the re-holstering process while sitting in my truck re-holstering (3:30 position outside the waistband) mostly by feel after being forced by the weight of the law to leave it behind when entering certain buildings. Many striker fired pistols require the user to discharge the striker (pull the trigger) during the field stripping process increasing the chances of a negligent discharge if you forget to clear the chamber after removing your magazine. Plenty of examples of this feature wounding and killing people. Provides an attacker who wrestles your gun away from you with a simple, ready to use destructive device, to use on you, no fuss no muss, no safety to find and disengage just point and shoot. I could mention the increased danger to children accessing a loaded firearm with no manual safety but that does require more than a casual amount of negligence on the part of the user. As others have mentioned, there are some advantages to striker fired pistols and if you are drawn by the advantages but want an added sense of safety there are offerings like Springfield's XD, XDs and XDm line that have grip safeties giving the user an extra level of comfort when re-holstering by loosening their grip allowing the grip safety to re-engage preventing the trigger from discharging the striker even if some foreign object finds its way into the trigger guard. I've put thousands of rounds through my XDm without the grip safety presenting any problem whatsoever. Others, like some of the offerings in Smith & Wesson's M&P, line can be had with external manual safeties. Choosing a defensive firearm is great big bundle of compromise and there is no one right answer for everyone. The individual user has to decide which compromises they are willing to accept and go from there.

 

[MedWheeler]

pblanc writes:

Some SCCY pistols have safeties..

The SCCY pistols do indeed come either with or without, but are hammer-fired, in a DAO-configuration. The long trigger pull negates the "need" for a safety, but the option exists for those users who desire one, and for those jurisdictions that require one.

 

[pblanc]

pblanc writes:



The SCCY pistols do indeed come either with or without, but are hammer-fired, in a DAO-configuration. The long trigger pull negates the "need" for a safety, but the option exists for those users who desire one, and for those jurisdictions that require one.

Yes, of course you are correct. The SCCY is hammer-fired with an internal hammer. For some very mysterious reason, I tend to confuse SCCYs with Kahrs.

 

[tarosean]

What are the other pros and cons of this type pistol?

None really other than personal preference.

 

[gsbuickman]

I'm not a fan of external safeties, I prefer things with a decocker on them if possible, however I do not trust anything Striker Fired unless it has a decocker on it like a Canik to9sa for instance. I had a to9sa, overall it wasn't bad, I just can't wrap my head around concept of having a spring-loaded firing pin inside the firearm were you don't have access to it like you do a hammer, especially if you have no way to decock it without pulling the trigger like a Tupperware glock. I also hear a lot of people complaining about lite strikes that don't set the primers off in their Striker Fired sidearms. Sorry, Striker Fired isn't my cup of tea and I just don't trust them. I'll stick with my alloy framed Hammer fired guns. Imo they're more reliable last longer and they're safer .

 

[tipoc]

I am looking at the M&P for my girlfriend, that is one she can rack and I like the safety...

Just on racking the slide. There are two normal ways to do it. Here's the best way...

Hold the slide with the weak hand firmly. Hold the gun against or close to your body with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction. The strong hand should grasp the frame (receiver) firmly with finger well away from the trigger. Now push the frame forward firmly and fast. Try it, it's the opposite of what's usually done where you hold the frame steady and pull the slide rearwards. You'll find this much more secure and reliable.

It's the same as a one hand rack where you hold the rear sight against a tabletop, fence post, edge of a shoe heel, etc. The slide remains steady while the frame is pushed forward.

There are some pics of it here;

https://www.corneredcat.com/article/running-the-gun/rack-the-slide/

tipoc

 

[JR24]

I like a consistent trigger pull, be it SAO or striker fired. My autos are nearly all 1911s or Glocks for this reason.

While I went through my "worried about striker fired guns with no safety" phase, I no longer understand it. Lock the gun up, or if carried: load gun, verify holster is clear, holster gun, dont draw it until ready to fire.

There are very many kydex clip style ccw holsters, or paddle owb holsters that do not require you to ever draw the gun until ready to fire. Just unclip and place in the aafe, on the nightstand, etc.

Safety features are nice, but proper repsect for safe handling is nicer.

 

[Deanimator]

A manual safety on a striker fired pistol is not necessary. I am of the opinion that a manual safety on almost any semi-auto pistol is not necessary. Your Ruger revolvers don't have a manual safety and you manage to get by.

1. I carry a 3 1/2" M1911 every day. The ONLY way I'll carry it is cocked and locked. I would never carry it or my Browning Hi Power cocked, with the safety off, hammer down on a loaded chamber, or ESPECIALLY with an empty chamber.
2. I also sometimes carry a Glock 19 or a Glock 22. I feel no less safe without them having a manual safety. Were I to purchase an S&W M&P, it would be without a manual safety.

 

[bannockburn]

I have safeties on two of my striker fired 9mm.s. The one on the Steyr M9 is in the trigger guard and I'm not all that crazy about the location, close to the trigger and requiring your index finger to push it up to take it off. The Ruger SR9c has a more conventionally located thumb safety but it's on the small side and can require a shift in my grip sometimes to use it.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have safeties on two of my striker fired 9mm.s. The one on the Steyr M9 is in the trigger guard and I'm not all that crazy about the location, close to the trigger and requiring your index finger to push it up to take it off. The Ruger SR9c has a more conventionally located thumb safety but it's on the small side and can require a shift in my grip sometimes to use it.

The new Steyr's don't have the weird trigger guard safety. Must have been a European thing.

 

[bannockburn]

drunkenpoacher

Could have been a design requirement for some possible government contract or else they thought it was an improvement over other striker fired guns that didn't offer another safety. At any rate it's a bad location and you have to use your other hand to press on the tabs to set it. More trouble than it's worth. I never use it.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

drunkenpoacher

Could have been a design requirement for some possible government contract or else they thought it was an improvement over other striker fired guns that didn't offer another safety. At any rate it's a bad location and you have to use your other hand to press on the tabs to set it. More trouble than it's worth. I never use it.
Probably so. Great pistols, I have an M40 and and S9. Definitely worth a look for anyone buying a striker.

 

[FAS1]

I looked at it from a different point of view when the Glocks first came about. I was interested in my first real handgun for home defense in the early 90's. The "plastic" gun was looked at by many as an anomaly that wouldn't be durable or reliable over the long haul. Just a fad for the moment, LOL. Anyway, that G17 (Gen2) is still my HD gun and it has run so flawless through all brands and types of ammo including my very light reloads for competitive shooting I used to do with a friend.

I liked the number of rounds it held and I was open minded about the plastic frame. I liked the simplicity of the gun and ease of maintenance since I planned on shooting it a lot so that I would be good with it. One of the things I wanted was simplicity when and if I needed it, especially in the middle of the night. I trained to make sure by habit that my safety (I mean finger) stayed out of the trigger guard until I identified my target. I understand that a lot of people aren't comfortable handling a gun without an additional safety, but for me it was just the opposite and I really just trained that way from the beginning.