Striker fired VS Hammer fired

[Mulliganpaintdee]

Can someone explain to me the pros and cons of both? Ive searched here and on the net and got no specific answers. What is prefered and why?
Cheers
Denton

 

[rcmodel]

Three posts above yours is a sticky explaining it pretty well:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=248556


rcmodel

 

[Mulliganpaintdee]

I thought I searched correctly but obviously not, thanks RCmodel for pointing the obvious out to me. So if Im reading correctly, hammer strikers are basically just another form of a safety feature?

 

[SDC]

So if Im reading correctly, hammer strikers are basically just another form of a safety feature?

I don't think you can go that far with it, but an external hammer DOES let you see right away whether or not that hammer is cocked; really, these are just two separate ways of doing the same thing. Most hammers can be re-cocked manually if a round fails to go off, but striker-fired designs are less likely to snag on clothing, etc., and are better sealed against crud getting into the internal mechanism. Safety-wise, I'd say they're about equal, but the important part on either of them is the part between the shooter's ears; if someone is unsafe with a gun, neither one of these features are going to make them any safer.

 

[RyanM]

The pros and cons are mostly in manufacturing and designing the things, not in using them.

 

[Mulliganpaintdee]

thanks for sharing your knowledge with me SDC. Is there any cons about striker fired pistols that anyone would like to share? Id like to hear from your experiences.

 

[Conqueror]

Basically a "striker" is a heavy firing pin which is spring loaded. It is held back by the sear (like a hammer) but strikes the primer with its tip when released (like a firing pin).

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Is there any cons about striker fired pistols that anyone would like to share?

If you have ammo with very hard primers or the gun is extremely dirty, ignition reliability is a little greater with a hammer than a striker (IMO). A hammer hits the firing pin with both its own weight and the spring pressure behind it, while the striker only has the spring pressure. But, this is only a very minor - in fact, mostly theoretical - disadvantage. If I find that a given pistol of mine does not "like" certain ammo, I just don't use that ammo. And I keep my guns reasonably clean.

I have hammer- and striker-fired guns and am equally happy with both. I look more at the trigger action and other factors than just at whatever mechanism fires the cartridge.

I don't think you can go that far with it, but an external hammer DOES let you see right away whether or not that hammer is cocked; really, these are just two separate ways of doing the same thing.

Even then, most strikers have some visual cue that they are cocked. For example, the Springfield XD and Walther P99 have the striker protrude from the rear of the slide, exposing a red line. And Glocks have their triggers in the forward position.

 

[BrokenArrow]

Striker and hammer fired guns can both be SA, DA/SA or DAO, and with or w/o manual safeties.

LE seems to be going to guns w "consistent" (IOW no DA to SA transition) trigger pulls and/or DAO for hammer and striker fired guns.

Striker fired guns usually have shorter/lighter trigger pulls than DAO hammer fired guns and are easier for most people to shoot well.

At the last IDPA championships the top 3 spots in the CDP (Custom Defensive Pistol) where 1911s ruled were taken by an XD, Glock, and M&P, so the guns can Shoot in the right hands. LE/MIL trials w striker fired guns have had them fire as many as 20,000 rounds w/o a malfunction, so the reliability is there too.

 

[Mulliganpaintdee]

thank you everyone for sharing your insites with me and bettering my edumakation

 

[atblis]

Also

A hammer contributes to the lockup and timing of a handgun. In addition, they can help drive a gun into battery and are arguably less likely to fire out of battery.

 

[rcmodel]

Most hammer style DA's have repeat-strike capability.

Most striker fired guns have to have the slide cycled to re-set the striker before a second strike can happen.

This is neither here nor there if you always use the Tap-Rack-Bang drill to deal with a misfired round.
But on the off chance your other hand is out of action, a second strike could possible save your Bacon.


rcmodel

 

[jimpro]

I prefer external SA/DA and I have both, I have yet to find a striker fired pistol with a nice crisp trigger pull, I really don't love the glock trigger, and putting the safety in the middle of the trigger is like putting the brakes in the center of an accelerator. I can't imagine any situation where that safety could save an accidental discharge... when I find a striker fired pistol with a short crisp trigger that breaks like an external hammer does in SA mode, I'll certainly add it to my collection. One thing I'll give the Glock and other striker fired pistols is they do tend to have lower bore axis then SA/DA pistols do.....

 

[GLOOB]

I can't imagine any situation where that safety could save an accidental discharge..

It's a firing pin safety, same as the series 80 Colt 1911's and innumerable other guns. If the gun were dropped hard on the muzzle end, the gun can't fire unless the trigger is also depressed (and sear released, for the Glock).

Does that count?

 

[usp9]

... when I find a striker fired pistol with a short crisp trigger that breaks like an external hammer does in SA mode, I'll certainly add it to my collection.

There is the HK P7 available you know. They have a very nice trigger. You should try one.

 

[jimpro]

I started reading Jimpro's post and I thought, now there's a guy with whom I'm in exact agreement... and then I realized it was my post from a while back..
well I know that glock has their bases covered if you drop the pistol... so it counts for Glock, but there are other ways of accomplishing that.... and Glock really does have a low bore axis.... I haven't tried te HK P7 I'll go check one out.....

 

[colorado_handgunner]

Anyone else notice this thread is a year and a half old !

 

[1SOW]

I'm OLD, this is just ripening nicely.

Harley or 'rice rocket'?

My son shoots an XD Service 45 , likes it and so do I. He loads, shoots, wins a trophy, cleans it and starts all over again. Simple and very effective.

I shoot an SA/DA that after spring changes, polishing and coaxing has a good trigger and suits my needs very well. I enjoy tweaking and playing with my gun. My son likes my CZ and is amazed by the trigger and ease of reacquiring the target, but likes his XD.

It's a matter of what works for you and personal preferences"." (spelled "PERIOD")