Stupid 1911 Question!

[kcshooter]

Should you ever (heaven forbid) need to draw your pistol in self-defense, your thumb could very easily slip and drop the hammer while cocking it, and unjustifiably end up shooting someone, resulting in assault/manslaughter charges at best, and homicide charges at worst.

Bull.

If I ever have to draw my pistol in self defense, you had better believe I will already be justified in firing it.

If you pull your gun out in a situation that firing it would be questionable or will most likely end up with you being charged, you've made a big mistake.

The situation KYJim is talking about happened while lowering the hammer after the threat was gone, not while it was still active. Completely different.

I still don't think condition 2 is a good idea though.

If you should want to safely lower the hammer on your 1911 with a loaded chamber....As soon as the trigger releases the hammer, take your finger off of the trigger, slowly remove your left thumb from in front of the hammer as you continue to lower it with your right thumb until it hits the "half cock" notch. You are done. Leave the hammer at the notch.

No.

The half-cock notch is not meant to be used as a resting place for the hammer. If for some reason it slipped or broke or failed in any way, the gun will go bang.

Not all half-cock notches are created equal-they can be located at different points on the hammer and can be more or less shallow on different hammers. It is a last-ditch safety catch, not to be seriously trusted to prevent a ND.

Do NOT leave your hammer at half-cock with a chambered round. If you are going to lower your hammer on a hot chamber, make sure you get the hammer all the way down.

If you already have emptied your chamber, and have doublechecked to make sure your gun is indeed fully unloaded, the best way to drop your hammer is to pull the trigger.

 

[Frank Ettin]

[1] kcshooter is absolutely right about half-cock.

[2] As I see it, a significant problem with condition 2 is that if you have to draw your gun (which as kcshooter writes you wold do only if you'd be justified in using lethal force to defend yourself or someone else), you still have to cock it to make it work. IME that's not particular easy to do with one hand on a 1911. It'll be even harder under stress. If the hammer slips or you otherwise bobble the job, you will wind up holding a useless gun.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I have never taught my wife and kids to lower the hammer by finger on any of my 1911's or clones. Remove the magazine and rack the slide ejecting the chambered round. Now you can lower the hammer...

 

[Rugerlvr]

There is no safe way to decock a 1911.

 

[Disaster]

Decocking will always present a risk of accidental discharge on a 1911...just like it will on a double action revolver. However there are very few double action revolvers that have decockers. I think the concern is overblown. Just make sure you always have the gun pointed in a safe direction when decocking.

Having said that, it is harder to cock a 1911 because of the thumb tang and it doesn't have a double action so it is considerably less "ready" than a revolver when decocked. I would carry one cocked and locked.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Bull.

If I ever have to draw my pistol in self defense, you had better believe I will already be justified in firing it.

If you pull your gun out in a situation that firing it would be questionable or will most likely end up with you being charged, you've made a big mistake.

kcshooter,

With all due respect, I disagree. One can be justified in drawing a weapon, but not justified in firing it. If drawing the weapon ends the threat immediately, there's no justification in firing it, is there?

I'm envisioning a scenario where you ARE justified in drawing your weapon. However, I can also envision the BG realizing you're drawing and him dropping his knife, raising his hands in submission, saying "Hey, be cool man; it's just a misunderstanding." and your thumb slipping off the hammer and you've just put a big hole in this upstanding, angelic citizen's chest.

Sam

 

[kcshooter]

I'm envisioning a scenario where you ARE justified in drawing your weapon. However, I can also envision the BG realizing you're drawing and him dropping his knife, raising his hands in submission, saying "Hey, be cool man; it's just a misunderstanding." and your thumb slipping off the hammer and you've just put a big hole in this upstanding, angelic citizen's chest.

So now when the cops show up, there's a dead criminal and his knife at your feet?
Not that that's a good thing, but I really doubt you're gonna get into a lot of trouble for this situation.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

So now when the cops show up, there's a dead criminal and his knife at your feet?
Not that that's a good thing, but I really doubt you're gonna get into a lot of trouble for this situation.

Well, of course, you are right, kcshooter.

Silly ol' me, thinking about witnesses, security cameras, video cell phones capturing the whole thing.......Garsh, what was I thinking??

Sam

 

[spiroxlii]

That's why you arrange it so that you only get attacked in dark secluded alleys, of course.

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

That's why you arrange it so that you only get attacked in dark secluded alleys, of course.

spiroxlii,

Now, how can a guy who can't figure out how to carry a 1911 properly, figure out how to resolve the preceeding scenario disagreement??

Sam