Thumbing hammer back?

[The Lone Haranguer]

I don't believe in this. I only thumb-cock DA autos if I am doing something like accuracy testing. There is no guarantee that you are going to have your support hand free to cock the hammer in a gunfight. Trying to cock the hammer with your firing hand on the draw is very difficult and will at the very least require you to reacquire a proper grip on the gun so you can shoot it effectively, if you don't lose your grip and drop the gun altogether. I also think it worth noting that if you're taking an Arizona CCW course, you are required to fire the first shot double-action.

IMO you should learn to use the firearm the way it was meant to be used, or purchase a DAO or SA.

 

[Sylvan-Forge]

I've carried the P220 and other DA pistols with the hammer back quite a bit. I often do this with DA weapons as I've small hands. Quite safe on draw and holstering. When drawing I only place my finger inside of the trigger guard after several degrees from clearing the holster .. ~45deg. When holstering I take care to have a clear path into the holster with my trigger finger outside of the trigger guard.

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[dmazur]

From the horse's mouth (Colt) -

From the Colt Safety and Instruction Manual for the MkIV/Series 80 & 90 Pistols:

CARRYING MODES

NOTE: This pistol may be carried in any one of the following three modes depending on your needs:

Mode 1 - MAGAZINE EMPTY, CHAMBER EMPTY
Pistol cannot be discharged. Use Mode 1 for storage, transporting, cleaning, repair, demonstrating and dry practice.
Mode 2 - MAGAZINE LOADED, CHAMBER EMPTY, HAMMER DOWN
Pistol cannot be fired until slide is cycled and trigger is squeezed. Use Mode 2 when carrying the pistol ready for use.
Mode 3 - MAGAZINE LOADED, CHAMBER LOADED, HAMMER COCKED, SAFETY ON
Pistol can be fired when slide lock safety is off and trigger is squeezed. Use Mode 3 when you must be prepared to use the pistol immediately without warning.


And in another section:

CAUTION: DO NOT CARRY YOUR PISTOL WITH THE HAMMER DOWN ON A LIVE CARTRIDGE. To do so means you must lower the hammer. To lower the hammer, you must squeeze the trigger. When you squeeze the trigger you disengage the firing pin lock. This is not a safe condition. Instead, we urge you to follow the instructions in this manual. When you do so, you can enjoy the safe use of your pistol.


Note that Colt's Mode 1 is what is commonly referred to today as Condition 4, Mode 2 is Condition 3 and Mode 3 is Condition 1.

This is, of course, a 1911 and has no decocker. It is an example of a recommendation against operating the hammer with a round chambered.

The Sig 220 owner's manual doesn't describe what happens when you manually cock the hammer. If their patented safeties are disengaged when the decocking lever returns to its "at rest" position, then manually cocking the hammer with a round chambered could be much the same as doing this with a 1911 with no firing pin safety. On the other hand, if the Sig has a firing pin interlock that the trigger releases, it's probably OK.

In general, I'm a little wary of doing anything not called out in the mfgr's manual...

 

[Disaster]

CAUTION: DO NOT CARRY YOUR PISTOL WITH THE HAMMER DOWN ON A LIVE CARTRIDGE. To do so means you must lower the hammer. To lower the hammer, you must squeeze the trigger. When you squeeze the trigger you disengage the firing pin lock. This is not a safe condition. Instead, we urge you to follow the instructions in this manual. When you do so, you can enjoy the safe use of your pistol.

IMHO, this is just lawyer speak. Revolvers don't have decockers. How do you lower the hammer on a live round with a revolver???? Or are you just supposed to shoot the round any time you cock it?

 

[dmazur]

Disaster-

The section quoted was from a Colt manual for a 1911 (Series 80/90), and yes, I'll agree it's a bit over the top since these models have a firing pin interlock. Colt is trying to warn that, if you don't get the timing right, the hammer can slip while your finger is on the trigger and the firing pin interlock won't prevent a discharge. So don't do it.

However, the Ruger manual I have for a SBH (revolver) goes into some detail on the procedure to lower the hammer, and suggests practicing this skill until the owner is comfortable with it. You are correct -- there isn't any other way to do it, so you'd better do it right!

My intent was just to point out that the mfgrs (attorneys) don't usually put nonsense in the owner's manuals, and that the manual could be a place to start from when addressing "hammer operation with a round chambered".

 

[Majic]

I never learned to sweep the safety off a 1911 when drawing the pistol. My thumb rests on the safety but the pistol is on target and I'm ready to fire when the safety gets swept off.

 

[mattx109]

thumbing the hammer back with my left hand?

No criticism here, as you should shoot how you shoot safely and effectively.

However, consider the chance that you may have one arm out-of-action when the moment arrives, with your training focused on using both.