Why do pistols have this safety built-in?

[Hunter2011]

When I finish shooting my CZ452 .22LR rifle, I keep open the bolt, pull in the trigger, and push the bolt forward. This effectively de-cocks my rifle, saving my firing pin from slamming into the breech of my rifle, and allowing me to store the rifle with a firing pin spring that is totally at rest. I just prefer it this way, even though a spring does not wear out by keeping tensed.

I then thought why not do this with my Taurus pistol? I will feel much more comfortable to carry it chambered if the first shot could be DA. Then the firing pin spring would be at rest as well, and I can ignore the external safety. Just pull the trigger. The following shots will then be in SA mode.
But as I tried it, with a empty chamber, I realized that you cannot pull the trigger if the slide is pulled back manually as far as it could go. Why is this feature to not be able to pull the trigger, with the slide being pulled back, built into pistols? Surely the gun can't go off if you pull the trigger on a slide that is pulled back fully? I really thought that I might be able to de-cock my pistol in this way: Keep the slide pulled back, pull the trigger, let the slide back slowly. This should effectively have de-cocked my pistol.. Can a gunsmith mod my pistol to be able to do this perhaps?

 

[1911 guy]

What causes this is a part called the disconnector. It prevents the pistol from firing full auto. If the pistol did not have this feature, it would drop the hammer every time the slide closed into battery and you had not yet released the trigger.

Not an issue with a bolt rifle because you break the firing grip and mover your finger off the trigger to work the action.

 

[Hunter2011]

This makes sense, thank you. It is one of those questions I can now erase from my mind to make space for new ones

 

[GLOOB]

Also, the disconnector has the additional job of preventing the gun from firing if it's more than 1/10th inch or so out of battery. If it fired with the breech unlocked, you'd have a little explosion.

This should effectively have de-cocked my pistol.. Can a gunsmith mod my pistol to be able to do this perhaps?

FTR, if the manufacturer doesn't offer a way to do what you are suggesting, it may not be safe. Just because the gun has second strike capability doesn't mean it's safe to carry decocked. There could be important safety mechanisms that are not in place.

I read of a gunshop owner that purchased a Glock from a customer. The trigger was already back, but when he field stripped the gun, lo and behold there was a cartridge in the chamber. The guy must have filed stripped the gun in order to load a round in there, figuring he could carry in condition 3 with a +1. He probably didn't know that the striker was flopping back and forth directly against the primer, with the striker safety deactivated.

 

[Panzerschwein]

That's good that you are curious! This is a good place to quench your firearms curiosity!

 

[WC145]

I then thought why not do this with my Taurus pistol? I will feel much more comfortable to carry it chambered if the first shot could be DA. Then the firing pin spring would be at rest as well, and I can ignore the external safety. Just pull the trigger. The following shots will then be in SA mode. But as I tried it, with a empty chamber, I realized that you cannot pull the trigger if the slide is pulled back manually as far as it could go. Why is this feature to not be able to pull the trigger, with the slide being pulled back, built into pistols? Surely the gun can't go off if you pull the trigger on a slide that is pulled back fully? I really thought that I might be able to de-cock my pistol in this way: Keep the slide pulled back, pull the trigger, let the slide back slowly. This should effectively have de-cocked my pistol.. Can a gunsmith mod my pistol to be able to do this perhaps?

There's already numerous DA/SA pistols out there with decockers to drop the hammer after loading without pulling the trigger - S&W, SIG, and Beretta are the first to come to mind. Hammer down on live round, long DA pull, subsequent pulls are lighter SA until you use the decocker to drop the hammer and start over. They've been around forever and are readily available. In fact, there's a ton of LE surplus 3rd Gen S&W's on the market right now that do what you want. Check Bud's, they have them for a few hundred dollars, here's some links-
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...89/products_id/411554502/TEAM+BUDS+FAST+TRACK
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...89/products_id/411554501/TEAM+BUDS+FAST+TRACK
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...89/products_id/411554500/TEAM+BUDS+FAST+TRACK

 

[Lucky Derby]

WC145, the OP is located in South Africa. He can't shop at Bud's.

 

[Hunter2011]

Unfortunately. You guys are so lucky to be able to have such a huge variety to choose from. The only thing that can stand in your way are money. Here, in my town specifically, there are no new revolvers for sale. And I live in a capital city of one of the provinces. 4 gunshops. They only sell pistols. Its really difficult to source even something simple, such as pearch grips for my pistol. Not even one set in South Africa.
Do you guys have a job for me there lol

 

[bainter1212]

I would think the South Africa would have some fine hunting rifles available at the very least.....

 

[Hunter2011]

I would think the South Africa would have some fine hunting rifles available at the very least.....

Yes, hunting rifles and .22's, we have a lot of choice there.
But you can forget seeing something simple like a Keltec PMR30 for example here.
I want to buy some Nosler bonded 9mm ammo. The ones with the plastic tip, seeing I get feeding problems with my Taurus. I was told not even one cartridge was ever brought into this country. I can write it on my stomach. You guys just ''add it to cart''

You want a Glock, no problem. Lots of them. Do you want a Keltec. Then they say, just buy a Glock Really, with handguns, especially revolvers, we are not spoilt for choice.

 

[WC145]

Sorry, didn't realize he wasn't in the US. You would think they'd have some traditional DA/SA guns there, he's got a Taurus, they make some.

 

[wally]

I then thought why not do this with my Taurus pistol? I will feel much more comfortable to carry it chambered if the first shot could be DA.

What model Taurus? Some of the Millennium Pro SA with DA second strike capability can, if the trigger is partially back when the safety is applied, have the safety go "on" but then will fire if the trigger is pulled!

Discussed in this thread:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=557528

 

[Hunter2011]

Sorry, didn't realize he wasn't in the US. You would think they'd have some traditional DA/SA guns there, he's got a Taurus, they make some.

No problem at all. It is not your fault my location is not on my profile
My other thread, the one ''best EDC revolver''. I took down on paper a few model numbers recommended in that thread, that fits my requirements. There is no way to find even one of them via google for sale in SA. You can try it yourself I phoned a few of the biggest suppliers in SA. When I get to no3 or no4 on my list, they ask me to mail them the list rather. They will then confirm availability if anyone on the list is available. I am not even picky. I will take anyone on the list. You will never hear from them again. Not even to suggest another revolver they have in stock. Then they complain business is slow... I wonder why.
Try and email any gunshop in my country, they don't have to know your location. You will see what I mean... I guarantee only 5% of them might respond. Unless you are lucky.


Hi Wally. It is a PT709.

Sorry if it sounds like I am complaining. I am just telling you my situation. I so want to buy one of those suggested to me in that other thread. But how?