Striker Vs. Hammer Fire

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
1

Howdy,

I always gravitated towards hammer fire…1911 type semi-autos without giving much though to differences.

1911 has such an incredible fan base it’s easy to get swept up in it and the aesthetics and shooting experience quite pleasing!

I’ve owned and own striker fires as well but of course they feel so toy like when dry firing it always translated to a “lesser” firearm option. Of course this is not true! Just my prejudices…

All that said I’ve been studying more to buy “one more” bug out bag firearm. I was designating my Sig P229 DA/SA for this purpose but have been reading of issues, very rare but do occur where hammer fire pistols like this or 1911’s can accumulate dirt and sand and have issues when least expected. Some of the research I’ve done finds many “operator” types have gravitated to striker fire for just this reason… My bug out bag won’t have room for a case and will probably live in a slim kyex holster so hammer exposed…

There’s always the legend about some Glock that was buried for 20 years firing without cleaning… Obviously a dirt caked 1911 will struggle to fire without a solid field strip and C&L… I still think the 1911 platform is superior but have not abused one…ALWAYS C&L and cased…

So…are you guys choosing striker fire more often for this reason?

Thanks!

2

If you like the 229 use it. I think it’ll run as bad or worse conditions than any striker fired pistol.

3

IMO, most modern pistols of reputable manufacturers will function sufficiently. I would say, choose what you like and then train with it while developing mindset and tactics.

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4

The FBI, Navy NSW, most PDs, etc have obviously found them to be highly reliable robust systems. I’d say, stick with what you like and have most practice, experience, training with, and leave the hand wringing to the net warriors. There’s pros and conds to all those choices, and it comes down to preferences, requirements, and so forth.

5

Striker fired guns are the future. Hammer fired guns are outdated dinosaurs. The simplicity in design, reduction of parts, ease of use, and increased capacity(compared to 1911’s or single stacks) makes striker fired guns the superior choice every time. Personal biases and “feel” should never be part of a logical decision. If concealment is the concern than a single stack(preferably striker fired) may be the appropriate choice. Barring concealment needs, capacity is king.

6

I would put my cz P07 against any striker fired for reliability. It has been hunting, camping, utv, hiking, in the mud etc and no failures

Take it for what it is worth but MAC also has a “gauntlet” test he runs fine through. I think the 2 that did the best so far are both Da/SA. They are put in mud, sand, dirt, etc and then shot. Obviously not real world, but if sand/dirt/debris would cause issues I think it would show them

7

I like my Glocks, but I love my Sigs. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a trigger snob, so that for me is the main reason. That said, I’ve never had the first bit of trouble with either, but if I was leaving the house never to return and could only bring a single pistol, it would be a Sig.

8

In the 90’s the Sig classic line was the gun to have. FBI, USSS, SEALS and various other agencies ran them. I would say the LE shift to striker fired was because Glock came in so much cheaper and took over the market. The other thing most don’t think of is the hours that were spent on training time and ammo just to master the DA/SA transition for the 2 rounds in 3 seconds from the holster in almost every LE qual course. Going to a striker fired gun with the same trigger pull for every shot completely eliminated the academy time spend on the DA/SA transition.

If the Sig works for you then run with it. David

9

If you think S&W or Beretta or HK don’t offer juicy pricing for LE contracts you would be mistaken. Price always plays a factor. It isn’t the only factor and far from what makes or breaks the deal(unless it’s big green, then it’s entirely about money). The elite units have been using Glocks for decades and price is of no concern. The fact that every other manufacturer offers a wannabe Glock tells the rest of the story.

10

They just work. 1911 this and that, blah blah. Striker fired guns work

11

Get an HK USP compact…very reliable, weight is not a problem either as they are a bit lighter than the P229

Glock is very available out there and pretty much easy to work on if you run into a problem or need parts… I believe in having options so I have both hammer and striker fired guns

A lot of the shift from hammer fired to striker fired was cost…

I love my Sig P229s… I tend to carry a Glock most of the time, due to weight and if involved in a SD situation…it is cheap to replace for me.

12

If it’s inside a bug out bag, it shouldn’t get dirty enough to matter. Hell, put the holstered pistol in a zip lock bag first if that is a worry.

I chose a Glock because they are:
Ubiquitous
Light
Relatively affordable
Simple to work on
Easy to find parts, magazines, and holsters for

They are as reliable a design as any, but the Beretta 92, CZ-75, Sig P226 are all know to be reliable pistols.

I am sure the newer striker fired guns are as reliable and durable as the Glock, but every gun store has (or had) Glock mags and accessories.

Andy

13

I would never put a firearm inside a ziplock bag without wrapping it first in a rust inhibitor and enclosing some kind of moisture absorption media. I inherited a couple of firearms that had been wrapped in plastic and they both had serious rusting.

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14

That’s a good point. How about “put it inside one of the spare socks you should have in a bug out bag”?

Andy

15

I started with 1911 and Hi Powers. Carried a Hi Power as an issued pistol for years, had very little issues with it.

Then carried a Glock as an issued weapon, had very little issues with it.

Then was turned onto CZ P09/07, have maybe 20k rounds through them and so far zero issues and a lot of dry firing.

I still have my Glocks, and don’t see the need to get rid of them. But CZ hammer fired pistols all the way!

16

Vacuum seal with dry/dry packets, no way there would be “No” corrosion. Been doing it for rears.

17

I like that!

18

Just the other day, a friend of mine asked me if you had to choose just one, “either My Legion 226rx or Stacatto P Duo. HKP30 would fit the bill too”.
All hammer fires, but I have no issue with Strikers. I believe they can be just as reliable.

PB

19

The only place dirt or can accumulate in hammer fired gun that can’t on a striker is the recess on the back of the slide where the hammer hits the firing pin.

I can say with certainty that a P Series Sig has near unsurpassed reliability and anything that does get lucky and beat it, probably won’t be a Glock.

*The only semi-autos I own are Glocks.

20

Small point. I have noticed, consistently, that ammo with hard primers that stop a Glock will usually run in my hammer fired guns, be it Berettas, CZs, etc. I recently found some RWS that would choke down my G30s that would run in my HK USP 45. I think it just comes down to hammers have a bit more energy.