My stepson just bought his first handgun. I suggested a double/single action pistol for this exact reason. We covered the pros and cons of hammered fired vs striker fired. He ended up buying the new CZ P09 compact.
@@coleguitar2233 you hold the hammer when reholstering especially if you carry appendix so you know if something is pressing the trigger down when it shouldnt be. Wether it's a shirt or a bad leather holster that ends up in the trigger guard. Obviously with a striker gun that has no safety you don't have that extra layer of security. That said I carry appendix with an Xmacro.
@johnculver3294 Ya, those p-09's just came in August of this year. I'm am interested in that gun also. Seems like a good gun & in the $500 range. CZ's are good pistolas. I like the decocker.
@@encinobalboa Hammer fired pistols that are double action/single action usually have a shorter reset and better triggers in single action than do most striker fired pistols. True, the double action pull is longer and heavier than most striker fired counterparts. The first really popular striker fired pistol, Glock, had a relatively poor trigger. That was because Glocks for safety reasons had only a partially tensioned striker when cocking the pistol. Pulling the trigger completed tensioning the striker spring then dropped the sear releasing the striker. More recently striker fired pistols have improved the triggers but they’ve done it by fully tensioning the striker spring so that, like the single action hammer gun, you’re just dropping the sear to release the striker. This reduces the safety factor that Glock first built into their design. That’s why I won’t carry a striker fired pistol in an appendix position.
@@Chiller11 Your explanation was so good that I read it twice. My Sigs and 1911's agree with you 100. XD9 is my only striker. I have compared it back to back with a G17 and a G19. Glock trigger sucked. My state does not allow carry but I am confident with my Sigs and XD9. XD9 has trigger safety, grip safety, and firing pin block. XD9 also has clearly defined wall with predictable break. That's a lot more than a P320 which even at the range is squirrely. This being said, I like P226 operating system the best. I feel like I have complete control.
56 year old veteran with Parkinson’s have been shooting for years but starting to loos some arm strength due to this I have found internally hammered fired pistols easier to rack ie s@w equalizer ruger lcp max 380 and security 380 .find them very easy to shoot rack and load
Keep up the good work because you're not letting this stop what you love to do. My dad had it, and it wasn't easy. I had to take the bullets out of his guns. The medication he was taking made him hallucinate. May the Lord give you the strength to overcome this, God bless.
Most of the hammer guns ive shot which is alot have seemed like they have need trigger jobs to be decent. The only hammer triggers i like are staccatos
I am 81 now that I preferred the old school hammer fired pistols which i have been used to for so many years.. I have a good collection of pistols and have yet to include a striker fired one. Good video.
I'm not quite your age, and I am a hammer first gent. If you have the budget, do try a striker fired gun before you move on. Part of life is to keep exploring. While I am hammer first, I do have a couple of striker fired guns that I would not give up. They do have a place.
Strikers hydro-lock underwater (or after being submersed), where as hammer does not. Also, many hammer guns have internal or semi internal hammers. 1911 isn't the only hammer design.
except no guns work underwater, even the strongest guns have a deadly range of.....5-10 feet underwater. basically have to plug someone in the ear with it in the water for it to be deadly.
He forgot to mention how the HK USP dominates in reliability which just happens to be hammer fired. Glock cant even compete with it in this area of performance.
I think the DA/SA is the best all around option. I typically carry a P226 or a 1911 / 2011 variant, but I have also carried Glocks and P320's as well. The DA/SA is the best all around option because: 1) In the very limited circumstances where ammunition is dwindling, unable to run the slide due to injury or whatever, you have the 2nd strike capability. 2) You have immediate access to the rear components to clear grime out of the area to attempt to get the firearm working again, where you don't have immediate access to those areas on striker fired options. 3) You have the ability to switch to the SA firing mode when it may give you tactical advantages, like shooting down long stretches of hallways, or potential hostage / precision shooting situations. 4) They are safer to carry because you can always inspect the condition of the firearm while holstered. 5) They are safer to carry because you can inspect the pistol during the holstering process both visually and by feel. 6) They give a more and are more forgiving with a deliberate and longer trigger pull during the first round of fire in critical situations. 7) Some DA/SA pistols also gives an option for a manual safety for even more safety. 8) Hammer fired options (DA/SA included) often have a better trigger feel than striker options 9) Hammer fired options are typically available in aluminum or steel frame. There are numerous benefits to the added mass and attributes of a frame like this, like faster follow-up shots, more forgiving to shooter error and the material is more likely going to protect your hand should your firearm blow up from a catastrophic failure. 10) Striker fired platforms can be very sensitive to trigger modifications and it can be easy to induce malfunctions to the platform because of this. Hammer fired firearms are notably more tolerant to these modifications. 11) DA/SA systems have two trigger pulls. If you damage the internals of the firearm such as the sear from dropping the firearm or through whatever means, it is still possible that your firearm may fire, for instance if the sear engagement point is damaged because the firearm was dropped on a cocked hammer, it my have destroyed the sear notch, not letting the firearm stay in the SA mode; however, it is still possible to fire a cartridge in the DA mode. A striker system is reliant on the rear pressure from the back plate of the slide. The SAO system are reliant on the sear notch and the ability for the hammer to be cocked before firing. Both only have one means of actuating the internal mechanisms, and therefore if damaged, the firearms are out of the fight. 12) Out of the US military documentations I have seen, it appears the P226 was perhaps the most reliable pistol ever tested by the US military. We can look at the internet torture tests and see what happens here and there, but those are largely anecdotal and have little or no scientific protocols that we can use to recreate the tests to recreate any potential problems.
The hammer is for the DA/SA capability. The only safe way to carry a round in the chamber is with the hammer down and a DA trigger. If you carry without a round in the chamber, or wish to shoot your foot or balls off, then striker pistols are fine. Even preferable.
I’ve got a fair amount of both types of pistols, competed with both and carried both as a street cop and hammer fired pistols just have more crisp precise triggers. Striker fired triggers even custom ones don’t compare to a custom hammer trigger.
A plus for hammer fired pistols is the ability to disassemble the firearm when muddy. Almost all striker fired pistols, such as Glock, require pulling the trigger to release the striker before you can tale the slid off. On a striker fired handgun, if it's dirty enough to jam the striker, stop the slide from moving, or block the trigger from moving, you can't remove the slide. That's why the striker cover on the slide of most srtiker fired pistols are made of plastic. You are going to have to break something to get the gun apart.
I very much prefer DA/SA handguns, my favorites being the Sig P226/229, and the Beretta 92, in that order. These two series of handguns are inherently safer, have really good/excellent triggers, and being all metal, reduce perceived recoil.
I’m 61 years old and grew up hammered fire pistol’s and I love both!! Both have pros and cons, it’s up to your preference and you must maintain either pistol properly!!
I'm born in 82 and was raised using da/sa hammer fired handguns and then was issued the m9 Beretta which served me well from 99-05 with no issues. So I'm partial to those types of firearms but I have also embraced striker fired since I purchased my Glock 17 in 04 which I carried daily for almost ten years until going back to a sig sp2022. I think both are great and it really comes down to preference some prefer to be able to hold the hammer with their thumb while holstering and feeling like they have better control. My old man still carries a wheel gun LoL , maybe it just comes down to what the users generation was raised with. As long as it fires when needed is really all that matters
Hammer here , better trigger in general, different options for carrying, cocked and locked, half cocked, or hammer down, external safety, safer reholster routines. Safer double Action. The stricter fire are just easier and less training needed.
In a way, this argument is like arguing between whether a striker fired gun with no safety is better than one with a safety. Some people want a safety. Either for peace of mind, or because that one extra step ensures some perceived "deliberateness" to the use of the firearm, or to ensure it won't go off if dropped or mishandled. Some people don't want a safety because it impedes the use of the gun, and they want it to be ready as soon as possible if their life is in danger. Same holds true with the hammer-fired vs. striker-fired. You might buy a hammer-fired gun because you can thumb the hammer while holstering, and the double action pull ensures some perceived "deliberateness" to the first shot, and if for some reason a round receives a light primer strike the trigger can be pulled again on the same round. On top of that, the follow-up single action shots can be very light and crisp on some pistols making it really easy to land follow-up shots. It's up to every shooter to determine what they want from a gun, what they find to be benefits, what they find to be drawbacks, and all in between. I'm just glad we have so many choices in the market.
Striker fired pistol is “old” technology. The first striker fired pistol was designed by Hugo Borchardt and was released in 1893 on the Borchardt C-93.
I know it a a bit nit picky but the original "1911" (the colt 1900) was designed in the late 1890s by John Browning, and was updated and made more reliable until it became the 1911 we know today.
I have a hammer pistol and the hammer shows me if it's ready to shoot or not. Ruger LCP. VERY HELPFUL! Can't have that with a hidden striker. It's still so tiny to carry it with me ALL of the time. Then the hammer is all inside. Just can see if it is ready or not from the back side of the pistol. Priceless safety! Now, I do not plan to crawl in the mud with it, lol. Just a defense insurance. For other situations I have different tools though and also striker guns. Still not planning on crawling in the mud lol. Love your videos, btw!
Own both is the best choice. I have alwa yes personally felt the hammer fired has a better trigger pull. Not that there are not good striker walther canik cz but even a cheap 1911 had a good trigger compared to a striker
Have both but feel more comfortable with double/single action carrying concealed with hammer down due to heavier trigger pull on first round. That is the most important difference for me. Just don't have the warm fuzzy about carrying in appendix position with a striker fired pistol.
The 1911 pistol was first “Patented Apr. 20, 1897 by John Moses Browning. The Colt pistol was formally adopted by the Army on March 29, 1911, when it was designated "Model of 1911", later changed in 1917 to "Model 1911".
I have hammer fired, but only DA/SA versions, so I can keep tension off the hammer spring and have 2nd strike capability. I have striker fired, but they have 2nd strike capability. The 2 internal hammer versions I have DON'T have 2nd strike, but I hope their makers eventually make some version that allows for 2nd strike.
They both have their merits and faults. But what it basically boils down to is a hammer fired pistol is generational, whereas I consider a Striker fired pistol disposable. It's sort of like comparing a Zippo lighter and a Bic Butane lighter.
I use/carry both and both are great platforms. As a former LEO who carried a S&W 59 for a few years, the second strike capability is a definitely an advantage IMO. Taking a second tap on a 'no fire' takes a fraction of the time it takes to manually cycle the gun to a new round. I've never had to shoot anyone during my time in LE so it's never happened to me in a gunfight but I've had a few 'no fires' on the range (cheap range ammo) and the ability to double tap the round in a fraction of a second gives you warm and fuzzies. On the few times its happened on the range the cartridges all went off on the second hammer strike. I would MUCH rather double tap a 'no fire' in a gunfight than manually cycle the action to load a fresh round. I wouldn't do it with a 1911 but with a DA/SA... definitely. My current carry gun is striker fire gun but I do love a good DA/SA. One of my absolute favorites to shoot is my Beretta 92A1. If I had the coinage I'd get a Langdon Tactical Beretta PX4 Compact. That super fast double tap is a feature not a bug.
Grew up firing revolvers, went to the military and after a lot of training was issued a Sig Legion. The extra round capacity completely sold me. Checked out a lot of other fire arms like Beretta, Glock, and S&W. Stuck with the Legion for the duration. Afte separation immediately purchased a Sig Legion .40 cal, it was my go to until 2010 when a friend turned me on to the pretty new Sig P-250. Love at first shot, the 13 round capacity of the compact model was a selling point, as was the DAO mechanics. It has an auto de-cock, no need for safety, 13 round capacity, and the modular design allowed transformation from compact to full size, and could even change calibers. Never did any of the cute change stuff. Stuck with the .40cal nail driver. All these years later still my EDC, the wife's too.
Striker fired handguns with a light trigger and no safety seem like a recipe for trouble. Hammer fired pistols rely on a safety, or have long heavy double action pulls from the holster. A striker fired pistol with a long heavy pull does not need a safety, but the trend is towards short light pulls. Combine that with appendix carry and the situation can become re-dickless.
In general I prefer Hammer fire but not always. There seems to be a desire lately of handguns having the lighest pull weight possible and manufacturers have responded to this. For example take the original Ruger LCP, many complained about the long trigger but IMHO this is much safer than the newer LCP-II or LCP-Max. The original version 1st shot is similar to a DA where the trigger cocks and then release the hammer. The newer versions appear to me to be over 90% cocked and I imagine there is adequate inertia stored in this configuration to fire the gun if something went wrong. To me these Ruger LCP-II and LCP Max have a configuration similar to SA cocked and locked, when I carry a 1911 it's cocked BUT there is a grip safety and a manual safety, additionally I purposely carried this in a holster that had the retention strap that went between the slide and hammer effectively blocking the hammer, this seemed safe to me. Looking at these LCP-II and Max I'm basically looking at a cocked gun and the only manual safety is on the trigger ? No way, not for me. I was interested in the new H&K SFP9CC until I examined it, the striker appears to be full cocked when loaded and again the safety is on the trigger- Nope not for me. Looking at several Glocks, when carrying the striker does not seem to be tensioned enough to store enough inertia to fire without pulling the trigger which I like but the new optional Performance Trigger appears almost fully tensioned without pulling the trigger- Nope would only opt for this on a range only gun. Bottom line for me is I prefer hammer fire but I'm OK with either as long as there is not enough stored energy in the mechanism to fire without pulling the trigger.
Internet cool guys know hammers are the way. Other internet cool guys know strikers are the way. Both are just ways to accomplish a goal. Both work well when properly designed and built. But please, argue away if that makes you feel smart.
I don't remember the statistics, but... The grand majority of the time when your gun doesn't fire it's either a magazine or ammo malfunction. It's pretty rare for it to be the firearm itself. Tap, Rack, Bang was put into training for this exact reason so I like Eric's breakdown of this.
Which is the P99, the only striker fired duty gun I own. Great trigger and reset, Double action and the anti-stress trigger. Wish Walther would update it for the times.
@@desertsoldier41 The one I heard of was a Sccy CPX2 or one of the other budget ones. I guess now I know there are at least TWO striker fire guns with DA.
Both are very nice depending on the tool and I enjoy many offerings/brands, but like most tools, they can be updated to the users preference... ie, Apex, HBI, Cajun Gunworks, and many others. For me, da/sa is the best for edc...that said...If I must have only one, I will pick/carry a Glock, 19/23 due to parts availability.
Issues with mud and grime stopping a hammer fired pistol just isn’t an issue for 99.99% of self defense uses. This is a military consideration, not even a police consideration.
You failed to mention Langdon 's reason for hammer guns. When carrying AIWB ...... One never knows something is caught in the trigger guard until one's pants get lit up. With a hammer gun one can place their thumb on the hammer and it is all but impossible for the trigger to release the hammer. We use and love both but when carrying AIWB it is only with a hammer gun.
@laredoland Yes, it's a safety issue in more ways than one. With one, you can SEE what state it's in. Plus, a long, hard single action trigger pull acts as a safety in itself, in more ways that one. A hammer gun is far from being obsolete. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Double strike on a bad shell IS a viable option though not one to bet the homestead on. Also, there is a big difference in hammer guns such as 92FS and a 1911. Sticking a striker gun down your pants is akin to stuffing a 1911 down there, cooked and UNLOCKED. Ain't no way I'm gonna do that. I recommend you go to a range, rent both types, and try them out. Go with the one you feel comfortable with and trust. In my case, I don't trust striker guns and have absolutely no faith in them.
Spot-on analysis! If you have a failed firing in a tactical situation, immediate action on either type of pistol design is required! If you are just a the range firing, then you have the luxury of merely recooking the hammer and taking a second pull of the trigger-you life is not on the line in this situation.
I think if a shooter shoots both with a limp wrist the hammer fire will not jam unlike the striker fire, the striker fire will jam if the shooter shoots limp wrist. However, I believe the striker fire shoots a little faster but not by much.
When I carry my dubble single action pistol the hammer is in the down position no place for dirt to come in the gun,in a one up condition it is safer than a striker fire pistol and the secondary trigger pull is much lighter.The best one is the one that you pratice the most with.Great video 👌👌
Vietnam vet here. 11Bravo. Anyway, we couldn't get 1911s in the field because all of the lifers in the rear area were carrying them. I picked up a M20 ChiCom in Cambodia. The M20 was the bargain basement of the Tokarev style. It's a single action and the only safety was half-cock. I carried it for over 6 months and never had a problem. I'll stick with a hammer.
Anything mechanical can and sooner or later fail. Great topic to cover for sure. I agree eject that round. Maybe you can run a few tests to see what happens? Full mag and one dummy round and see how you do.
Good morning dear Eric and thank you for the video and all your valuable content. As a sport shooter and an enthusiastic gun collector from Switzerland, I would write you some words. I will always prefer a hammer-fired gun, because of the total-control possibility of the weapon and the safety reason. I just can't imagine carrying on my waistband a cooked and chambered Glock pistol (or any other striker-fired gun). But there is one BIG EXCEPTION, that's the WALTHER P99 pistol, I own two of them. This pistol is a very underrated gun, its striker-fired gun with almost all advantages of a hammer-striked gun. The pistol has de-coker and the trigger works also like an ordinary double-action trigger. Also if you have a primer misfire, you can pull the trigger once again. If you don't have experiences with the WALTHER P99, get one and check it out, you won't regret it. Best Regards from Switzerland!
I agree the 2nd round strike capability is mute .I appendix carry a 1911 and unless it's dropped or the hammers cocked It's not going BANG ,if clothing gets caught or the trigger gets touched .
If anyone is curious John Moses Browning helped create the first striker fired pistol too. The inventor of numerous "pocket pistols" of the 1900s (FN M1899, Colt 1903/1908 Pocket Hammerless, FN 1906 Vest Pocket, FN 1910) as well as the calibers they were chambered in (.25, .32, and .380 ACP), he probably did more for early-20th-century concealed carry than any other man. One of his longest-lived designs was the well-liked FN Model 1910. A striker-fired, blowback action, single-stack .32 ACP (7+1 capacity) or .380 ACP (6+1 capacity) semi-auto with a 3.16-inch barrel, it remained in production for a solid 73 years, including military and police use in dozens of countries. Glock may have perfected it but it was Mr. Browning who invented it. Go figure....
I reload a lot and of course buy cheap primers my experience is a da/sa is a premium option that costs more and is superior. I refuse to buy striker pistols anymore and sold em off. I got tired of replacing 6.5 lb striker springs and having to shuck the slide. I see striker fire as a cheap deficiency of a product that’s always cocked and wears out quickly. A da/sa has double strike and find they have 99% fire on the second strike also the trigger action is better and carrying da is much safer. I chamber holding down the decocker and the gun is as safe as possible not requiring a safety. A heavy hammer on a pistol is a premium feature and I would own anything else.
My love of hammer fired pistols was reinforced by the uncommanded discharge of my early production P320. Scared the crap out of me and made me back away from the striker system.
@The-Armed-Pacifist It's not your fault brother. Lots of lawsuits out there on that design and lots of poeple hurt. They are extremely dangerous and the fact that our government uses them is even more scary. What if an officer draws on you for a traffic stop for mistaken identity and it just goes off? DA/SA for me only for brother. If happen to me then I would get a lawyer. Cheap design to only make profits IMO. I have felt that way ever since the first plastic striker fires came out in the 80s. I am just glad you are OK.
I have a combination of both. I like hammer triggers feel and the overall safety of a DA for carry. But my Sig 365 is my EDC because I know it's gonna run no matter what mess I've fallen into.
You voiced the reasons for your preference well. I prefer a DA/SA myself. The few times I have had a fail to fire a second pull of the trigger has always fired the gun. I believe it is primer depth issues and the first strike resets the primer making the second strike effective. I also like the visual that the hammer fired provides. Striker fired usually has a way to determine a chambered round, but a hammer gives you an unmistakable picture that is absolutely faster than any striker fired pistol. I have multiple hammer fired, two striker fired. The trigger is better on every hammer fired I own, although several are not stock. I have two striker fired, one stock trigger and one not. All hammer fired will have a better trigger, at least in my limited experience. But I do me, you do you.
I believe with a proper holster carrying one in the chamber is safer with a striker fire. The hammer fire can do the same just more steps to be safe with the hammer fire
ALL of my Semiautos ARE hammer guns, BUT you bring up valid points. I am a civilian whose pistols are not ever even WET, let alone mud cased (as can be in combat) Striker fired pistols MAKE SENSE. Just NOT giving up my High Powers and 1911s. LOL.
The big difference between my hammer fired handguns and my one that's striker fired is that I actually shoot my hammer fired ones. I only bought the one striker fired one because it was cheap.
Like the “Way Huge” hat ……Great pedals! ………good video.., btw I’m a 100% hammer fired guy, trigger and feel, also I believe our military issues are all hammer fired….
Second strike capabilitiy is the reason why I bought a Walther P99 which aside from its clones (Canik) was the only striker fired pistol that could do this.
I am an old guy, I like hammer fired, steel framed pistols.
Salute to all the veterans today 🫡 🇺🇸
Salute! 🇺🇲
Yut
Thank You!
Thank you. My honor
Lord, bless all our veterans and give them PEACE.
I own both, I use both, I love both :)
Well said, came to the comments section to say exactly the same
Same here.
which weapon is more reliable?
@jreg2007 Wich is faster?
Same
You left what I think is the biggest advantage of a hammer gun. You can hold the hammer down when you’re holstering the firearm.
Agreed!
My stepson just bought his first handgun. I suggested a double/single action pistol for this exact reason. We covered the pros and cons of hammered fired vs striker fired. He ended up buying the new CZ P09 compact.
With striker fire you don’t have to worry about the hammer so who cares
@@coleguitar2233 you hold the hammer when reholstering especially if you carry appendix so you know if something is pressing the trigger down when it shouldnt be. Wether it's a shirt or a bad leather holster that ends up in the trigger guard. Obviously with a striker gun that has no safety you don't have that extra layer of security. That said I carry appendix with an Xmacro.
@johnculver3294 Ya, those p-09's just came in August of this year. I'm am interested in that gun also. Seems like a good gun & in the $500 range. CZ's are good pistolas. I like the decocker.
I was surprised that you didn't bring up the safety concerns (accidental discharges) between striker fired triggers vs DA/SA hammer fired pistols.
Glock leg is real.
@@1978garfieldexactly. So are the SiG P320 issues.
Very true. Huge miss in not listing this as a con for striker fired
Trigger feel is probably the best reason for hammer fire gun. Strikers fire triggers are mushy
True, a plus for hammers. OTOH, strikers are generally lighter.
@@encinobalboa Hammer fired pistols that are double action/single action usually have a shorter reset and better triggers in single action than do most striker fired pistols. True, the double action pull is longer and heavier than most striker fired counterparts. The first really popular striker fired pistol, Glock, had a relatively poor trigger. That was because Glocks for safety reasons had only a partially tensioned striker when cocking the pistol. Pulling the trigger completed tensioning the striker spring then dropped the sear releasing the striker. More recently striker fired pistols have improved the triggers but they’ve done it by fully tensioning the striker spring so that, like the single action hammer gun, you’re just dropping the sear to release the striker. This reduces the safety factor that Glock first built into their design. That’s why I won’t carry a striker fired pistol in an appendix position.
@@Chiller11 Your explanation was so good that I read it twice. My Sigs and 1911's agree with you 100. XD9 is my only striker. I have compared it back to back with a G17 and a G19. Glock trigger sucked. My state does not allow carry but I am confident with my Sigs and XD9. XD9 has trigger safety, grip safety, and firing pin block. XD9 also has clearly defined wall with predictable break. That's a lot more than a P320 which even at the range is squirrely. This being said, I like P226 operating system the best. I feel like I have complete control.
56 year old veteran with Parkinson’s have been shooting for years but starting to loos some arm strength due to this I have found internally hammered fired pistols easier to rack ie s@w equalizer ruger lcp max 380 and security 380 .find them very easy to shoot rack and load
Keep up the good work because you're not letting this stop what you love to do. My dad had it, and it wasn't easy. I had to take the bullets out of his guns. The medication he was taking made him hallucinate. May the Lord give you the strength to overcome this, God bless.
Never had a hammer gun fail me. Much better triggers as well.
exactly, and I've personally watched striker fired guns fail multiple times.
God Bless to anyone reading this
Amen brother
WHAT False God R U Talking About ? 👺💀
@01NATHAN10 Thanks man! I needed that today.
@ Who said anything about a “false god”?
May God bless you and yours too.
No striker fired trigger is as good as a hammer fired gun. IMO
Canik and walther have better striker triggers than any hammer gun ive ever shot
@@TacticalOperator01 Yeah, no. You can't have fired more than two (lousy) hammer guns.
Why is that?
The trigger pull of the P320's pre-cocked striker is better than sex according to everyone who carries one IWB.
Most of the hammer guns ive shot which is alot have seemed like they have need trigger jobs to be decent. The only hammer triggers i like are staccatos
Thank you for your service Sir and Happy Veterans Day.
I like hammer fired. I also like full sized firearms. My carry is the Beretta 92.
I also carry my 92F, i also have a Bersa Thunder Ultra Compact. Both double/single
I've packed a 92FS appendix carry since the early 80s. Never a problem concealing. Haven't put my ....eye out yet. 😉
Same here 92F variants my whole life.
@dalephillips8250 The funny thing is that some folks try to tell us those things are obsolete. 😆
@doghousedon1 yep I'm currently looking for a good belly band type carry so that I can carry when I don't have a belt on
I own several guns, but I carry a CZ 75 compact.
I wanted to say thank you for your service I’m a disabled veteran l wanted to let you know your doing a awesome job thank you
face it, some like a striker, some like a 1911....and thats ok, theirs enough room in our gun community for both. even the revolver guys too.
Even revolver guys! Dang it😮
Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service. God bless America! 🫡🇺🇸🗽
I'm a 80's Baby who grew up on Die Hard and Lethal Weapon it's Da/Sa for me John McClane and Martin Riggs carried the Beretta 92 love it.
50's baby here, qualified with the 1911A1 when I was in service. I am spoiled, I admit. I prefer hammer....grin
I just like my 40 caliber for its 15 rounds of 204 grains rounad and my 1100 fps 482 foot pounds 180 gain HP underwood round!
I'm from the 1800s. I prefer my flintlock on the streets of Chicago.
Way to go cranking out new content! Good to see you active again.
Off the cuff garbage. Pulls out a 1911 arguing against a Glock. Not a sig not a cz a 1911 “picking my nose cocking the gun”
I am 81 now that I preferred the old school hammer fired pistols which i have been used to for so many years.. I have a good collection of pistols and have yet to include a striker fired one. Good video.
I'm not quite your age, and I am a hammer first gent. If you have the budget, do try a striker fired gun before you move on. Part of life is to keep exploring. While I am hammer first, I do have a couple of striker fired guns that I would not give up. They do have a place.
Strikers hydro-lock underwater (or after being submersed), where as hammer does not. Also, many hammer guns have internal or semi internal hammers. 1911 isn't the only hammer design.
except no guns work underwater, even the strongest guns have a deadly range of.....5-10 feet underwater. basically have to plug someone in the ear with it in the water for it to be deadly.
Hammers all the way. The only reason I would buy a striker fired pistol is if I couldn't afford anything else.
He forgot to mention how the HK USP dominates in reliability which just happens to be hammer fired. Glock cant even compete with it in this area of performance.
Being able to see the hammer is a very good thing IMHO
Turkish made 1911s and Bersas are cheap.
Love my Bersa TPR9C.
Still not going to give up my 1911 A1. Do not like striker fired pistols.
I think the DA/SA is the best all around option. I typically carry a P226 or a 1911 / 2011 variant, but I have also carried Glocks and P320's as well.
The DA/SA is the best all around option because:
1) In the very limited circumstances where ammunition is dwindling, unable to run the slide due to injury or whatever, you have the 2nd strike capability.
2) You have immediate access to the rear components to clear grime out of the area to attempt to get the firearm working again, where you don't have immediate access to those areas on striker fired options.
3) You have the ability to switch to the SA firing mode when it may give you tactical advantages, like shooting down long stretches of hallways, or potential hostage / precision shooting situations.
4) They are safer to carry because you can always inspect the condition of the firearm while holstered.
5) They are safer to carry because you can inspect the pistol during the holstering process both visually and by feel.
6) They give a more and are more forgiving with a deliberate and longer trigger pull during the first round of fire in critical situations.
7) Some DA/SA pistols also gives an option for a manual safety for even more safety.
8) Hammer fired options (DA/SA included) often have a better trigger feel than striker options
9) Hammer fired options are typically available in aluminum or steel frame. There are numerous benefits to the added mass and attributes of a frame like this, like faster follow-up shots, more forgiving to shooter error and the material is more likely going to protect your hand should your firearm blow up from a catastrophic failure.
10) Striker fired platforms can be very sensitive to trigger modifications and it can be easy to induce malfunctions to the platform because of this. Hammer fired firearms are notably more tolerant to these modifications.
11) DA/SA systems have two trigger pulls. If you damage the internals of the firearm such as the sear from dropping the firearm or through whatever means, it is still possible that your firearm may fire, for instance if the sear engagement point is damaged because the firearm was dropped on a cocked hammer, it my have destroyed the sear notch, not letting the firearm stay in the SA mode; however, it is still possible to fire a cartridge in the DA mode. A striker system is reliant on the rear pressure from the back plate of the slide. The SAO system are reliant on the sear notch and the ability for the hammer to be cocked before firing. Both only have one means of actuating the internal mechanisms, and therefore if damaged, the firearms are out of the fight.
12) Out of the US military documentations I have seen, it appears the P226 was perhaps the most reliable pistol ever tested by the US military. We can look at the internet torture tests and see what happens here and there, but those are largely anecdotal and have little or no scientific protocols that we can use to recreate the tests to recreate any potential problems.
I'm with you.
The hammer is for the DA/SA capability. The only safe way to carry a round in the chamber is with the hammer down and a DA trigger.
If you carry without a round in the chamber, or wish to shoot your foot or balls off, then striker pistols are fine. Even preferable.
My first gun was a DA/SA one and I'm sticking to them, mainly SIGs. I tried striker fired guns, but I'm not getting along with them.
I am more accurate with my XD9 than my P226. Go figure.
@@encinobalboano way
I’ve got a fair amount of both types of pistols, competed with both and carried both as a street cop and hammer fired pistols just have more crisp precise triggers. Striker fired triggers even custom ones don’t compare to a custom hammer trigger.
A plus for hammer fired pistols is the ability to disassemble the firearm when muddy. Almost all striker fired pistols, such as Glock, require pulling the trigger to release the striker before you can tale the slid off. On a striker fired handgun, if it's dirty enough to jam the striker, stop the slide from moving, or block the trigger from moving, you can't remove the slide.
That's why the striker cover on the slide of most srtiker fired pistols are made of plastic. You are going to have to break something to get the gun apart.
Enter the beretta apx with its striker disconnect button
You don't have to pull the trigger on any sig.
@@BuiltByKane the sig trigger pulls itself... sorry, couldn't resist 😂
@@TruthSeeker.357 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
You dont have to pull the trigger on a S&W M&P
I very much prefer DA/SA handguns, my favorites being the Sig P226/229, and the Beretta 92, in that order.
These two series of handguns are inherently safer, have really good/excellent triggers, and being all metal, reduce perceived recoil.
I’m 61 years old and grew up hammered fire pistol’s and I love both!! Both have pros and cons, it’s up to your preference and you must maintain either pistol properly!!
And as always, practice, practice, practice.
I'm born in 82 and was raised using da/sa hammer fired handguns and then was issued the m9 Beretta which served me well from 99-05 with no issues. So I'm partial to those types of firearms but I have also embraced striker fired since I purchased my Glock 17 in 04 which I carried daily for almost ten years until going back to a sig sp2022. I think both are great and it really comes down to preference some prefer to be able to hold the hammer with their thumb while holstering and feeling like they have better control. My old man still carries a wheel gun LoL , maybe it just comes down to what the users generation was raised with. As long as it fires when needed is really all that matters
Double action/Single action is King.
Hammer here , better trigger in general, different options for carrying, cocked and locked, half cocked, or hammer down, external safety, safer reholster routines. Safer double Action.
The stricter fire are just easier and less training needed.
Right on! I'm totally in agreement.
In a way, this argument is like arguing between whether a striker fired gun with no safety is better than one with a safety.
Some people want a safety. Either for peace of mind, or because that one extra step ensures some perceived "deliberateness" to the use of the firearm, or to ensure it won't go off if dropped or mishandled. Some people don't want a safety because it impedes the use of the gun, and they want it to be ready as soon as possible if their life is in danger.
Same holds true with the hammer-fired vs. striker-fired. You might buy a hammer-fired gun because you can thumb the hammer while holstering, and the double action pull ensures some perceived "deliberateness" to the first shot, and if for some reason a round receives a light primer strike the trigger can be pulled again on the same round. On top of that, the follow-up single action shots can be very light and crisp on some pistols making it really easy to land follow-up shots.
It's up to every shooter to determine what they want from a gun, what they find to be benefits, what they find to be drawbacks, and all in between. I'm just glad we have so many choices in the market.
Striker fired pistol is “old” technology. The first striker fired pistol was designed by Hugo Borchardt and was released in 1893 on the Borchardt C-93.
I know it a a bit nit picky but the original "1911" (the colt 1900) was designed in the late 1890s by John Browning, and was updated and made more reliable until it became the 1911 we know today.
I prefer hammer guns over striker guns because all my training was with hammer guns..ie.. p226
Hammer fired usually have way better triggers and striker fire feel like a staple gun. But the striker is reliable and more of a tool.
I have a hammer pistol and the hammer shows me if it's ready to shoot or not. Ruger LCP. VERY HELPFUL! Can't have that with a hidden striker. It's still so tiny to carry it with me ALL of the time. Then the hammer is all inside. Just can see if it is ready or not from the back side of the pistol. Priceless safety! Now, I do not plan to crawl in the mud with it, lol. Just a defense insurance. For other situations I have different tools though and also striker guns. Still not planning on crawling in the mud lol. Love your videos, btw!
I prefer a Hammer Fired HandGun .The Trigger is Much Better and i like external safeties. I Like Double action Hammer Fired Sig HK FN .
Own both is the best choice. I have alwa yes personally felt the hammer fired has a better trigger pull. Not that there are not good striker walther canik cz but even a cheap 1911 had a good trigger compared to a striker
Have both but feel more comfortable with double/single action carrying concealed with hammer down due to heavier trigger pull on first round. That is the most important difference for me. Just don't have the warm fuzzy about carrying in appendix position with a striker fired pistol.
Bless the Veterans day!!! P226 for the win.
It boils down, imo, to maintenance. Keep a quality firearm clean and lubricated and it will perform as designed, whether striker or hammer.
The 1911 pistol was first “Patented Apr. 20, 1897 by John Moses Browning. The Colt pistol was formally adopted by the Army on March 29, 1911, when it was designated "Model of 1911", later changed in 1917 to "Model 1911".
Browning was way ahead of his time and was absolutely the best gun designer to ever live.
Outstanding breakdown! Much appreciated my man!
I have hammer fired, but only DA/SA versions, so I can keep tension off the hammer spring and have 2nd strike capability.
I have striker fired, but they have 2nd strike capability.
The 2 internal hammer versions I have DON'T have 2nd strike, but I hope their makers eventually make some version that allows for 2nd strike.
They both have their merits and faults. But what it basically boils down to is a hammer fired pistol is generational, whereas I consider a Striker fired pistol disposable. It's sort of like comparing a Zippo lighter and a Bic Butane lighter.
I use/carry both and both are great platforms. As a former LEO who carried a S&W 59 for a few years, the second strike capability is a definitely an advantage IMO. Taking a second tap on a 'no fire' takes a fraction of the time it takes to manually cycle the gun to a new round. I've never had to shoot anyone during my time in LE so it's never happened to me in a gunfight but I've had a few 'no fires' on the range (cheap range ammo) and the ability to double tap the round in a fraction of a second gives you warm and fuzzies. On the few times its happened on the range the cartridges all went off on the second hammer strike. I would MUCH rather double tap a 'no fire' in a gunfight than manually cycle the action to load a fresh round. I wouldn't do it with a 1911 but with a DA/SA... definitely.
My current carry gun is striker fire gun but I do love a good DA/SA. One of my absolute favorites to shoot is my Beretta 92A1. If I had the coinage I'd get a Langdon Tactical Beretta PX4 Compact. That super fast double tap is a feature not a bug.
Grew up firing revolvers, went to the military and after a lot of training was issued a Sig Legion. The extra round capacity completely sold me. Checked out a lot of other fire arms like Beretta, Glock, and S&W. Stuck with the Legion for the duration. Afte separation immediately purchased a Sig Legion .40 cal, it was my go to until 2010 when a friend turned me on to the pretty new Sig P-250. Love at first shot, the 13 round capacity of the compact model was a selling point, as was the DAO mechanics. It has an auto de-cock, no need for safety, 13 round capacity, and the modular design allowed transformation from compact to full size, and could even change calibers. Never did any of the cute change stuff. Stuck with the .40cal nail driver. All these years later still my EDC, the wife's too.
I have both. My preferred pistol is the one I have in my hand at the moment.
hammer fired for me for the same reasons i drive a 3/4 ton truck with a 5 speed manual transmission. 400,000 miles an still rolling.
I'm a vet too former M.P in 1911days ...I prefer hammer but I like them both the same!!
Striker fired handguns with a light trigger and no safety seem like a recipe for trouble. Hammer fired pistols rely on a safety, or have long heavy double action pulls from the holster.
A striker fired pistol with a long heavy pull does not need a safety, but the trend is towards short light pulls. Combine that with appendix carry and the situation can become re-dickless.
So what striker fired pistol have no safety? I will answer, none.
@@kfelix2934 A drop safety on the trigger is not a safety against unintentional depression of the trigger.
In general I prefer Hammer fire but not always. There seems to be a desire lately of handguns having the lighest pull weight possible and manufacturers have responded to this. For example take the original Ruger LCP, many complained about the long trigger but IMHO this is much safer than the newer LCP-II or LCP-Max. The original version 1st shot is similar to a DA where the trigger cocks and then release the hammer. The newer versions appear to me to be over 90% cocked and I imagine there is adequate inertia stored in this configuration to fire the gun if something went wrong. To me these Ruger LCP-II and LCP Max have a configuration similar to SA cocked and locked, when I carry a 1911 it's cocked BUT there is a grip safety and a manual safety, additionally I purposely carried this in a holster that had the retention strap that went between the slide and hammer effectively blocking the hammer, this seemed safe to me.
Looking at these LCP-II and Max I'm basically looking at a cocked gun and the only manual safety is on the trigger ? No way, not for me.
I was interested in the new H&K SFP9CC until I examined it, the striker appears to be full cocked when loaded and again the safety is on the trigger- Nope not for me.
Looking at several Glocks, when carrying the striker does not seem to be tensioned enough to store enough inertia to fire without pulling the trigger which I like but the new optional Performance Trigger appears almost fully tensioned without pulling the trigger- Nope would only opt for this on a range only gun.
Bottom line for me is I prefer hammer fire but I'm OK with either as long as there is not enough stored energy in the mechanism to fire without pulling the trigger.
Internet cool guys know hammers are the way. Other internet cool guys know strikers are the way. Both are just ways to accomplish a goal. Both work well when properly designed and built. But please, argue away if that makes you feel smart.
What would be smart..is ND statistics of the two..LE and civilian
Some of us even use revolvers. We like the merits. I prefer hammer guns but I do run striker fired on my CCW.
I’m a true addict. I love them all.
These make me remember Barry. Guy was awesome loved you two together!
Real Americans love both.
I don't remember the statistics, but...
The grand majority of the time when your gun doesn't fire it's either a magazine or ammo malfunction. It's pretty rare for it to be the firearm itself.
Tap, Rack, Bang was put into training for this exact reason so I like Eric's breakdown of this.
Yes
What about double single action?
I spoke too soon.
That comes under hammer fire.
@kawikadee9670 I know. I typed it in the beginning of the video. Then he mentioned it later. Hence my edit.
Hammer fire: accept no substitutes
I own both and love both many great guns on either side.
USP has entered chat.
DA/SA with a de-cocker only, either way. Though I've only even HEARD of a single striker fired that could do DA, so...
Which is the P99, the only striker fired duty gun I own. Great trigger and reset, Double action and the anti-stress trigger. Wish Walther would update it for the times.
@@desertsoldier41 The one I heard of was a Sccy CPX2 or one of the other budget ones. I guess now I know there are at least TWO striker fire guns with DA.
Both are very nice depending on the tool and I enjoy many offerings/brands, but like most tools, they can be updated to the users preference... ie, Apex, HBI, Cajun Gunworks, and many others. For me, da/sa is the best for edc...that said...If I must have only one, I will pick/carry a Glock, 19/23 due to parts availability.
Eric, you should follow suit and drop SDI as a sponsor.
how come..??
Issues with mud and grime stopping a hammer fired pistol just isn’t an issue for 99.99% of self defense uses. This is a military consideration, not even a police consideration.
Ther are striker fired guns with double actions from Walther and H&K.
To each his own, but for me, it's drop-hammer safety every day and twice on Sunday...
You failed to mention Langdon 's reason for hammer guns. When carrying AIWB ...... One never knows something is caught in the trigger guard until one's pants get lit up. With a hammer gun one can place their thumb on the hammer and it is all but impossible for the trigger to release the hammer.
We use and love both but when carrying AIWB it is only with a hammer gun.
There is absolutely no way I'd appendix carry a striker gun. DA/SA hammer all the way. Thanks for the vid.
Could you please explain why? I would have thought the opposite. Because no safety?
Smart man!
@laredoland Yes, it's a safety issue in more ways than one. With one, you can SEE what state it's in. Plus, a long, hard single action trigger pull acts as a safety in itself, in more ways that one. A hammer gun is far from being obsolete. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Double strike on a bad shell IS a viable option though not one to bet the homestead on. Also, there is a big difference in hammer guns such as 92FS and a 1911. Sticking a striker gun down your pants is akin to stuffing a 1911 down there, cooked and UNLOCKED. Ain't no way I'm gonna do that. I recommend you go to a range, rent both types, and try them out. Go with the one you feel comfortable with and trust. In my case, I don't trust striker guns and have absolutely no faith in them.
Gun go bang? Gun good.
Spot-on analysis! If you have a failed firing in a tactical situation, immediate action on either type of pistol design is required! If you are just a the range firing, then you have the luxury of merely recooking the hammer and taking a second pull of the trigger-you life is not on the line in this situation.
I think if a shooter shoots both with a limp wrist the hammer fire will not jam unlike the striker fire, the striker fire will jam if the shooter shoots limp wrist. However, I believe the striker fire shoots a little faster but not by much.
Depends on the trigger, the fastest shooting pistols I’ve ever owned were custom 1911’s or 2011 type triggers.
Hammer Fired. Why? Because I'm a man.
Hahahahahahahahaha!
Thanks Eric!👊🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍😉TRUMP/VANCE for 4 awesome years!!!💖😀👊
Another Dup! When Trump sets himself up as a king and dictator, like his idol Putin, all of our guns will be taken away!! Dumbas!!!
Chump banned the bump stock tho..only him ..wtf
Hammer fired for me, both double action and single action.
When I carry my dubble single action pistol the hammer is in the down position no place for dirt to come in the gun,in a one up condition it is safer than a striker fire pistol and the secondary trigger pull is much lighter.The best one is the one that you pratice the most with.Great video 👌👌
Vietnam vet here. 11Bravo. Anyway, we couldn't get 1911s in the field because all of the lifers in the rear area were carrying them. I picked up a M20 ChiCom in Cambodia. The M20 was the bargain basement of the Tokarev style. It's a single action and the only safety was half-cock. I carried it for over 6 months and never had a problem. I'll stick with a hammer.
Anything mechanical can and sooner or later fail. Great topic to cover for sure. I agree eject that round. Maybe you can run a few tests to see what happens? Full mag and one dummy round and see how you do.
Good morning dear Eric and thank you for the video and all your valuable content.
As a sport shooter and an enthusiastic gun collector from Switzerland, I would write you some words.
I will always prefer a hammer-fired gun, because of the total-control possibility of the weapon and the safety reason.
I just can't imagine carrying on my waistband a cooked and chambered Glock pistol (or any other striker-fired gun).
But there is one BIG EXCEPTION, that's the WALTHER P99 pistol, I own two of them.
This pistol is a very underrated gun, its striker-fired gun with almost all advantages of a hammer-striked gun.
The pistol has de-coker and the trigger works also like an ordinary double-action trigger.
Also if you have a primer misfire, you can pull the trigger once again.
If you don't have experiences with the WALTHER P99, get one and check it out, you won't regret it.
Best Regards from Switzerland!
I agree the 2nd round strike capability is mute .I appendix carry a 1911 and unless it's dropped or the hammers cocked It's not going BANG ,if clothing gets caught or the trigger gets touched .
If anyone is curious John Moses Browning helped create the first striker fired pistol too. The inventor of numerous "pocket pistols" of the 1900s (FN M1899, Colt 1903/1908 Pocket Hammerless, FN 1906 Vest Pocket, FN 1910) as well as the calibers they were chambered in (.25, .32, and .380 ACP), he probably did more for early-20th-century concealed carry than any other man. One of his longest-lived designs was the well-liked FN Model 1910. A striker-fired, blowback action, single-stack .32 ACP (7+1 capacity) or .380 ACP (6+1 capacity) semi-auto with a 3.16-inch barrel, it remained in production for a solid 73 years, including military and police use in dozens of countries. Glock may have perfected it but it was Mr. Browning who invented it. Go figure....
Sig Legion P226 & CZ 75 P01 > my top 2 got to weapons ... first carried a P226 back in the 80s on duty > never had a gun related issue to this day ...
I didnt recognize you without the glasses! 😂
Strikers are mushy. Period.
I reload a lot and of course buy cheap primers my experience is a da/sa is a premium option that costs more and is superior. I refuse to buy striker pistols anymore and sold em off. I got tired of replacing 6.5 lb striker springs and having to shuck the slide. I see striker fire as a cheap deficiency of a product that’s always cocked and wears out quickly. A da/sa has double strike and find they have 99% fire on the second strike also the trigger action is better and carrying da is much safer. I chamber holding down the decocker and the gun is as safe as possible not requiring a safety. A heavy hammer on a pistol is a premium feature and I would own anything else.
I use both.I am very confident in both.
Like Eric said,round doesn’t fire,don’t jerk around.Use immediate action.
My love of hammer fired pistols was reinforced by the uncommanded discharge of my early production P320. Scared the crap out of me and made me back away from the striker system.
You better believe it man!
@ I appreciate you not blaming me for that pistol’s mechanical failure.
@The-Armed-Pacifist It's not your fault brother. Lots of lawsuits out there on that design and lots of poeple hurt. They are extremely dangerous and the fact that our government uses them is even more scary. What if an officer draws on you for a traffic stop for mistaken identity and it just goes off? DA/SA for me only for brother. If happen to me then I would get a lawyer. Cheap design to only make profits IMO. I have felt that way ever since the first plastic striker fires came out in the 80s. I am just glad you are OK.
@phatstackmack152 Other than some tinnitus and hearing loss in my left ear, I am OK. Sig is lawyered up and made wealthy by us, the taxpayers
Hammer fired > everything else
I have a combination of both. I like hammer triggers feel and the overall safety of a DA for carry. But my Sig 365 is my EDC because I know it's gonna run no matter what mess I've fallen into.
You voiced the reasons for your preference well. I prefer a DA/SA myself. The few times I have had a fail to fire a second pull of the trigger has always fired the gun. I believe it is primer depth issues and the first strike resets the primer making the second strike effective. I also like the visual that the hammer fired provides. Striker fired usually has a way to determine a chambered round, but a hammer gives you an unmistakable picture that is absolutely faster than any striker fired pistol. I have multiple hammer fired, two striker fired. The trigger is better on every hammer fired I own, although several are not stock. I have two striker fired, one stock trigger and one not. All hammer fired will have a better trigger, at least in my limited experience. But I do me, you do you.
Hammer fired only.
You just take over Paul's position as top-tier guntuber.
I believe with a proper holster carrying one in the chamber is safer with a striker fire. The hammer fire can do the same just more steps to be safe with the hammer fire
ALL of my Semiautos ARE hammer guns, BUT you bring up valid points. I am a civilian whose pistols are not ever even WET, let alone mud cased (as can be in combat) Striker fired pistols MAKE SENSE. Just NOT giving up my High Powers and 1911s. LOL.
The big difference between my hammer fired handguns and my one that's striker fired is that I actually shoot my hammer fired ones. I only bought the one striker fired one because it was cheap.
Like the “Way Huge” hat ……Great pedals! ………good video.., btw I’m a 100% hammer fired guy, trigger and feel, also I believe our military issues are all hammer fired….
So then with a pistol similar to the Sig p322, which I believe has an internal hammer design, would that be the best of both worlds?
Second strike capabilitiy is the reason why I bought a Walther P99 which aside from its clones (Canik) was the only striker fired pistol that could do this.