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This gentleman may help.
This gentleman may help.
Gentleman's Essentials: Unloading a Handgun
- Thread starter DeaconKC
- Start date
A minor quibble, but perhaps one should say "Gentlemen's and ladies' essentials". There are more than a few pistol-packing mamas around, A five-foot two inch, 95 pound young woman in my unit in the Navy was on the pistol team, and owned her own Gold Cup 1911. She was also on the emergency response team and was more than adequate with a short-barrelled twelve gauge.
- Thread starter
- #23
Absolutely, I did not mean to slight the ladies. My niece can shoot just as well as any of my nephews, and I know many others of the "fairest sex" who are excellent shots.
"Gun control is the argument that a 110 pound woman has the "right" to fistfight a 220 pound rapist."
"No matter what his strength or size, depend on me, I equalize.", this was a common card included with ladies' guns around the turn of the last century.
"Gun control is the argument that a 110 pound woman has the "right" to fistfight a 220 pound rapist."
"No matter what his strength or size, depend on me, I equalize.", this was a common card included with ladies' guns around the turn of the last century.
I've never handled or fired a gun, and I don't know if I should believe what I see on tv and in movies so I have a question? What does 'cocking' a gun do? Does pulling back the slide **** the hammer or does it pull a bullet into the chamber? Is it necessary to pull the slide back? Also, it would be great to see another installment with a rifle or shotgun perhaps? I know in a lot of places you're more likely to find and old rifle than a pistol. Thanks.
There is another axiom that I see seldom adhered to.
When you hand a gun to someone to handle it should be empty and the breach open.
1. Revolvers should have the cylinder open and unloaded.
2. Autos should have the clip out and the slide locked open.
Later,
R
When you hand a gun to someone to handle it should be empty and the breach open.
1. Revolvers should have the cylinder open and unloaded.
2. Autos should have the clip out and the slide locked open.
Later,
R
Don't get me wrong, I love shooting death-dealing hand cannons as much as the next sociopath, but I'm still unclear as to the relationship between such things and gentlemanliness. Are such things considered sufficiently genteel in the US that they have become "Gentleman's Essentials"? 
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
I was told by my grandfather that it is a gentleman's responsibility to defend the honor of the lady holding your arm. Why would you consider "how to escort a lady" a gentleman's essential and not protecting her from the wolves on the street also. I believe that at the very least a basic knowledge of hand gun function is necessary, and this forum is an excellent example of that.
Don't get me wrong, I love shooting death-dealing hand cannons as much as the next sociopath, but I'm still unclear as to the relationship between such things and gentlemanliness. Are such things considered sufficiently genteel in the US that they have become "Gentleman's Essentials"?
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
Only if they're dueling pistols and you're wearing a linen suit and a skinny necktie ala Colonel Sanders.
That snubby S&W had a bobbed hammer. Since the gun is used for concealed carry, a regular hammer would get hung up on clothing and as such, might get in the way. And no, you don't need to **** the hammer before you pull the trigger.
- Thread starter
- #30
olps, You are right on track. The action of pulling the slide back on an automatic pistol allows the return to strip a cartridge from the magazine and load the gun. The same is true of the rotation of the revolvers cylinder to bring a fresh round into line with the barrel. By thumb cocking a revolver, you allow it to be fired "single action" thereby giving it a lighter release for more accuracy.
Hobbesoxon, yes in most parts of this country, knowing how to safely handle a firearm is considered a common and normal part of society for both sexes. Many of our finest shots and hunters are ladies. Check out the Olympic Medal records of the US Shooting Team over the last 50 years. Realize that all of the federal parks and preserves are paid for by Pittman-Roberts funding, a 10% tax on firearms, ammunition and other sporting goods since the time of President Theodore Roosevelt.
Hobbesoxon, yes in most parts of this country, knowing how to safely handle a firearm is considered a common and normal part of society for both sexes. Many of our finest shots and hunters are ladies. Check out the Olympic Medal records of the US Shooting Team over the last 50 years. Realize that all of the federal parks and preserves are paid for by Pittman-Roberts funding, a 10% tax on firearms, ammunition and other sporting goods since the time of President Theodore Roosevelt.
An excellent tutorial. Thank you for your time, efforts, and knowledge. Very,very well done.
Very nice tutorial!
I liked it. I also take it as another sign that I am supposed to buy a 1911.
I liked it. I also take it as another sign that I am supposed to buy a 1911.
Great post!
I enjoy my Glock 19 for both it's simple modern beauty and it's willingness to go with me to the firing range and practice.
Great writeup!! - and your little buddy did a fine job as well!
I enjoy my Glock 19 for both it's simple modern beauty and it's willingness to go with me to the firing range and practice.
Great writeup!! - and your little buddy did a fine job as well!
Quite simply, cocking a gun pulls back the hammer. On single action guns, both revolvers and autos, it is necessary to **** the gun before shooting. On double action guns the answer varies somewhat depending on the gun, but cocking it is never necessary. For some double action guns cocking the hammer back will lighten and shorten the trigger pull. For others (referred to as double action only) there is no way to manually **** the gun, and the entire process is always accomplished by the trigger pull.
I assume you are referring to autos here, as there is no slide on revolvers. Pulling the slide all the way back and letting it slam forward will strip a round from the magazine. Whether it will **** the gun is actually a similar question to above. Those guns that can be manually cocked will be cocked by the slide pulling back. Those that cannot will not be cocked.
For an auto it is necessary to pull the slide back to load your first round regardless of the type. If you have a round in the chamber already, then no, it is not necessary to pull the slide back. If you have a single action gun like the 1911, then it is necessary to **** it, but that is better accomplished by using your thumb. For DA/SA and DAO guns, it is not necessary to pull the slide back or manually **** it.
I can do an installment for shotguns if you would like. I have a pump action and both types of double barrel guns available. Someone else will have to do rifles and semi-auto shotguns.
Actually, depending on the type of SA, that's not advisable. There is, generally, no safe way to decock the 1911 (or many other single action handguns) as it is not designed to do so. A 1911 is designed to either be carried condition 3 magazine in the gun, but no round chambered and hammer down. Or condition 1 "cocked and locked" magazine in gun, round chambered, hammer back, and all safeties engaged. Note this is perfectly safe as modern 1911's have three safeties in place, and even older versions two safeties in place, keeping the gun from firing. Lowering the hammer on a singe action auto not designed to do so can be very dangerous.
Either don't chamber at all, or chamber and leave the hammer back and safeties on is the safest way to carry a 1911 or other strictly single auto as thats how they are designed. Never, EVER, leave the hammer down/decock onto the loaded cylinder of a single action revolver that doesn't have a firing pin block.
Yup, manually decocking with the thumb isn't considered safe, and even if you manage it there's the possiblity the hammer could bounce and discharge the cartridge unexpectedly.
Most modern auto-loaders come with a decocking mechanism, usually a thumb lever of some kind that safely lowers a cocked hammer automatically. Some pistols like many of the Sig Sauers expressly use a decocking mechanism in lieu of manual safety, since a resting hammer on a long double-action trigger pull is considered safe enough that the gun will not fire unless the user pulls the trigger deliberately.
(This is why I kind of don't like Glock trigger actions, they have no manual safety and a rather short trigger pull. The DEA agent up there in that video is a HUGE ******* and probably should never touch a gun again, but if his trigger had a longer/harder pull he might not have shot himself in the freakin' foot.)
Please note that I didn't suggest decocking a 1911 with the thumb (which has been pointed out is very dangerous), I suggested cocking it with the thumb. However, as I reconsider my point I recognize that one should never need to **** the 1911 with the thumb as the gun should never be in a situation with a loaded chamber and the hammer down. The two reasons for this: the dangerousness of decocking with a chambered round and the lack of a firing pin block, have already been covered. If the chamber is empty and the hammer is down racking the slide will both load a round and **** the gun. Thus, manual cocking is never necessary. I apologize for any confusion I caused.
To add to what I already said to olps, when you see someone on TV or the movies **** a semi-auto handgun (this is usually in the tense "standoff" scene) they are either cocking a single action gun which never should have been decocked in the first place, or they are cocking a single action/double action gun. The latter action is not necessary as the gun was just as capable of firing before cocking, but cocking it lightens and shortens the trigger pull.
To add to what I already said to olps, when you see someone on TV or the movies **** a semi-auto handgun (this is usually in the tense "standoff" scene) they are either cocking a single action gun which never should have been decocked in the first place, or they are cocking a single action/double action gun. The latter action is not necessary as the gun was just as capable of firing before cocking, but cocking it lightens and shortens the trigger pull.
You can very seldom believe what you see in movies regarding firearms. It's a major peeve among gun enthusiasts. Not all movies, but the vast majority and especially TV shows. I'm talking facepalm level fiction. Everything from dangerous handling to firearms that operate in completely fictitious manners.
Manipulating the hammer on modern autopistols is something than almost never needs done. One should, in my opinion, never have occasion to touch the hammer on a 1911 style pistol. It is entirely vestigial, regardless of how many hollywierd bad guys **** their (previously uncocked? How did that happen anyway?) pistols for 'dramatic effect'.
Typically, and traditionally, it does both. On most autopistols it is impossible to load them without also cocking them or otherwise rendering the firing mechanism ready. In the case of 'double action' autopistols, the hammer is not cocked by working the slide, but the trigger cocks the hammer when the gun is fired, so again, the hammer does not need to be thumb-cocked. Only in niche cases would you thumb-**** an autopistol. Perhaps you have a DA/SA autopistol, and you wish to fire the first shot single action. That's about the only case I can think of.
Also, consider where your thumb is if hammer slips and gun goes off while decocking. It wont knock your thumb off or anything...but it aint purdy neither.
I'm not a big fan of glocks, but not for lack of a safety. For a carry gun, I actually don't want a safety. In the even I ever have to use it I'm likely to have enough to focus on...I don't want to remember to turn the dang safety off. I love my Sig 239, but if I can find a S&W M&P compact that could go high on the list as well for lightness. Have the normal size and love it.
No worries, I tend to get a little more technical on the issue when newbies are involved. I and most who are familiar with guns probably knew you weren't likely advising decocking a 1911, but wanted to spell out the why for those less familiar.
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