Recommending Only Striker-Fired Pistols?

BY Herschel Smith
4 years, 9 months ago

Personal Defense Network:

Striker-fired semi-automatics were made popular in the 1980s by Glock. Although the company was not well received in the beginning, it has become one of the most popular defensive pistol brands in the world. The striker firing mechanism uses a spring-loaded firing pin that works more like the launcher in a pinball machine than that of a traditional pistol with a hammer. This spring-loaded pin is partially cocked by the movement of the slide. The trigger then cocks the pin the remainder of the way and releases it to strike the primer and ignite the cartridge. Why does this make a difference to the beginning defensive shooting student?

[ … ]

Why does this affect the decision between these two action types? The amount of force or weight of the trigger pull in many of these firearms is very similar, in about the six- to seven-pound range. But the duration or length of that weight is far greater on the double action only. Imagine you need to move an 80-pound bag of concrete from point A to point B. If point A is five feet away from point B, it is going to be much easier than if point A is 20 feet away. Similarly, completing a rudimentary test of a Ruger LC9 (double action only) to determine where the weight begins on the trigger, it took moving the trigger approximately ½ inch to activate the trigger. By comparison, an M&P 9 (striker-fired) took approximately 1/8 inch, after the weight began, to activate the trigger. You need to utilize more trigger control on the double action only, since the length of the trigger pull tends to amplify the deviation caused by lack of trigger control.

[ … ]

Here is a list of striker-fired pistols that you can consider as suitable options — but you should still dry fire the gun prior to purchasing to be sure it is right for you.

  • Glock: All models are striker fire action. Find one that fits your hand comfortably and is in the caliber you want.

  • Smith & Wesson M&P series: All semi-automatic models except Bodyguard. M&P Shield offers the striker-fire action in a very compact slim design. I suggest this if ease of concealment is an important consideration for you.

  • Ruger: SR9 and SR9c.

  • Springfield Armory: XD series.

Well … okay … whatever.  His comparison is only with double-action pistols.  Furthermore, I’m not convinced that if you’re well-rehearsed enough you can’t make that first shot as accurate as any other.  I’ve shot revolvers for a long time and I would entrust my life to them – in fact, I do under certain carry scenarios (smallish wheel gun on my ankle when the need arises for absolute concealment or in non-permissive carry situations).

But I still say, give me my 1911 any day, even with its additional weight.  With its reliability, its narrow frame (which fits my fingers knurled up from RA), and its ability to chamber a round and yet use a mechanical safety with a single sweep of the thumb as I obtain purchase on the gun, my option works for me, and is probably better.  Besides, I don’t like the feel of the springy, spongy, striker fired pistols.  If you don’t think a single stack design with its narrow frame is better for my hands, then go back in time, ask God to give you RA your entire life, knurl your knuckles up like mine (with ligaments turned into scar tissue from attacks from white blood cells), and then we’ll talk.  Until then, you’re not an expert on my situation in life.

I like the light touch of the trigger for a hammer-fired 1911, and I’m used to it.  I’m accurate with it, I’m consistent with it, it fits my hand, its safe, and I like the grip angle.  I don’t really care if it works for you.  It works for me.

I consider this to be of the same genre as debates over holsters (I’ve seen some hating on leather holsters lately).  For the most part I’m pretty unimpressed with folks asserting their bonafides and telling you what you should and shouldn’t do.  I rarely use leather, but when I do I’ve got a nice one with a retention strap.  I don’t like the feel of Kydex and I find it to run counter to concealability and unforgiving in terms freedom of movement and bending.  I prefer a Cordura holster with a retention strap for both IWB and OWB carry, and as readers know, I absolutely hate IWB carry.

I recommend that you shoot what you like, like what you shoot, and get good at whatever that is.  I recommend the same thing with holsters.  Wear what you like and whatever works for you and meets your needs.  I realize that it may run counter for a gun blog not to try to boss you around and bark orders out at people, but I respect my readers enough to believe that you’re capable of making your own educated choices.


Comments

  1. On May 26, 2019 at 10:46 pm, Ratus said:

    Hmm… Article from 2014-ish on what handgun to get.

    All I can say is, all handguns suck. Some suck less.

    Get the one that you think sucks the least.

  2. On May 26, 2019 at 11:15 pm, George said:

    The guy seems to completely blow off single action semi-autos like the 1911, and the Browning HP. Too antiquated for the high-speed low drag dudes these days I guess. I think 1911s are awesome weapons. I do not carry one as I have never trained enough with the type. Spent the early part of my handgun carrying career with revolvers and then later on some double action only semi-autos.

    I have shot handguns with some of my Vietnam Veteran friends and many of them can knock the wings off a mosquito at 40 yards with a 1911, so to speak. Give them a Glock and most of them don’t do as well. So, like Herschel says, shoot what you like. Shoot what works well for you. I was in a gun store about 10 years ago and they had a large poster of Han Solo with what looked like a 1911 in his holster. The caption said: ” Hokey Religions and plastic guns are no match for a good 1911 kid.”

  3. On May 27, 2019 at 5:34 am, Roger J said:

    I recently bought a FNX-45, made right here in the Palmetto State. The selling point for me is that this pistol can be carried either cocked and locked (like a 1911) with SA trigger pull on 1st shot or, hammer down on a loaded round like a CZ75 with an initial DA trigger pull. Oh yeah, there was also that 15 round magazine capacity…it does have a polymer frame, however.

  4. On May 27, 2019 at 5:47 am, The Old Coach said:

    DA-to-SA for me. A thing that’s never mentioned about Glock types is that the recoil spring(s) must be powerful enough to overcome the striker spring as the gun goes into battery. Thus, the action of racking the slide takes more strength and stronger grip than any other semi-auto. Being yet another old fart with Arthuritis, this means a LOT to me.

    Other factor is that, despite the claims, that little dingus in the trigger IS NOT a safety. A safety will prevent the gun from firing even if the trigger pulled.

    I’ve been revolvers-only for many years, but about 6-7 years ago I came into a P-38, and now I’m also a fan of the Walther lockwork. Current object of obsession being a Beretta 92. Looking for a CZ that I can afford. Not because I need another pistol, I just got the wants.

  5. On May 27, 2019 at 6:11 am, DAN III said:

    ALCON,

    Both of my M&P9, Gen 1 pistols experience light primer strikes on 20% of all ammo fired. Brass, aluminum or steel-cased ammo = light primer strikes courtesy S&W.

    My 1911 pistols, my Hi-Power, my CZs and my Glock fire faithfully every trigger pull.

    FWIW.

  6. On May 27, 2019 at 8:25 am, Bill said:

    Herschel strikes the right note; all shooters are not the same. What works for you may not be the right choice for me. This penchant to declare what The Right Choice is, is one of the ways I watch out for frauds and wantabes.

  7. On May 27, 2019 at 8:46 am, Fred said:

    3” Kimber Ultra Carry II
    Leather w/retention strap right hip
    Quality gun belt

  8. On May 27, 2019 at 9:38 am, Herschel Smith said:

    @Ratus,

    Yea it’s a 2014 article, but PDN sent it out via email blast so I thought I would respond. I had never read this one.

    @Roger,

    Yea, I would eventually like to get an FNX pistol as they are hammer fired.

  9. On May 27, 2019 at 10:09 am, Thomas Madere said:

    Most of my adult life, I am 75, I shot and carried single action autos. I was and still am a 1911 guy. About 8 years ago I took my first defensive pistol class, out of about 15 in the class I was the only one shooting a 1911. What I learned about capacity, seemed I was constantly reloading magazines while others were shooting I began thinking about a high capacity pistol. Glocks and M&P’s were the most common.
    I bought a Glock 19 and haven’t looked back. Yes it took a while to master the trigger and I am still slightly more accurate with my 1911 than the Glock. I find the Glock faster on reloads and the lack of a manual safety one less thing to think about. I had been carrying a Colt Defender and an extra mag, now with the Glock I have one round more without the extra mag although in certain situation I may carry one.
    I still shoot my 1911’s but they are now strictly range guns.

  10. On May 27, 2019 at 11:02 am, Fred said:

    I agree with @Ratus but not about the date of the article. It’s still an important discussion.

    And @old coach, yeah, I shoot a double stack .45 but it’s hard to rack a Glock. Weird are the ways that the body breaks down.

    From the article: “but you should still dry fire the gun prior to purchasing to be sure it is right for you.”
    At the risk of trying to “boss you around” I will say plainly that this statement is wrong, or more accurately incomplete. Yes you should dry fire it, then rent and shoot one BEFORE you buy, and then rent 10 other brands and wheel guns and SA only and try those.

    Springfield 4″ duty OWB, mix of kydex and leather. And Alien Gear gun belt, best belt I’ve ever owned. Used this belt for years and always carry. It shows no appreciable signs of wear.

    Like Herschel, I don’t much care what anybody thinks of this. The first time I picked up a Springfield 4″ duty, a rental by the way, pop and pop, dead on, easy peasy. I Carry the weapon that I can hit with, oh and, that’s right snappy mac happy, it goes BANG. Every. Single. Time.

  11. On May 27, 2019 at 12:21 pm, MTHead said:

    When adrenaline hits, you will pull a 40 lbs. 1.5 in. trigger and not look back. it seems to be the most forgotten aspect of “combat” shooting. and most people will never train to level necessary to over come it.
    Find a gun that fits your hand, points well. (instinctive). and practice as much as possible. Being your honest with yourself is the hard part.

  12. On May 27, 2019 at 12:47 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:

    Started off life as a M1911 guy, probably because most all of the dads, uncles and grand-fathers in my town at the time were veterans of World War One (yeah, I’m that old), World War Two or Korea. Then got caught up in the latest fashions for a while as a member of an IPSC club, i.e. striker-fired designs.

    Now, have come full circle and am considering something like a CZ75 or similar hammer-fired design. Want the utility of a positive safety, plus a double-action pull on the first shot (from hammer down and safety on with one in the pipe) and single-action thereafter.

    If I had to choose one handgun and ditch all the rest, I’m still a M1911 guy. John Moses Browning got it right the first time.

  13. On May 27, 2019 at 1:28 pm, TRX said:

    I love the 1911, own several, and carry one often. Even though I’m not at all fond of its right-handed controls and ejection, it fits my hand and I can hit stuff with it.

    Those cute “ambi” safeties depend on a tiny tab fitting into a tiny slot in a small shaft. They work fine, carefully working the safety at the counter, but get a little too exuberant at the range, and you wind up spending $50-$100 and file-fitting a replacement…

    I don’t bother any more. I just leave the hammer down during normal carry and thumb it back as I draw. Which gives the Range Safety goobers indigestion, but people have cocked single action revolvers since 1836…

  14. On May 27, 2019 at 2:48 pm, =TW= said:

    There is no doubt the Glock is a popular and successful weapon. It has influenced the design of numerous similar pistols. However I am not convinced the trigger safety is adequate. (Proper training and care when handling, especially when reholstering is advised.)
    I prefer hammer-fired pistols- 1911, BHP, CZ75 and S&W gen 3 semiautos. Or, for something smaller, a PPK/S. Trigger break on the SA pistols is superior. The DA>SA transition on the others takes some getting used to but is less likely to result in a ND.
    The best action type for defensive carry might be DAO, in pistols such as Kahr and certain older Ruger P-series and S&W pistols.
    I reckon these are as shootable and as safe to carry as any double action revolver.

  15. On May 27, 2019 at 4:00 pm, Heywood said:

    “I recommend that you shoot what you like, like what you shoot, and get good at whatever that is.”

    Amen!

  16. On May 27, 2019 at 7:50 pm, Fred said:

    =TW=, and all, holstering your weapon. This is solid.
    http://www.corneredcat.com/thumb-finger-anchor-h-o-l-s-t-e-r/

  17. On May 28, 2019 at 2:04 am, Dan said:

    With the possible exception of people with physical ailments that limit their strength and mobility the type of and design of a pistol is a MINOR
    issue. What is FAR MORE IMPORTANT is practice and familiarity with
    the pistol. The most brilliant design in the world isn’t worth much in the
    hands of someone who hasn’t practiced and the most godawful piece of
    junk handgun is a deadly weapon when held by someone with years of
    practice and thousands of rounds down range. So the correct advice to
    ANYONE is to PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE…..and get competent training to help minimize bad habits.

  18. On May 28, 2019 at 7:45 am, Chris Mallory said:

    I have tried to like striker fired plastic pistols. I can’t count the number of them I have bought. But usually before six months pass, I end up selling them. Give me my 1911’s and revolvers.

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment


You are currently reading "Recommending Only Striker-Fired Pistols?", entry #21309 on The Captain's Journal.

This article is filed under the category(s) Firearms,Guns and was published May 26th, 2019 by Herschel Smith.

If you're interested in what else the The Captain's Journal has to say, you might try thumbing through the archives and visiting the main index, or; perhaps you would like to learn more about TCJ.

26th MEU (10)
Abu Muqawama (12)
ACOG (2)
ACOGs (1)
Afghan National Army (36)
Afghan National Police (17)
Afghanistan (704)
Afghanistan SOFA (4)
Agriculture in COIN (3)
AGW (1)
Air Force (40)
Air Power (10)
al Qaeda (83)
Ali al-Sistani (1)
America (22)
Ammunition (275)
Animals (280)
Ansar al Sunna (15)
Anthropology (3)
Antonin Scalia (1)
AR-15s (372)
Arghandab River Valley (1)
Arlington Cemetery (2)
Army (86)
Assassinations (2)
Assault Weapon Ban (28)
Australian Army (7)
Azerbaijan (4)
Backpacking (2)
Badr Organization (8)
Baitullah Mehsud (21)
Basra (17)
BATFE (217)
Battle of Bari Alai (2)
Battle of Wanat (18)
Battle Space Weight (3)
Bin Laden (7)
Blogroll (3)
Blogs (24)
Body Armor (23)
Books (3)
Border War (18)
Brady Campaign (1)
Britain (38)
British Army (35)
Camping (5)
Canada (17)
Castle Doctrine (1)
Caucasus (6)
CENTCOM (7)
Center For a New American Security (8)
Charity (3)
China (16)
Christmas (16)
CIA (30)
Civilian National Security Force (3)
Col. Gian Gentile (9)
Combat Outposts (3)
Combat Video (2)
Concerned Citizens (6)
Constabulary Actions (3)
Coolness Factor (3)
COP Keating (4)
Corruption in COIN (4)
Council on Foreign Relations (1)
Counterinsurgency (218)
DADT (2)
David Rohde (1)
Defense Contractors (2)
Department of Defense (210)
Department of Homeland Security (26)
Disaster Preparedness (5)
Distributed Operations (5)
Dogs (15)
Donald Trump (27)
Drone Campaign (4)
EFV (3)
Egypt (12)
El Salvador (1)
Embassy Security (1)
Enemy Spotters (1)
Expeditionary Warfare (17)
F-22 (2)
F-35 (1)
Fallujah (17)
Far East (3)
Fathers and Sons (2)
Favorite (1)
Fazlullah (3)
FBI (39)
Featured (189)
Federal Firearms Laws (18)
Financing the Taliban (2)
Firearms (1,758)
Football (1)
Force Projection (35)
Force Protection (4)
Force Transformation (1)
Foreign Policy (27)
Fukushima Reactor Accident (6)
Ganjgal (1)
Garmsir (1)
general (15)
General Amos (1)
General James Mattis (1)
General McChrystal (44)
General McKiernan (6)
General Rodriguez (3)
General Suleimani (9)
Georgia (19)
GITMO (2)
Google (1)
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (1)
Gun Control (1,630)
Guns (2,298)
Guns In National Parks (3)
Haditha Roundup (10)
Haiti (2)
HAMAS (7)
Haqqani Network (9)
Hate Mail (8)
Hekmatyar (1)
Heroism (4)
Hezbollah (12)
High Capacity Magazines (16)
High Value Targets (9)
Homecoming (1)
Homeland Security (3)
Horses (2)
Humor (72)
Hunting (31)
ICOS (1)
IEDs (7)
Immigration (104)
India (10)
Infantry (4)
Information Warfare (4)
Infrastructure (4)
Intelligence (23)
Intelligence Bulletin (6)
Iran (171)
Iraq (379)
Iraq SOFA (23)
Islamic Facism (64)
Islamists (98)
Israel (19)
Jaish al Mahdi (21)
Jalalabad (1)
Japan (3)
Jihadists (81)
John Nagl (5)
Joint Intelligence Centers (1)
JRTN (1)
Kabul (1)
Kajaki Dam (1)
Kamdesh (9)
Kandahar (12)
Karachi (7)
Kashmir (2)
Khost Province (1)
Khyber (11)
Knife Blogging (7)
Korea (4)
Korengal Valley (3)
Kunar Province (20)
Kurdistan (3)
Language in COIN (5)
Language in Statecraft (1)
Language Interpreters (2)
Lashkar-e-Taiba (2)
Law Enforcement (6)
Lawfare (14)
Leadership (6)
Lebanon (6)
Leon Panetta (2)
Let Them Fight (2)
Libya (14)
Lines of Effort (3)
Littoral Combat (8)
Logistics (50)
Long Guns (1)
Lt. Col. Allen West (2)
Marine Corps (280)
Marines in Bakwa (1)
Marines in Helmand (67)
Marjah (4)
MEDEVAC (2)
Media (67)
Medical (146)
Memorial Day (6)
Mexican Cartels (41)
Mexico (61)
Michael Yon (6)
Micromanaging the Military (7)
Middle East (1)
Military Blogging (26)
Military Contractors (5)
Military Equipment (25)
Militia (9)
Mitt Romney (3)
Monetary Policy (1)
Moqtada al Sadr (2)
Mosul (4)
Mountains (25)
MRAPs (1)
Mullah Baradar (1)
Mullah Fazlullah (1)
Mullah Omar (3)
Musa Qala (4)
Music (25)
Muslim Brotherhood (6)
Nation Building (2)
National Internet IDs (1)
National Rifle Association (95)
NATO (15)
Navy (30)
Navy Corpsman (1)
NCOs (3)
News (1)
NGOs (3)
Nicholas Schmidle (2)
Now Zad (19)
NSA (3)
NSA James L. Jones (6)
Nuclear (62)
Nuristan (8)
Obama Administration (221)
Offshore Balancing (1)
Operation Alljah (7)
Operation Khanjar (14)
Ossetia (7)
Pakistan (165)
Paktya Province (1)
Palestine (5)
Patriotism (7)
Patrolling (1)
Pech River Valley (11)
Personal (72)
Petraeus (14)
Pictures (1)
Piracy (13)
Pistol (4)
Pizzagate (21)
Police (647)
Police in COIN (3)
Policy (15)
Politics (969)
Poppy (2)
PPEs (1)
Prisons in Counterinsurgency (12)
Project Gunrunner (20)
PRTs (1)
Qatar (1)
Quadrennial Defense Review (2)
Quds Force (13)
Quetta Shura (1)
RAND (3)
Recommended Reading (14)
Refueling Tanker (1)
Religion (491)
Religion and Insurgency (19)
Reuters (1)
Rick Perry (4)
Rifles (1)
Roads (4)
Rolling Stone (1)
Ron Paul (1)
ROTC (1)
Rules of Engagement (75)
Rumsfeld (1)
Russia (37)
Sabbatical (1)
Sangin (1)
Saqlawiyah (1)
Satellite Patrols (2)
Saudi Arabia (4)
Scenes from Iraq (1)
Second Amendment (667)
Second Amendment Quick Hits (2)
Secretary Gates (9)
Sharia Law (3)
Shura Ittehad-ul-Mujahiden (1)
SIIC (2)
Sirajuddin Haqqani (1)
Small Wars (72)
Snipers (9)
Sniveling Lackeys (2)
Soft Power (4)
Somalia (8)
Sons of Afghanistan (1)
Sons of Iraq (2)
Special Forces (28)
Squad Rushes (1)
State Department (23)
Statistics (1)
Sunni Insurgency (10)
Support to Infantry Ratio (1)
Supreme Court (52)
Survival (185)
SWAT Raids (57)
Syria (38)
Tactical Drills (38)
Tactical Gear (14)
Taliban (168)
Taliban Massing of Forces (4)
Tarmiyah (1)
TBI (1)
Technology (21)
Tehrik-i-Taliban (78)
Terrain in Combat (1)
Terrorism (96)
Thanksgiving (13)
The Anbar Narrative (23)
The Art of War (5)
The Fallen (1)
The Long War (20)
The Surge (3)
The Wounded (13)
Thomas Barnett (1)
Transnational Insurgencies (5)
Tribes (5)
TSA (24)
TSA Ineptitude (13)
TTPs (4)
U.S. Border Patrol (6)
U.S. Border Security (18)
U.S. Sovereignty (23)
UAVs (2)
UBL (4)
Ukraine (10)
Uncategorized (98)
Universal Background Check (3)
Unrestricted Warfare (4)
USS Iwo Jima (2)
USS San Antonio (1)
Uzbekistan (1)
V-22 Osprey (4)
Veterans (3)
Vietnam (1)
War & Warfare (412)
War & Warfare (41)
War Movies (4)
War Reporting (21)
Wardak Province (1)
Warriors (6)
Waziristan (1)
Weapons and Tactics (79)
West Point (1)
Winter Operations (1)
Women in Combat (21)
WTF? (1)
Yemen (1)

March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006

about · archives · contact · register

Copyright © 2006-2024 Captain's Journal. All rights reserved.