The 100% safe way to do this is don't do it, unless the gun is specifically designed to allow this, ie it has a decocking lever.

 

This. Don't do it on a 1911.

 

Don't do it on a 1911. One day I'll even convince my dad of this.

 

Three options:

1. Don't do it;

2. Don't do it;

3. Don't do it.

1911 options are Cocked and Locked or empty chamber.

There is NO safe way to lower the hammer on a loaded chamber in a 1911. If someone tells you they've been doing it all their lives, remind yourself that many people have driven home drunk all their lives without having an accident.

Additionally, there is no way to cock the hammer on a 1911 reliably in a tactical situation. Shooting hand thumb? Right. . . . . weak hand? That's as slow as racking the slide.

If you think empty chamber is a good idea, read this thread in which the shooter in a justified situation states simply that he would be dead if he had not decided to carry with a round chambered:

http://www.ohioccwforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=53502

So, for 1911, that leaves Cocked and Locked. This is safer than carrying a Glock with a round chambered, but looks verrrryyyyy scarrrrryyyyy, so if you're not comfortable with it I suggest a different platform

 

but but but

We do something similar at USPSA matches to start certain DA/SA pistols hammer-down for Production (or weirdness; okay, "preferred manual of arms").

We drop the hammer on a loaded chamber.

 

We do something similar at USPSA matches to start certain DA/SA pistols hammer-down for Production (or weirdness; okay, "preferred manual of arms").

We drop the hammer on a loaded chamber.

You would use the decocker on a DA/SA then wouldn't you?

 

One of two ND's I have had in 35 years of shooting 1911's was while trying
to lower the hammer on a chambered round. All I will say about it is that there is absolutley no doubt that a 1911 hammer (new Colt Combat Commander) will provide enough momentum to the firing pin to fire from the half-cock position.

 

My CZ-82 doesn't have a decocker. Here's the low down.
Chamber a round in a safe direction.
Stick the front of your offside thumb between the hammer and the slide.
Grab the back of the hammer spur with your strong side thumb.
Gently pull the trigger and lower the hammer down onto your other thumb.
Gently ease your off side thumb out the way until the hammer is down into it's safety notch.
The important thing to do is to pratice this many..many...many times with an unload pistol before actually doing it live. Remember if it slips..it goes bang !

I love my CZ-82 for CCW. This is about it's only drawback.

 

On a 1911, it's bad mojo.


Regards,
Greyson

 

On a DA/SA CZ, it's just a bad design..:biglaugh:

 

NO!!!

I'm curious, why would you even want to?

 

+1
NO reason for it.

 

So OP, did you mean with a 1911? Have we answered your question?

Sorry for the stridency. . . . this question is often debated here, and after you've been through the debate a few dozen times, you may lose your patience too.

Do not be dismayed; keep asking questions, and read as much as you can. Lots of helpful people here. But none of them will tell you that you should try to lower the hammer on a loaded 1911.

 

Works just fine..............on my lever action rifles! (and is recommended!!)

But there really is no reason to do this with a 1911. Cocked and locked, fire or clear the chamber.....

 

The manual for my 1977 R100S BMW motorcycle claimed it would top 120 MPH on the level - but I ran out of courage at 110 - and still had plenty of throttle left to use.

I would never consider anything as dangerous as dropping the hammer on a loaded chamber with any of my 1911s - don't even understand why one would want to do that considering the danger - plus if it was needed, one would have to waste time getting it cocked. DA/SA allows hammer down carry and is quicker to get into action if needed.

 

There is a safe way to do it. It involves a big bucket and a whole bunch of sand.

I would never lower the hammer on an empty chamber unless I was pointing the firearm down range or pointed at an unloading bucket. But realistically, there is no need to. My firearm is in 1 of 2 conditions. Unloaded or condition 1.

 

Uh, pull the trigger.

That's the only way you should lower the hammer on a loaded chamber.

 

leave anatomy out of it

You would use the decocker on a DA/SA then wouldn't you?

To me, a decocker is a device forbidden on my guns, without exception.

 

As others here have pointed out and asked - I still can't figure out why you'd even WANT to.

 

I've been doing it for 20 years or so and will continue as that is the way I prefer my 1911s to be 'loaded & carried'.

 

To each his own I guess. Some people eat fugu sushi too...it catches up with some of them eventually.

I would never do such a dangerous and totally useless/needless action on a 1911.

 

I don't find it to be useless.

 

I try not to be a closed-minded person. So, I have to ask... What makes you want to carry a single-action only pistol with the hammer down on a loaded chamber?

I am asking only because I would sincerely like to know why you would prefer this method of carry over either cocked and locked, or selecting a DA/SA pistol that was designed to be carried that way.

 

Of course, it's a dangerous practice, but can be made to be relatively benign as long as other steps are taken.

"What makes you want to..?"

That's a more cogent question and one I'd like to hear from others on.

ISHOOT, for example posted "I don't find it to be useless." I'd like to see that expanded.

Because, you see, I do it all the time and I find I don't have a good answer to that question.

I'm thinking about it.

Thanks,

Will

 

The 1911 is safer cocked and locked than it is in Condition 2. It's useless. Leaving a 1911 perpetually cocked and locked does no harm to the gun or the shooter. Lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber invites tragedy.

 

You can't engage the thumb safety with it at half-cock.
Round in the chamber and safety off is not really a safe way to carry.

Gun in hand, thumb safety off (doesn't work at half cock), and cocking the hammer gives you a cocked and un-locked condition with your thumb (either one) behind the slide while you're probably in a big hurry to get the gun into action.

I find that manually cocking it to fire is a bit slower and less safe than dis-engaging the thumb safety when in cond1.

To each his own but please warn others in your vicinity at the range that you're using such practices so they can step behind you.

 

Well, as I understand it, Browning designed the 1911 with both thumb and grip safeties for redundancy to be really safe - but they ignored a old adage -

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE WHO CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET AROUND SUCH SAFETY MEASURES.

With all the decocker type pistols on the market that are otherwise good guns - why not just use one of those. It is my impression that many instructor level shooters regard the first shot - being DA BE just be fired into the ground - or some safe place - and rely on their second shot to hit the target and not a bystander.

At least with the DA/SA types, they can be put into action with only one hand - I doubt a 1911 with the hammer down on a live round could be cocked and ready with only one hand.

YMMV

 

Well, as I understand it, Browning designed the 1911 with both thumb and grip safeties for redundancy to be really safe


YMMV

You need to learn a bit more about the design of the 1911.


My nightstand 1911 is hammer down on a live round right now and when I carry a 1911 in the woods it is the same way. Works for me.

 

1. Hammer down on a live round allows the gun to discharge, without you pulling the trigger.

2. Hammer down makes it impossible to engage the safety.
2a. A gun, not on "safe" is considered "unsafe". Not just to you, but to all those around you. No one should ever be endangered by a CCW weapon, except the person at whom you are pointing it. If I found a friend, at my home, carrying a 1911, Condition 2, I would ask them to leave. If you are carrying a firearm, in an unsafe manner, around my children....

3. Hammer down, makes your SA-only pistol a very slow and dangerous device, to use for the first shot. While you are cocking the gun, the bad guy is firing. I can't imagine a reason, for allowing your adversary this advantage, that will leave the realm of "I just do."

Yeah, we know you do. The question is why? If you don't even know the answer to that question, stop.... doing..... it.

 

Quite to the point and well worded, sir!:rock:

 

Not safe at all, and pointless.

 

Since we are about neck deep, you are talking about the M1911, correct?