Understanding a decocker

HandsomeRob · 12-23-2007, 08:16 PM

After hearing a few stories I've decided it might be a good Idea to get a handgun in the future for personal/family defense. I'm a little confused about a decocker versus manual safety. Example gun Ruger P95 a 9mm SA/DA makes a Man. Safety and Decocker model and is also one of the guns I am looking in too.

A Manual Safety blocks the firing pin, disconnects the trigger, and drops the hammer.To fire, the safety is first removed, and then the trigger is pulled.

A Decocker blocks the firing pin and drops the hammer, and then springs back to the ready position. To fire pull the trigger.

A few questions...
Am I right in thinking that a manual safety gun left in "fire" mode with the hammer down (again on a SA/DA semi-auto pistol) is basically the same thing as a decocker model?
That the only safety in a decocker is that the DA trigger pull is greater than SA?
That a man. safety would be a decocker if it didn't disconnect the trigger?

lefty o · 12-23-2007, 08:22 PM

the safety/decocker lever serves both purposes. with the pistol loaded, and hammer back you push down on the safety lever, this decocks the pistol. leaving the lever down acts as a safety, you must push the lever back up to be able to fire the pistol .

BattleRifleG3 · 12-23-2007, 08:29 PM

Some SA/DA guns have a combined decocker and manual safety. Some have just a manual safety. Some have just a decocker.

evilblackrifle · 01-01-2008, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandsomeRob

A few questions...
Am I right in thinking that a manual safety gun left in "fire" mode with the hammer down (again on a SA/DA semi-auto pistol) is basically the same thing as a decocker model?

Yes, as long as the Safety is "Off", both guns will fire. If the Safety is "On" it will not fire. But the Decocker model will always fire if the trigger is pulled.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandsomeRob

That the only safety in a decocker is that the DA trigger pull is greater than SA?

Yep.

jerry · 01-01-2008, 07:57 PM

If a person is not comfortable in manually decocking a firearm, decockers are a nice option for them.

novaDAK · 01-02-2008, 10:32 PM

No double action gun NEEDS a manual safety, just like DA revolvers don't. But they make them if you want them. Just don't rely on a manual safety to make it safe around unsafe gun handlers.

9mmfan · 01-03-2008, 01:27 PM

The Taurus PT 92 9MM and the Taurus PT 100 40 cal. both have a safety and a decocker. Just push the thumb safety down for the decocker and up for the safety. They both recieved great reviews from the Gun-Tests web site. The Tauras PT92 looks a lot like the Beretta 92FS but it has a thicker slide and grip than a Beretta 92FS.

12-23-2007, 08:16 PM	#1
HandsomeRob Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Wisconsin Posts: 167 Trader Rating: (0)	Understanding a decocker After hearing a few stories I've decided it might be a good Idea to get a handgun in the future for personal/family defense. I'm a little confused about a decocker versus manual safety. Example gun Ruger P95 a 9mm SA/DA makes a Man. Safety and Decocker model and is also one of the guns I am looking in too. A Manual Safety blocks the firing pin, disconnects the trigger, and drops the hammer.To fire, the safety is first removed, and then the trigger is pulled. A Decocker blocks the firing pin and drops the hammer, and then springs back to the ready position. To fire pull the trigger. A few questions... Am I right in thinking that a manual safety gun left in "fire" mode with the hammer down (again on a SA/DA semi-auto pistol) is basically the same thing as a decocker model? That the only safety in a decocker is that the DA trigger pull is greater than SA? That a man. safety would be a decocker if it didn't disconnect the trigger? __________________ You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass.

12-23-2007, 08:29 PM	#3
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Trader Rating: (0)	Some SA/DA guns have a combined decocker and manual safety. Some have just a manual safety. Some have just a decocker. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

01-03-2008, 01:27 PM	#7
9mmfan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Anywhere The Department of Homeland Defense sends me. Tennessee, is my home. Posts: 425 Trader Rating: (0)	The Taurus PT 92 9MM and the Taurus PT 100 40 cal. both have a safety and a decocker. Just push the thumb safety down for the decocker and up for the safety. They both recieved great reviews from the Gun-Tests web site. The Tauras PT92 looks a lot like the Beretta 92FS but it has a thicker slide and grip than a Beretta 92FS. Last edited by 9mmfan; 01-03-2008 at 01:31 PM.

12-23-2007, 08:22 PM	#2
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,691 Trader Rating: (0)	the safety/decocker lever serves both purposes. with the pistol loaded, and hammer back you push down on the safety lever, this decocks the pistol. leaving the lever down acts as a safety, you must push the lever back up to be able to fire the pistol .

01-01-2008, 07:57 PM	#5
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,760 Trader Rating: (0)	If a person is not comfortable in manually decocking a firearm, decockers are a nice option for them.

01-02-2008, 10:32 PM	#6
novaDAK Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Trader Rating: (0)	No double action gun NEEDS a manual safety, just like DA revolvers don't. But they make them if you want them. Just don't rely on a manual safety to make it safe around unsafe gun handlers.