I just got a Kimber Pro Carry II. Took it to the range yesterday and all I can say is WOW ! I own a Ruger 357, a couple of Taurus 9mm 24/7 and a S&W M&P 40 which are all great gun but none are as good as the Kimber. Anyway, this is my first 1911 model gun and I have a really dumb question. Does it hurt any thing to cock the gun by pulling back on the hammer. I know I can use the safety and carry loaded and locked but it seemes just as easy to pull the hammer back. I just don't want to damage anything. Thanks for the help.
considering the hammer is smacked back by the slide on recoil, cocking it by hand won't hurt anything, however, carrying it with a round in the chamber and the hammer down may be hazardous to your health as i don't believe there's a safety built into that hammer-pin-primer chain, i could be wrong, it's happened before. if it were me and i was going to carry with the hammer down, it'd be on an empty chamber and i'd work the slide during draw that way everything is safe until go time, besides in a defensive situation that hammer get awful small. As for the one round you lose from capacity that way, unless there's a lot of angry people after you i'd call it a negligible loss. My opinion is Col. Cooper said double stacks are a fad so if you're going with a single make it 7.
wcassidy ... it's not going to hurt a thing. This is definitely the place to ask your questions ... even if you think they might be dumb. There is no dumb question regarding safety with firearms ...
Larry O
__________________ You don't scare me! Work on it!
Berniewood, I am a kimber shooter and I also have a real love for the gun. as far as your question - DO NOT carry that pistol with a round chambered and the hammer down, if you want to carry hammer down just go with condition 2 which is chamber empty and mag full, it only takes a second to work that slide. if you want to carry with one in the pipe then go cocked and locked "use the slide safety." Alot of people dont feel safe with the hammer back on 1911 carry, so try this as a test
carry your 1911 cocked with the slide safety on (unloaded) for a week everywhere you go even wrestling with the honey and see , The hammer is not going to fall until you switch off that safety and have a grip on the grip safety. you own one of the best handguns made.... use it and enjoy it.
Thanks guys for the information. You have been most helpful. My normal carry is my S&W M&P 40 full size. It has no safety and I always carry it hot without fear. But the Kimber with the hammer cocked for some reason scares me a little. Guess it's just a different set up than I'm used to. I see no need to carry a gun unless it's ready to fire so I will start carrying it loaded and locked. I'm used to a safety as my Taurus has one.
I agree that cocked and locked is the proper way to carry the 1911. I too have reservations about this style of carry even though I know it is safe. Just a mental thing. My solution is to use a thumb-break holster with the strap between the hammer and the slide. No way to fire with that piece of leather in the way in addition to the normal 1911 safety. I carry my Stainless Gold Match (series 1) in a Galco Fletch holster using a good stiff belt. Very comfortable and it rides up close under my vest of jacket.
Thanks again guys. I've started carrying it cocked and locked. Actually, once I remembered it has two safety's I am much more comfortable. Just a mental hurdle I had to get over.
Great choice on pistols Bernie! Welcome to the forum. Put me down as another vote for cocked and locked. And yes it looks kinda odd to have a pistol around cocked! About any other firearm with an exposed hammer that is eared back when it's not about to fire is an OMG moment for most gun guys.
