.22 semi-auto pistol question.

[KennyFSU]

I currently own two .22 semi-auto pistols (Walther P22 and ISSC M22). On the M22 (SA only) there is a decocker and when decocked it brings the hammer to the half-cocked position. On the P22 (SA/DA) the hammer also rests in the half-cocked position. My question is, is it ok for the hammer to rest on the striker? Will that wear out the striker spring? Or should it always be in the half-cocked position? Thanks.

 

[Quiet]

My $0.02...
It's safer at the half-cock position.
If you hit the hammer hard enough while it's resting on the striker, it could discharge.

The Walther P22 and ISSC M22 were pretty much designed by the same people. Some ex-Walther employees that worked on the P22 went over to ISSC and made the M22.

 

[KennyFSU]

Thanks Quiet! That's what I was looking for.

 

[BeerSleeper]

The M22's decocker doesn't drop it to half cock. It drops it almost fully, below the half cock position. See for yourself. With the decocker off, pull the hammer to half cock. Then engage the decocker, and see the hammer fall. As the decocker is engaged, it raises a firing pin block, so the hammer cannot fall on the firing pin. This does keep the hammer from fully falling all the way (by 1 or 2 mm), but it does bring it below the half cock notch.

If you park it with the decocker on, the hammer isn't resting on the firing pin, it's resting on the firing pin block. I don't see any harm in that, but I'm not a gun smith. I wouldn't leave it parked hammer down with decocker off with a round in the chamber. Without a round in the chamber, while it's functionally not dangerous, it's behaviorally a bad habit.