Cocked and Not Locked?

[Confederate]

Dangerous? I'm sure it is, but today I had my unloaded Smith & Wesson 645 out playing with it and cocked it, when I thought, what's the huge difference between handling the gun in this condition and a loaded Glock? There's so much take up space in the trigger that I really couldn't drop the hammer without substantial intent. True, I didn't have a safety on the trigger like a Glock, but nothing I tried could cause the hammer to drop on what would have been a live round in a loaded condition.

I've handled Glocks and 1911s before, also plenty of revolvers, and though a revolver would be monstrously dangerous cocked, the 645 seemed at least as secure as a Glock. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't feel comfortable carrying a cocked and unlocked 645, but then, I don't feel comfortable carrying a cocked Glock, either. In a situation where I had the gun drawn, however, I would feel completely at ease walking around with a cocked 645. Ditto for the 659 and other autos.

With a 1911, I suppose walking around in Condition Zero would not be recommended, but then, many 1911s don't have the travel that some double action autos, like the Smiths, have. Condition 1, hammer back and safety on, is what most would adhere to, but remembering the safety is a primary concern. If you have a double action auto, try it yourself. How easy would it be to discharge in single action.

My own feeling is that Condition Zero with a Smith is much safer than a Condition Zero in a 1911 and about the same as a Condition Zero in a Glock. Of all these, the Smith would give me the most confidence, too. The 1911 would behavor more like a cocked revolver, while a Glock would behave more like an uncocked double action.

So what are your thoughts?

 

[Pimpstar00]

Looking at the 645, it looks like a da/sa. If so, I would be ok with the safety off.

 

[Monkeybear]

The DA pull is the safety.

 

[Confederate]

The DA pull on what is the safety?

Are you talking about the 645?

The 645 has a hammerdrop, which also is listed as a safety. The double action also is a safety, I suppose; however, I'm talking about single action mode, Condition Zero.

If a person is wandering around an area where he is has his gun out, and he's ready for an imminent encounter, hammer back and no safety. Seems okay with the 645.

Is it, in your opinion? Check your own DA autoloader and see.

 

[MICHAEL T]

In theroy a 1911 would still be safer Remember they have a grip safety . Also Newer ones series 80 type have the fireing pin block Trigger must be pulled to release the fireingpin.
What the smith got

 

[Steve C]

The Glock is as safe as any loaded revolver with round chambered. You can slam gun down on hard pavement. The firing pin is blocked in place and even if that failed it won't have enough power to set of the round from the "safe" position of its travel. Not saying somebody couldn't add enough after market parts and use a sensitive enough primer to make that an untrue statement but in stock form its drop proof.

Now the firing pin block on the new Colts make them as drop safe as the Glock IMO but 70 series pistols and most clones have no firing pin block so they can fire if the hammer is bounced off the sear or the sear is snapped by a sufficient blow to the hammer.

The grip safety does nothing but prevent the trigger from being pulled and for the most part is the most worthless safety device invented.

 

[Confederate]

The Glock can be as safe as any loaded revolver with a round chambered, but often it isn't. In every federal, state and local law enforcement agency and group that has gone from ANY handgun to the Glock, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of accidental discharges.

Still, if people can avoid the instinctive reaction to grab for a falling gun and can live by the rigid rules of safety we as shooters should be following, the Glocks can be safe.

As for the Colts, the old 1911 designs needed firing pin blocks. Inertia driven pins helped, but didn't solve the problem completely. In fact, if it weren't for Ruger, we probably wouldn't be as far along as we are today. I think most 1911 designs by Kimber, Smith & Wesson and others have the block, but the older 70 Series/clones are still dangerous.