Have striker fired autos taken over?

[357smallbore]

I'm a Revolver guy for the most part. I do have a few semi autos. 5 are strikers and the last a mint 1985 Taurus 92AF in 9mm. Seems as autos go, the vast majority are striker fired these days and are the rage for CCW and Self Defense.
Are strikers that much better

 

[nettlle]

For me it comes down to the trigger. I much prefer a 1911 trigger to the trigger on striker fired guns.

 

[Mike J]

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but I believe polymer frame striker fired pistols are less expensive to manufacture than traditional hammer fired pistols. This usually translates into a pistol that is less expensive to purchase. My meager accumulation of handguns includes striker fired, hammer fired single action & hammer fired DA/SA. I also own one revolver. If I am carrying a gun it is usually striker fired.

 

[Overkill870]

Yes, polymer framed striker fired handguns are what is hot on the market.

Carry and shoot what is best for you though.

 

[Alllen Bundy]

While the average person could probably be stopped with one or two bullets, suppose that your assailant is hopped up on drugs. It may take a dozen rounds to stop them. Revolvers don't have the necessary capacity. Here the typical autoloader has a huge advantage. But what if you encounter a mob? An autoloader is your only chance with very quick magazine reloads.

Anything blocking a hammer can cause it to fail. A striker fired pistol may not have the perfect trigger, but it's much more likely to go bang under adverse conditions.

For these reasons I carry a striker fired autoloader.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

nope, just a class of handgun that is very flexible for people's wallets. They are much faster to make. so, production cost is much lower. And for the most part give really good user performance for cost.

 

[MikeInOr]

I enjoy metal guns (1911's, Beretta 92, etc.) at the range but for utilitarian use I find the plastic stuff much more useful.

For me it mainly comes down to weight. Carrying a plastic pistol is much more comfortable for me. Even for my night stand gun, being able to slip a lite weight sub-compact into a jacket pocket is much less intrusive than doing so with a heavy metal gun when taking the garbage out. I had a CZ 75D compact at one time which I thought would be a nice blend of compact and lighter. It too was too heavy... and didn't fit my hand well.

I once took my Beretta 92 out in the woods with me for a day in a good quality LEO retention holster. It didn't take me long to figure out it is a pain in the rear to carry around all that weight for a day. It became very evident to me why cops like their Glocks!

A plastic pistol will never give me the same joy that my P08 Luger, CZ-52, Dan Wesson 44mag of other classic metal pistol will. But they do suit several situation much better than the classics.

Utility:

Fun:

 

[ms6852]

I have always been partial to metal. My first gun I purchased was the 686 when they first came out in 82" or 83. From then on 1911's and more revolvers. I love big heavy guns that can double as an anchor. Eventually I bought my first "plastic" gun the Walther PPQ in 9mm. My wife wanted something to travel with when out of town and she chose this particular gun. I was against it and lost the battle as I commonly do with my wife. Anyways I took it to the range to break it in for her and I'm not going to lie I was very impressed with the factory trigger that came with it, and how great it shot. The Walther PPQ changed my mind on "plastic" and striker fire gun, I gained a new respect for them.
Still, I have not bought anymore "plastic" guns. But I did buy another 1911 with 6" barrel in 10mm from Springfield Armory, like I said I love big heavy guns that double as an anchor.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Yeah, they are until they aren't.

The biggest disadvantage is the usual (there may be exceptions) lack of the DAO's second strike option without trigger reset, but they are easier to master than the latter are simpler to train for than the DA/SA types.

SA only triggers are excellent but generally require a manual safety to carry cocked and locked.

Some prefer one over the other. I'm used to revolvers, so I like DAO or striker for carry. I'll happily shoot anything interesting, and some of my favorite handguns are SA only autos.

Strikers can be the partly-cocked Glock-type (originating with the 1907 Roth-Steyr, I think), but the original striker autos go back at least as far as the Borchardt 1893, which were either fully cocked or not at all.

 

[drobs]

Light weight plastic for carry. Steel for the range / fun.

I started my shooting addiction with a tuned trigger in a 1911. That made me a trigger snob from the get go. Striker fired triggers while not as nice as a tuned 1911 trigger, are the same pull every time.

Now as I get older, I don't mind 2 different trigger pulls out of the same range / fun gun. It adds a challenge. However, it's plastic fantastic for carry.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I’ve noticed that I have way too many striker fired auto loaders so I’ve been shopping around for more hammer fired to round out my collection.

A CZ PCR and Baretta 92 were my latest additions

 

[jar]

Striker vs Hammer has been cyclic for over a hundred years. Striker does have the advantage of generally fewer parts and cheaper manufacture with almost no hand fitting requirements.

I have both striker and hammer fired handguns that are over a century old now and still working.

 

[BreechFace]

There’s actually been a recent flush of internal hammer fired semi autos.

Some examples of internal hammer fired poly framed guns are: FN Reflex, S&W CSX, Ruger Security 9, S&W Equalizer, Walther Creed, etc.

Many of the above by all accounts look the part of a striker fired handgun but are not.

But yes striker fired semi autos are very prolific in todays use.

 

[drobs]

I enjoy metal guns (1911's, Beretta 92, etc.) at the range but for utilitarian use I find the plastic stuff much more useful.

For me it mainly comes down to weight. Carrying a plastic pistol is much more comfortable for me. Even for my night stand gun, being able to slip a lite weight sub-compact into a jacket pocket is much less intrusive than doing so with a heavy metal gun when taking the garbage out. I had a CZ 75D compact at one time which I thought would be a nice blend of compact and lighter. It too was too heavy... and didn't fit my hand well.

I once took my Beretta 92 out in the woods with me for a day in a good quality LEO retention holster. It didn't take me long to figure out it is a pain in the rear to carry around all that weight for a day. It became very evident to me why cops like their Glocks!

I also briefly owned a Beretta 92FS. Man what heavy pistol, especially when it only carries 15rds of 9mm. I can imagine the complaints from the military. I recently acquired a CZ 75 SP-01 it also is a HEAVY gun to carry and must easily weigh as much as that Beretta I had. I also have a couple FN Hi Powers. They don't seem as bad as the CZ and 92.

For carry I'll stick with my light weight compact Glocks that have just as many rounds in the magazine as those steel framed 9mms.

 

[Buzznrose]

I’ve noticed that I have way too many striker fired auto loaders so I’ve been shopping around for more hammer fired to round out my collection.

A CZ PCR and Baretta 92 were my latest additions

This is my situation. I have a lot of striker fire plastics as well, and actually have my eye on another (G23-5 MOS) at some point but am looking for some nice metal and hammer pistols to balance it out. I’m buying an old school Taurus .357 from a buddy tomorrow to pair with my GP100. I don’t need it, but since when did “Need” matter much on this forum…

 

[MikeInOr]

I’ve noticed that I have way too many striker fired auto loaders so I’ve been shopping around for more hammer fired to round out my collection.

This is my situation. I have a lot of striker fire plastics as well, and actually have my eye on another (G23-5 MOS) at some point but am looking for some nice metal and hammer pistols to balance it out. I’m buying an old school Taurus .357 from a buddy tomorrow to pair with my GP100. I don’t need it, but since when did “Need” matter much on this forum…

 

[jmr40]

Has striker fired autos taken over?​

Been living under a rock for the last 30 years.

The real question is, why did it take so long? Exposed hammer firearms have several disadvantages and there hasn't been a new rifle or shotgun design in over 100 years that used exposed hammers. The most reliable rifles and shotguns are all striker fired and they have the best triggers compared to those with hammers. I'm talking about double shotguns and bolt action rifles. Even those with hammers that are enclosed like most pump and semi-autos aren't as rugged reliable.

The same is true of striker fired pistols. All of the moving parts are enclosed and protected from debris and damage that can happen if a gun is dropped. Dirt, hair, clothing, even fingers can get between a hammer and firing pin in extreme close combat and prevent a hammer fired gun from working. And just like with long guns de-cocking hammer fired guns calls for extreme care and is when most AD's happen.

Most people assume that the trigger on all striker fired guns are heavy, hard to manage triggers. And many are, but there is no reason that a striker fired trigger can't be just as good as a 1911 trigger. In fact, an out of the box Glock has exactly the same trigger pull weight as most out of the box 1911's. Some 1911's purpose built for target use are better and many modify them. But a 1911 built for combat has the same 5-6 lb trigger as a Glock.

 

[MikeInOr]

The biggest disadvantage is the usual (there may be exceptions) lack of the DAO's second strike option without trigger reset at least as far as the Borchardt 1893, which were either fully cocked or not at all.

I remember second strike capability being a concern when I bought my first plastic pistol many years ago but it has really become a non issue for me. The plastic pistols I own have never had a problem with lite primer strikes. It seems like the only time lite primer strikes are an issue is when a trigger has been lightened by using lighter springs? Does anyone still worry much about second strike capability?

Most people assume that the trigger on all striker fired guns are heavy, hard to manage triggers. And many are, but there is no reason that a striker fired trigger can't be just as good as a 1911 trigger. In fact, an out of the box Glock has exactly the same trigger pull weight as most out of the box 1911's. Some 1911's purpose built for target use are better and many modify them. But a 1911 built for combat has the same 5-6 lb trigger as a Glock.

The trigger on my XD mod 2 is actually really good. I honestly would not want it any lighter for a carry pistol and it has a very nice crisp break. I bought my 1911's used from friends that already had trigger jobs done on them. They are way too lite for a carry gun. They are great at the range but I would never feel comfortable carrying one of my 1911's. I feel much more comfortable carrying a DA/SA trigger like my Beretta 92 (which is what I learned to shoot with) than a SA only pistol in a cocked and locked state. To me I don't find an appreciable difference in carrying DA/SA or striker fired. For me, they both go "bang" when I pull the trigger.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Does anyone still worry much about second strike capability?

Probably not. Those following the tap-rack-go school sure don't, and unless things get even worse than the recent ammo drought I don't see much likelihood of anyone using old milsurp ammo with hard primers in a CCW gun.

The only thing a second strike action provides is an almost instant second try without racking the slide, which isn't going to accomplish anything if the primer is defective.


Tangent thought: after I shattered my left arm falling off a ladder in 2015, I found myself unable to reliably rack my Glock 19 slide for about six months. I later installed a Leupold Deltapoint Micro which provides a sturdy racking point, but my injury made me more appreciative of one-handed autopistol practice drills.

It also highlights one of the virtues of revolvers when one hand is out of action: a second strike with a revolver gets you a fresh round.

 

[md7]

Stryker fired seems to dominate law enforcement, military, and ccw usage these days.

Lot of people use them for HD and range use too.

But still… a good metal frame, DA/SA or SAO pistol is definitely serviceable and I personally enjoy firing them. But it does seem to be a Stryker fired world

 

[MikeInOr]

I remember not too long ago when it was a 40 S&W world. I think plastic pistols have more staying power than the latest cartridge fad though.

 

[InTheSwamp]

There’s actually been a recent flush of internal hammer fired semi autos.

A nice tide change, but not enough to forget the fact that striker-fired pistols have been taking over the market for the last 40 years - no newsflash here.
And the trend doesn't seem to stop.

 

[Gun-Reck]

Like the Striker-fired pistols (Glocks) for carry, because of the size and weight advantage, and acceptable performance (2") at ten yards.

But the micro 9mm Para, compact .380 ACP, and full sized .45 ACP are all external hammer pistols.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Not in my house.
Got 5 or 6 striker pistols all Smith M&P, they collect dust. The lasr striker pistol I bought was the M&P metal competitor, it cost 1k. Sold it after putting about 150rds through it, it's not even in the same realm as my hammer guns.

With a good holster, JM custom, my all metal CZs disappear and forgot am even carrying them.

Most people assume that the trigger on all striker fired guns are heavy, hard to manage triggers. And many are, but there is no reason that a striker fired trigger can't be just as good as a 1911 trigger. In fact, an out of the box Glock has exactly the same trigger pull weight as most out of the box 1911's. Some 1911's purpose built for target use are better and many modify them. But a 1911 built for combat has the same 5-6 lb trigger as a Glock.

More to good triggers than just pull weight.

 

[eddiememphis]

While the average person could probably be stopped with one or two bullets, suppose that your assailant is hopped up on drugs. It may take a dozen rounds to stop them. Revolvers don't have the necessary capacity. Here the typical autoloader has a huge advantage. But what if you encounter a mob? An autoloader is your only chance with very quick magazine reloads.

Anything blocking a hammer can cause it to fail. A striker fired pistol may not have the perfect trigger, but it's much more likely to go bang under adverse conditions.

For these reasons I carry a striker fired autoloader.

Where do you live that these are realistic concerns?

If your main concern is drug addled hordes, you may consider contacting U-Haul.