Safely uncocking a loaded revolver

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Jazziette

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Have you ever had to uncock a loaded .38? I know it sounds easy and for many it is easy but you have to be extra careful or it can discharge in the process. Just wanted to share my experience in the hopes it can benefit others. There is a correct way to lower the hammer:

Hold the gun in your right hand (if you are right handed) and hold back the hammer with your left thumb. Be sure to hold it firmly with your thumb in between it and the striking pin so that it can't spring into action. Then click the trigger letting the hammer fall on your thumb. Take your finger off the trigger, remove your thumb from under the hammer and slowly, very slowly lower the hammer into it's resting position.

Be sure to have the gun aimed at the ground or somewhere it cannot do any damage just in case. Now...this is very important. Contrary to what some folks say, you should never carry your gun cocked. In most states it is illegal to transport a loaded cocked gun and there is no reason to do this. It is very unsafe. Here's another thing. If you should ever feel uncomfortable about uncocking your loaded revolver remember this: follow your sixth sense. If you are uneasy you are more likely to screw up. One solution is to contact your local police department. They will be happy to come to wherever you are to assist you at no charge. I live in Arizona and if you fire a gun in the city limits it is a felony and you can kiss all your weapons goodbye for a very long time. Just remember...listen to your sixth sense. Think of all the times you thought "I shoudn't do this." and then you did it and something bad happened and you thought back....I "knew" I shouldn't have done that. Good luck and be safe. ~ Jazz
 
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Are you serious? Carrying a cocked revolver? Calling the police to have them decock it? I would also add that in states with concealed carry I dont know of a single one that dictates you cant have a cocked pistol (most people carry 1911s this way).
 
Most people are carrying thier 1911's cocked and locked. Thats the difference. Carrying a revolver cocked is similar to carrying a 1911 cocked with its safety off. In fact based on the few DA/SA revolvers I've shot the unlocked 1911 would be much, much safer.


Thats kinda how I decock my 1911's and other guns with a hammer. I just put my finger in between the hammer and FP. Allthough I have never needed to decock a loaded gun.

So I'm a bit confused? Why would I ever cock a revolver and need to decock it? If it would need decocking later, why would I cock it in the first place?

Shoot my Glocks can't be decocked at all!
 
Most people are carrying thier 1911's cocked and locked. Thats the difference. Carrying a revolver cocked is similar to carrying a 1911 cocked with its safety off. In fact based on the few DA/SA revolvers I've shot the unlocked 1911 would be much, much safer.


Thats kinda how I decock my 1911's and other guns with a hammer. I just put my finger in between the hammer and FP. Allthough I have never needed to decock a loaded gun.

So I'm a bit confused? Why would I ever cock a revolver and need to decock it? If it would need decocking later, why would I cock it in the first place?

Shoot my Glocks can't be decocked at all!
Thanks for the reply. I know what you mean about 'why would you cock a loaded gun and then need to decock it'. Simple. I live in the city limits in AZ and last night I heard a loud bang/crash in my house. I live alone and keep my gun on the nightstand loaded. It was so startling I was certain there was an intruder. I cocked my gun to be ready. After finding that a picture had fallen off the wall crashing to the floor I was stuck with the cocked revolver. Honesty, I have decocked many an unloaded one successfully but for some reason I just didn't feel easy about it. So....yeah (i'm not embarassed) my local police were happy to come over and decock it safely for me. Actually only one of them really knew how. LOL Now..had I been outside the city limits I would have just discharged it and problem solved. But here they have this law they are very strict about. My neighbors would have called the cops if I had accidentally discharged it. Better to be safe than sorry. It was a first for me for sure. ;)
 
Are you serious? Carrying a cocked revolver? Calling the police to have them decock it? I would also add that in states with concealed carry I dont know of a single one that dictates you cant have a cocked pistol (most people carry 1911s this way).
Here in AZ it is illegal to carry/transport a cocked revolver. But thanks for the response anyway.
 
Can't really see this one goin' anywhere good...but I'm gonna leave it open until it starts to head south of the border.

Jazz...We 'preciate the sentiment and the effort...we really do, but this board is chock fulla people who have been handlin' guns for the better part of a half-century. Lowering the hammer on a revolver safely is pretty much a non-issue.

Ya'll behave now. Hear? ;)
 
Can't really see this one goin' anywhere good...but I'm gonna leave it open until it starts to head south of the border.

Jazz...We 'preciate the sentiment and the effort...we really do, but this board is chock fulla people who have been handlin' guns for the better part of a half-century. Lowering the hammer on a revolver safely is pretty much a non-issue.

Ya'll behave now. Hear? ;)
Not a problem. It won't hurt my feelings if you delete it. I just found your forum today and feel it is really cool. I actually grew up on a ranch and have been around guns all my life so I kinda know where you are coming from. Just wanted to share. But no disruption or disrespect to the experts intended. :) ~ Jazz
 
T/C Contenders, Single and Double action revolvers all have to lower the hammer if it is cocked and not fired. Hell, have been doing that for many, many years. It is easy enough if you pay attention and can 2 things at once...:)
 
I would also let off the trigger as soon as the hammer starts to fall in case the hammer does slip and try to make a break for it. Most DA revolvers block the firing pin when the trigger is forward and it still won't go off if the hammer is dropped.
 
T/C Contenders, Single and Double action revolvers all have to lower the hammer if it is cocked and not fired. Hell, have been doing that for many, many years. It is easy enough if you pay attention and can 2 things at once...:)
Well, since I'm a woman I'm very used to multi-tasking (I don't text message or put on my lipstick while driving, however) but today I just felt uneasy about it and so I felt like sharing in the hopes that someone else who had a similar problem ....I don't feel comfortable with a cocked revolver on my nightstand. The kitty might step on it. Seriously!
 
I would also let off the trigger as soon as the hammer starts to fall in case the hammer does slip and try to make a break for it. Most DA revolvers block the firing pin when the trigger is forward and it still won't go off if the hammer is dropped.
Oh yeah! Thanks for adding that about letting up on the trigger immediately. I forgot that. Super important. :)
 
Jazz...No harm/No foul. Just wanted to let ya know that before somebody locks onto ya. Some of these guys can be brutal. ;)

I'd love to have been raised on a ranch. 'Bout all we got around here is stables and tobacco farms...and hills.

Welcome aboard, ma'am!
 
Jazz...No harm/No foul. Just wanted to let ya know that before somebody locks onto ya. Some of these guys can be brutal. ;)

I'd love to have been raised on a ranch. 'Bout all we got around here is stables and tobacco farms...and hills.

Welcome aboard, ma'am!
Thank you, Tuner. I know the 'newbie' routine and I am blonde too....LOL

Okay..you have a great one! Gotta scoot now. Thanks so much for the welcome and I appreciate the gentle advice. :)
 
Thanks, I guess that is a senerio that would require a cocked hammer. All my revolvers are DAO.

Can't you swing the drum out if your really uncomfortable with it?
No, once you have cocked it the barrel won't open until you decock it. And mine doesn't have a safety either.
 
I agree, don't go anywhere and no one is at all offended. (Or if they are they should keep their pieholes shut.) We love to talk about this stuff.

If I use a revolver defensively, I not only wouldn't cock the hammer, I would probably have the spur and the cocking notch removed. I would use it DA only.
 
I agree, don't go anywhere and no one is at all offended. (Or if they are they should keep their pieholes shut.) We love to talk about this stuff.

If I use a revolver defensively, I not only wouldn't cock the hammer, I would probably have the spur and the cocking notch removed. I would use it DA only.
Thank you so much!!! I'm happy I didn't offend anyone. (I hope!) Actually I wish mine was DA and I have an order in for a new one now. I want to be able to carry it concealed and don't want it hanging up on something in my purse.
 
I'm eyeing a S&W M&P 340 revolver or a 442 for carry with .38spl


Seems like the DA on a DAO revolver seems to be alot nicer than DA/SA guns I've shot.

A friend of mine told me on his Larger revolver he could tune for a better SA shot, but that would mess up his DA a little. Not sure that is true or not, but I'm plesently surprized by the little SW j-frames I rented. (I'm normally an auto/Glock guy.)

MP340Centenial.gif

442.gif
 
Post pics. Of the revolver and the blonde. :D

What kind of revolver? .22, .38, .357, .41, .44, or something more exotic? What did the cop say when he got there?
 
Jazziette...Your double-action revolver has a safety. It's just not one that you can flip on and off manually. It's on the inside, and functions automatically. When you pull the trigger...it's turned off and the gun will fire. If the trigger isn't pulled...it's on, and blocks the hammer, or...rises and completes the connection between
the hammer and the firing pin. AKA "Transfer Bar."

Pay no attention to dan. He's harmless. If a lady wuz to give him a second look, it'd scare him plumb to death. :D
 
I'm eyeing a S&W M&P 340 revolver or a 442 for carry with .38spl


Seems like the DA on a DAO revolver seems to be alot nicer than DA/SA guns I've shot.

A friend of mine told me on his Larger revolver he could tune for a better SA shot, but that would mess up his DA a little. Not sure that is true or not, but I'm plesently surprized by the little SW j-frames I rented. (I'm normally an auto/Glock guy.)

MP340Centenial.gif

442.gif
Cool pics! Actually the S&W 442 is like my .38 only it has the hammer and pink grips. ;) It's a great little gun. I'm partial to .38s. What I have on order is a Smith & Wesson M&P9 - JG. It has pink grips too. LOL I'm such a gurly gurl. :) It's taking months to get some of the .38s here in AZ. I wanted the one I have pictured here but it's the same as impossible to get.
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I think auto-glocks are super cool for guys.
 
Post pics. Of the revolver and the blonde. :D

What kind of revolver? .22, .38, .357, .41, .44, or something more exotic? What did the cop say when he got there?
LOL Dan. You don't want to get me banned from the forum my very first day do you? hahaha My current revolver is a .38 like the one that Zero posted only with pink grips.

The cops that came didn't say a lot. One didn't seem to know much, in fact I thought he was gonna shoot a hole through my wall. The other one had to show him how. :) They were happy to help. He decocked it and unloaded it and handed me the bullets. Soon as they left I put em back in and put it back on the nightstand. I have no idea why they took out the bullets. ;)
 
Jazziette...Your double-action revolver has a safety. It's just not one that you can flip on and off manually. It's on the inside, and functions automatically. When you pull the trigger...it's turned off and the gun will fire. If the trigger isn't pulled...it's on, and blocks the hammer, or...rises and completes the connection between
the hammer and the firing pin. AKA "Transfer Bar."

Pay no attention to dan. He's harmless. If a lady wuz to give him a second look, it'd scare him plumb to death. :D
LOL Tuner. You made my first day here more fun!

Thanks for the info on the DA safety. I really am gone now. Looking forward to coming back here soon.

Have a great one all!
 
Jazz...No harm/No foul. Just wanted to let ya know that before somebody locks onto ya. Some of these guys can be brutal.

I'd love to have been raised on a ranch. 'Bout all we got around here is stables and tobacco farms...and hills.

Welcome aboard, ma'am!

Tempting as it is, I'm going to be good and not going to comment on the OP.

However, 1911 Tuner, I never realized you were from the Lexington area. I used to live in Asheboro and worked at the hospital in Lexington for several years in the early '90s. It was a great place to be, and Lord knows I miss the barbecue!!!!!!!
 
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