Question about cocked and locked for long periods of time.

[sdmc530]

Originally Posted by pitor

Why do you leave your 1911 in condition 2 if you just advocated for Condition 1 for daily carry or the fact it would put less wear on springs and sear? Seems like a contradiction to me. Please explain.

The wear only happens when you compress and decompress springs, so if you have your gun in whatever condion you choose your not wearing anything out really I guess. When you are not carrying gun do you unload it or do you leave it in a "condition" while in storage?

Yep I did say one thing and do another, but I just choose to carry in 2. Not saying its better. My opinion is if I am carrying a gun, how many times am I really going to pull the hammer back? Probably never? So not having the hammer cocked keeps the spring from being under pressure while not in use, so condition 2 has all its components in a resting state as if it were unloaded and in a safe.


I think in the end we are over thinking all of this. Springs are pretty cheap and a maintenance part in the end so I believe a person should carry the gun heck use the gun any way he feels comfortable with and not worry about a spring he may have to replace in 4,000 rounds instead of 6,000 rounds.

Again just my opinion I am by no means an expert. AND I am not most people but yest most carry in 1.

[pitor]

Originally Posted by sdmc530

The wear only happens when you compress and decompress springs, so if you have your gun in whatever condion you choose your not wearing anything out really I guess. When you are not carrying gun do you unload it or do you leave it in a "condition" while in storage?

Yep I did say one thing and do another, but I just choose to carry in 2. Not saying its better. My opinion is if I am carrying a gun, how many times am I really going to pull the hammer back? Probably never? So not having the hammer cocked keeps the spring from being under pressure while not in use, so condition 2 has all its components in a resting state as if it were unloaded and in a safe.


I think in the end we are over thinking all of this. Springs are pretty cheap and a maintenance part in the end so I believe a person should carry the gun heck use the gun any way he feels comfortable with and not worry about a spring he may have to replace in 4,000 rounds instead of 6,000 rounds.

Again just my opinion I am by no means an expert. AND I am not most people but yest most carry in 1.

Hello and I appreciate your responses but I am not talking about carrying the firearm. It sits in the safe and comes out at night for HD duty. I do not want to unload the gun before it goes in the safe just to re-load it at night, as this promotes bullet setback in the rounds when done often enough.

I'm seeking info regarding leaving it permanently Cocked and Locked, going C&L into safe, and coming out C&L ready for whatever goes bump in the night. I just want to know there's no way that hammer can fall onto the firing pin and discharge the weapon when left C&L for extended periods of time. That's all really.

I agree about maintenance and parts, it's all part of of owning a mechanical device (like a car) that needs inspection and attention from time to time.

Thank you again for contributing to this thread.

[DrHenley]

Condition 2 has a significant potential for ND on a pistol without a decocker (there is a reason they make decockers...). I personally have had three instances of my thumb slipping off of a hammer or cocking piece while lowering it on a loaded chamber. Muzzle was pointed in a safe direction all three times.

[sdmc530]

Originally Posted by pitor

Hello and I appreciate your responses but I am not talking about carrying the firearm. It sits in the safe and comes out at night for HD duty. I do not want to unload the gun before it goes in the safe just to re-load it at night, as this promotes bullet setback in the rounds when done often enough.

I'm seeking info regarding leaving it permanently Cocked and Locked, going C&L into safe, and coming out C&L ready for whatever goes bump in the night. I just want to know there's no way that hammer can fall onto the firing pin and discharge the weapon when left C&L for extended periods of time. That's all really.

I agree about maintenance and parts, it's all part of of owning a mechanical device (like a car) that needs inspection and attention from time to time.

Thank you again for contributing to this thread.

OH sorry I misunderstood the question. No harm will come to the firearm for sitting in condition 1 for a long period of time. If you are worried about it firing due to some crazy event in safe or in a nightstand I doubt this will happen if your gun is properly maintained. The palm safety makes it almost impossible to fire if its working properly, not to mention the thumb safety should be used as well, so it would have to fail on two levels and have the trigger pulled for it to potentially fire on a shelf. Never say never but doubt you would ever have an issue with a 1911, or a or m&p as well. They are engineered to not go off. I think its perfectly safe with monthly checks.

Hope this is a more clear answer

Originally Posted by DrHenley

Condition 2 has a significant potential for ND on a pistol without a decocker (there is a reason they make decockers...). I personally have had three instances of my thumb slipping off of a hammer or cocking piece while lowering it on a loaded chamber. Muzzle was pointed in a safe direction all three times.

YES! You are very correct. BUT 1911's have a 1/2 cock for a reason I know this only works when cocking the pistol and not decocking but never tried that either. You still have to be safe and practice any skill and stuff does still happen.

[sdmc530]

Let me just say we have lots of great conversations on here and this one is a good one too. Lots of great thoughts coming from folks with great opinions and experiences. This is great, another forum I(we) used to belong to would have had this topic it would have already ended in somebody getting a short ban and people getting pissed at everyone else.

COTEP is the best.

[sdmc530]

OK, so I have been reading, watching video's, and whatnot about what condition to carry a 1911. I have watched about a dozen videos from different known gun trainers/mfgr's.

My name is , and I am wrong about what condition I should carry my gun. Condition 1 is the proper way.....this might not be an epiphany but its the correct way. I found this video that I think explains it best. Doesn't go toward about his storage question, although I still think condition 1 is just fine for it.

Anyways 3 minutes of why John M. Browning is smarter than us:

[sdmc530]

For reference, how to use the 1/2 cock. Best video I could find without making my own.

[pitor]

Originally Posted by sdmc530

For reference, how to use the 1/2 cock. Best video I could find without making my own.

Funny you and I watch the same videos, about this last video one of the things that kept popping up in the video comments is that the half cocked position is not meant to be used as resting point for the hammer as wear and possible tear can happen, it's another safety implemented into the 1911 design. The half cock position was meant as a last-ditch effort to catch the hammer before it hits the firing pin, discharging the gun. But it comes at a cost as it can actually damage the half cocked notch in the sear(?).