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(07-13-2012, 12:42 PM)f350ca Wrote: Hense the term "Going off half cocked". Correct me if Im wrong Tom but don't all guns with hammers have a half cock position.
Very few modern guns use a half cock position. Most have some sort of manual or internal safety.
Smith and Wesson uses an internal hammer block to keep the hammer off the firing pin in the down position.
My son's Beretta has some sort of an internal block that actually drops the hammer when you apply the safety. I just about peed my pants the first time I experienced it! I think he actually set me up. 
As far as I know, none of the Glocks have a half cock position.
My 1911 has a half cock position, but it is not used as a safety. It's only intended as a fail safe in case the other two safeties malfunction, which is highly unlikely. Besides, when the hammer is down it rests on the firing pin, but being an inertial type firing pin it doesn't actually touch the primer.
The Winchester 94 had a half cock, but I doubt that modern rifles like Ruger's use it.
Tom
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07-14-2012, 08:15 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-14-2012, 08:21 AM by Highpower.)
Glocks don't have half cock notches because they don't have hammers. They use a striker fired system.
Another reason behind the half cock notch (secondary sear) is again safety. It serves to catch the hammer and prevent the gun from firing in case of an accidental hammer release. For example - if your thumb slips off of the hammer spur as you are pulling the hammer back to the full cock position. (Primary sear.)
As Tom mentioned it also serves to catch the hammer in case of a primary sear failure. (Dropping a fully cocked weapon and landing on the hammer, breaking the primary sear notch.
In the case of a half cock notch failure, there (normally) isn't enough momentum behind the hammer to fire the gun due to the short distance traveled to reach the firing pin.
Willie
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Thanks for the explanation guys.
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07-15-2012, 02:17 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-15-2012, 02:19 PM by dallen.)
(07-14-2012, 08:15 AM)Highpower Wrote: Glocks don't have half cock notches because they don't have hammers. They use a striker fired system.
Another reason behind the half cock notch (secondary sear) is again safety. It serves to catch the hammer and prevent the gun from firing in case of an accidental hammer release. For example - if your thumb slips off of the hammer spur as you are pulling the hammer back to the full cock position. (Primary sear.)
As Tom mentioned it also serves to catch the hammer in case of a primary sear failure. (Dropping a fully cocked weapon and landing on the hammer, breaking the primary sear notch.
In the case of a half cock notch failure, there (normally) isn't enough momentum behind the hammer to fire the gun due to the short distance traveled to reach the firing pin.
I tend to disagree with this statement after I was on the receiving end of a colt single action army 357 that the half cock notch cracked off on the hammer and it had not been dropped the hammer was incorrectly hardened. still have half of the slug in my right leg.
DA
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Ouch!
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07-15-2012, 08:20 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-18-2012, 06:53 AM by Highpower.)
DA,
That is why I included the word "normally". There are always exceptions, and it's possible for any mechanical safety to fail. The best of all safeties is located between the ears. 
Did your hammer failure occur on the way into the holster, or on the way out?
Willie
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(07-15-2012, 08:20 PM)Highpower Wrote: DA,
That is why I included the word "normally". There are always exceptions, and it's possible for any mechanical safety to fail. The best of all safeties is located between the ears.
Did your hammer failure occur on the way into the holster, or on the way out?
Willie
it went off while the owner was reloading it, he had in in the to me normal position of laying in his left hand while putting shells in the cylinder when the hammer fell and I just happened to be on the other side of the table looking thru a spotting scope when the bullet hit the leg on the scope and exploded with the largest piece of it ending up in my right thigh about f inches from the groin area.
And yes I know it was not a normal accident, but one of those fluke things that happen with things made by man. But at the same time there is plenty of spring presser with the hammer in the half cocked position to fire a round.
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Wow. And I thought I had bad luck. I'm glad you weren't injured any worse than what you have already suffered though.
Willie
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So Mr. TomG, how is it coming along 
DaveH
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(08-18-2012, 02:55 PM)DaveH Wrote: So Mr. TomG, how is it coming along
DaveH
It's not.
The weather is WAY too nice this time of year to be working inside. It won't last much longer though so I'll be back on it shortly.
Tom
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