A lot of people debate the advantages and disadvantages of the striker and hammer fired pistols. There are definite pros and cons to both systems, but people tend to try to label one or the other as a winner over the other. I find it more helpful to merely evaluate ad judge the systems for what they are good at and where they shine. There are considerations that one must take when looking at using one of these types of pistols and I want to give you my take on this subject.
A striker fired pistol can have a couple of different methods of operation. There is the Glock style striker, which is classified as a double action because the sear brings the striker to the rear before dropping, causing the striker to release. Then there is the PPQ style of striker system where the striker is 100% cocked and ready to fire. This system is classified as a single action trigger system since all that happens is the dropping of the sear. The good thing that this system brings to the table is that the trigger pulls are typically light and offer a very quick and relatively short trigger pull, resulting in good results when shooting for accuracy. This system is also praised for being simple and reliable overall. Also these systems tend to be very inexpensive to make due to their simplicity. The problem I have seen is the striker systems have issues with light primer strikes at times if the striker channel gets too dirty. Also with the triggers having a short pull, it can result in premature discharges if you are not careful and maintaining good trigger discipline.
Hammer fired pistols seem to be very misunderstood these days. There are a few types of hammer fired pistols out there. There is the double action only system which is popular with pistols like revolvers and some pocket pistols. This system uses a long trigger pull on every shot, that cocks the hammer and then releases it when it is fully cocked. The other system is double action/single action that is very familiar with most hammer fired pistols. This is the system that is accused with having an inconsistent trigger pull because the first pull is long and heavy, while the rest are short and light. The other type of system is the single action trigger system like your 1911s. This system is renown for being very easy to shoot and having a very light trigger pull. The good thing about hammer fired pistols is that they are capable of delivering a very hard strike to the primer. They do tend to cost more to manufacture due to the added parts and slightly increased complexity of the systems. I have not noticed this to cause an issue with reliability. Some consider hammer fired guns to be dangerous as carry guns since the hammer could snag on clothing, but I haven’t found them to snag any more than any other pistol type.
I personally do not have a preference towards any specific trigger system. I realize the strengths and weaknesses of all the different systems and where they are best applied. It is on the end user to decide this for themselves as well. I do not see the hammer fired pistols as unreliable or outdated. Both designs are very good at what they do and they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Its up to you to decide how you would like to use them and which system you like more.
David served in the USMC for a few years. He deployed twice and got wounded. Retired and moved to Alaska. Has a passion for reviewing and testing guns and gear of all kinds. Enjoys working to dispel myths and show that you can train and practice in a realistic, safe, and practical way.
