Internal v. external hammer?

[Daven]

Since I am new here, I thought to ask how many of you prefer internal hammers or external hammers, as well as ask who carries in Condition 1?

I would love as much feedback as you can give.

I have always carried Sig's, I have two now, a P220 and a SigPro 2022. (the 2022 is the one I carry most). I love them and if I went outside my loyalty, I would probably go with Kimber. Since my 2022 does not have a safety, i can't carry in condition 1, but would like to. I like the 1911 model but my hands are on the small side so they are too large for me.

Also, NOT TO OFFEND, but I do not like Glocks at ALL, A friend loaned me his glock 30 about 2 weeks ago to carry for a few days and I did not like it. I gotta have an external hammer., plus the trigger is too weird for me.

 

[rksap]

I voted "either way" because it just depends on the firearm and how I am carrying it. As my main carry weapon I wear an FEG P9R, which has an external hammer, at 3 o'clock under a loose unbuttoned shirt. Since the safety/firing pin block is always engaged when holstered, I don't worry about accidental discharges due to snags and have never had a problem with the hammer catching on my clothing when unholstering.
On the other hand, my bug is a Ruger LCP which is usually holstered in a front pants pocket. The internal hammer seems to me to be a must when carried in that fashion, to avoid snagging when removing the weapon from the pocket.

 

[Chief1297]

I voted either way as well. I am not partial to one or the other. I do carry a 1911 in condition one...doesnt everyone? Rhetorical question by the way.

 

[6shootercarry]

I decided to vote either.

I own and carry striker fired handguns Smith and Wesson M&P45 and 40c, and like the simplicity of the design, however I'm aware of the limitation for a 2nd strike in a misfire situation. I carry them condition 1, w/ a round chambered. They have no manual safety to off so they are ready to fire when the trigger is pulled.

I also carry a 357mag revolver and a Colt 1911 automatic when the mood strikes me, so I have both types. I carry the 1911 in condition 1 and the revolver is well, loaded and ready to fire in double action or single action mode...

I've never really thought about which option I prefer. If I had to nail down a preference it would be "the firearm works when needed"... I'm sure all would prefer that...

 

[eaccents]

Internal vs. External hammer preference

I don't really have a preference for internal or external hammers at this point.

For my first handgun, I insisted on an external hammer and a manual safety. Now that I'm much more familiar with firearms and how they work, I am just as happy with a striker-fired pistol (internal hammer).

Because I have both striker-fired as well as external hammer-fired, I carry like so:

striker fired pistol = condition 1 (DAO pistols: round in chamber, hammer cocked)
external hammer fired pistol = condition 2 (SA/DA pistol: round in the chamber, hammer uncocked)​

Ideally, I'd like to carry my SA/DA in Condition 1, but since I don't have to release a safety on the DAO pistols, I eliminate that motion in my SA/DA for CONSISTENCY OF MOTION across all carry pistols. God forbid that I carry the SA/DA and forget to drop the safety....

 

[Naybor]

I have always gotten external hammer revolver handguns. I've never had a problem with the hammer snagging on cloths.

An external hammer gives you the option of taking a finer single action shot if needed.

 

[dobleceroseite]

I prefer to carry guns with an external hammer. I don't really know why but Striker fired pistols don't seem to feel right to me when I shoot.

 

[chieftmc]

I prefer striker.

When I was a LEO, I carried Glocks and that is what I have become accustomed to.

Usually carry in condition 1 but will occasionally carry in condition 0 when circumstances dictate.

 

[First Sgt]

Internal...Always carry Condition 1...

 

[jtg452]

Folks, ya'll realize that striker fired and internal hammers are two completely different things, right??:to_pick_ones_nose: Internal hammers are actual hammers, just concealed in the gun. They also give you a 'second strike' capability that striker systems don't.

The question is internal or external hammers. Bringing up striker firing is just confusing the issue with an option not mentioned in the original post.

 

[imadragonkeeper]

either

I voted either as it really depends on the gun being carried. My EDC is striker fired, no external hammer, but it does have a manual safety - it is carried in condition one - round chambered and ready to fire. I also have a 1911 (which I love but it is too large for my small hands). On the few occasions when I carry it instead of my edc it is chambered but not hammered back as I don't feel comfortable carrying it in that condition.

 

[thebrez1]

I have a Sig 229 with exposed hammer and carry a XD subcompact striker fire. I also have a S&W .38 with shrouded hammer and a Ruger LCR which is also shrouded. Makes no difference to me. Anything I carry is in condition 1, cocked and locked. If I can't carry it that way, I don't and won't carry it. While seconds may count, milliseconds count more!

 

[Islander]

Folks, ya'll realize that striker fired and internal hammers are two completely different things, right??:to_pick_ones_nose: Internal hammers are actual hammers, just concealed in the gun. They also give you a 'second strike' capability that striker systems don't.

The question is internal or external hammers. Bringing up striker firing is just confusing the issue with an option not mentioned in the original post.

Good point.

Folks, if you have an LCP, you can see it's internal hammer fired. A stiker has NO HAMMER. There is a spring behind the striker (firing pin) that drives it forward instead of a hammer (see a Glock cutaway animation).

I already voted.

 

[sassedbygov]

I chose either and I have all of the above, with and without. My favorite is a Kahr, no hammer, no safeties, just 7 lbs of double action trigger in your way. It's a quiet sleepy town here. But when I must travel to zombie land, I always rack the slide before I leave, add an extra mag, a BUG that's weak hand accessible in condition 1, a Tac light and a folder.

And the call me paranoid

 

[vincen]

I own both and have carried both but prefer an external hammer in condition 1. No matter the weapon that +1 is always there.

 

[eaccents]

"internal hammer" - Hidden hammer vs. striker

Folks, ya'll realize that striker fired and internal hammers are two completely different things, right??:to_pick_ones_nose: Internal hammers are actual hammers, just concealed in the gun. They also give you a 'second strike' capability that striker systems don't.

The question is internal or external hammers. Bringing up striker firing is just confusing the issue with an option not mentioned in the original post.

Not being familiar with revolvers, I was unaware that there were some that had hidden hammers, therefore "internal hammers." Are there many of these? I saw that Smith and Wesson had some, but did not research further....

I mistakenly thought the OP meant striker-fired, which I have heard referred to as "internal hammers" in many forums and gun shops. If the OP was referring to a revolver with a hidden hammer, then I voted wrong.

jtg452: forgive me if this is a stupid question (because I'm not very familiar with revolvers) but doesn't the cylinder turn (advance) with every pull of the trigger? If so, in order to get a second strike you must have to turn the cylinder back one spot and pull the trigger again, right?

 

[jhappold]

Internal v. External hammer?

I prefer the external hammer, but I think its probably for purely psychological reasons. I prefer to be able to see that hammer. I do own 2 glocks and an XD-45 and they work great so I dont really know why. I just like the external hammer on my 1911 and my SIG 220 better.

 

[StogieC]

1911, revolver, Sig 226, Ruger p-90 - External
XD, Glock, pocket pistols - internal or bobbed.

Training and your own comfort are what is important.

 

[Red Hat]

I voted either way for the same reason stated above. It all depends on the firearm. I carry all my firearms in condition 1. There's no sense in being half ready if something happens!

 

[shadowwalker]

shadowwalker

Not being familiar with revolvers, I was unaware that there were some that had hidden hammers, therefore "internal hammers." Are there many of these? I saw that Smith and Wesson had some, but did not research further....

I mistakenly thought the OP meant striker-fired, which I have heard referred to as "internal hammers" in many forums and gun shops. If the OP was referring to a revolver with a hidden hammer, then I voted wrong.

jtg452: forgive me if this is a stupid question (because I'm not very familiar with revolvers) but doesn't the cylinder turn (advance) with every pull of the trigger? If so, in order to get a second strike you must have to turn the cylinder back one spot and pull the trigger again, right?

Most major Fire Arm companies have a concealed hammer model more for the ankle back up so the hammer will not snag when needed.