FOLLOW UP TO DECOCKER QUESTION

Question
YOU MENTION THE GLOCK IS STRIKER FIRED . DOES THIS MEAN IT DOES NOT HAVE A HAMMER? IS CYCLING THE SLIDE THE ONLY WAY TO COCK A GLOCK.? IS HAMMER OR STRIKER FIRED SUPERIOR IN ANY WAY . I HAVE SEEN SIG ADVERTISE THEIR MULTI STRAND SPRINGS DO THEY HAVE ANY ADVANTAGE OVER CONVENTIONAL SPRINGS THANKS OWEN  

Answer
Owen,

Glocks do not have external hammers. In order to cock the striker in a Glock, the slide must be cycled at least half way. When the gun is disassembled, you can move the striker's cocking arm with your finger. The only advantage I can think of a hammer-fired gun might have is that the gun can be decocked by easing the hammer down with one's thumb. Thing is, this is never recommended for safety reasons and many manufacturers discourage doing this as it's rougher on the internal lockwork than letting the hammer fall under its own power.

Glocks, being the leading striker-fired arm in the US just are what they are. I've heard of some police departments complaining about the Glock's lack of external safeties, its single-action mechanism and relatively light trigger. I equate such complaints with someone buying a Ferarri and then complaining there's no cup-holder. Glocks are what they are, pistols intended for combat - as such, they've dispensed with anything that doesn't aid the gun in combat.

I really don't know if Sig's multi-strand springs are much better than conventional springs. It's been pretty conclusively proven recently that standard steel springs do not develop "memory," not even magazine springs in magazines that have been left loaded a long time. Given how there are published accounts of a Glock 17 having had over 200,000 rounds passed through it without its springs wearing out, it's safe to say the average pistol owner is never going to wear out the springs that came in their gun, provided the gun itself was of reasonable quality.

I hope I've answered your questions, if you've a follow up, please feel free to ask.

Kyle