In the case of a single action revolver such as the one used in this incident, you’d need to pull the trigger to release the hammer if it was cocked. You can hold the hammer as you pull the trigger and then slowly lower it on a round, but that is a big no no. However, a long time ago that was the only way you could render a gun “safe” when cocked.
Modern guns have more advance systems in place to prevent accidental discharges. Searing/hammer blocks prevent hammer drops firing if the trigger wasn’t pulled. Those do not exist on period pieces such as a Colt Single Action.
Modern guns also have systems designed to lower the hammer on a live round which is know as a decocker. That could result in a discharge if the searing/hammer block mentioned above was defective, and it has been known to happen.
And of course truly modern guns (polymer based) don’t even have hammers. They use a firing pin that is known as a striker fire. But once again, there are safety blocks to prevent accidental discharges in events where triggers are not pulled (for instance, dropping a gun). And the only way to render them inert is to remove magazine, rack the slide to clear, and then pull the trigger on an empty chamber. Or depending on the manufacturer they may provide a decocker mechanism for take down.
Contrary to what Baldwin said it’s perfectly acceptable to dry fire (no round) a gun, and there are many cases in which you’d need to do it. Dry fire training for instance.
The only thing you can’t dry fire is rimfire calibers (such as .22) because it will indeed damage the firing mechanism.
Modern guns have more advance systems in place to prevent accidental discharges. Searing/hammer blocks prevent hammer drops firing if the trigger wasn’t pulled. Those do not exist on period pieces such as a Colt Single Action.
Modern guns also have systems designed to lower the hammer on a live round which is know as a decocker. That could result in a discharge if the searing/hammer block mentioned above was defective, and it has been known to happen.
And of course truly modern guns (polymer based) don’t even have hammers. They use a firing pin that is known as a striker fire. But once again, there are safety blocks to prevent accidental discharges in events where triggers are not pulled (for instance, dropping a gun). And the only way to render them inert is to remove magazine, rack the slide to clear, and then pull the trigger on an empty chamber. Or depending on the manufacturer they may provide a decocker mechanism for take down.
Contrary to what Baldwin said it’s perfectly acceptable to dry fire (no round) a gun, and there are many cases in which you’d need to do it. Dry fire training for instance.
The only thing you can’t dry fire is rimfire calibers (such as .22) because it will indeed damage the firing mechanism.
Last edited by John McClane; 12-04-21 at 07:45 PM.