Where are Striker-Fired handguns headed?

[Vinny]

One of the reasons for the popularity of striker-fired handguns is their simplicity. Striker-fired like Glock with their 'safe-action' trigger; no external manual safety to think about, and ease of field stripping have dominated sales for both LE and civilian defense use.

However, it seems that (presumably to sell more guns); the trend with striker-fired guns has been toward lighter and lighter triggers with no wall and a clean break. Of course a light trigger with quick reset usually makes it easier to shoot quicker, more accurately; and score better in qualifications. I've heard the argument about good training as the most important factor in safety, no matter what manual of arms you choose. Of course I agree.
But I am concerned about where this trend in lighter triggers is headed, with no manual safety.

Although I have a Glock 17 Gen 4 and an HK VP-9 (which btw has a very nice trigger), I've gone back to DA/SA CZ's as my choice for personal defense. I just like the extra margin of safety that DA 1st round provides. Just my choice, but I realize there are almost as many opinions on this as there are guns. I like my 1911's too, I'm just not a fan of cocked & locked. But honestly, I'd prefer that over a light trigger and NO manual safety.


So, I do wonder, with the trend in light triggers, will manual safeties on striker-fired guns come back into vogue?

[deadduck357]

I hope not.

But there are some companies that offer their striker-fired models with or without a manual safety; Ruger, S&W, FN are some of those.

[Joe L]

The Kahr approach is my favorite so far--a very long trigger pull but without the double dingy trigger -- whatever it is called.  The PM-40 pistol is a fine looking pistol.  I'll have some sort of opinion in a few weeks after shooting a P-10C in comparison to my P-07.  I've always disliked the look of the trigger pecker on the stricker fired polymer guns.  Funcionally, sure, it's a good safety feature.  Just ugly.  Even my Savage rifle has it. 

Joe

[Vinny]

Joe L,
If you're referring to the Kahr PM40 like PM9/CM9 it's a very unique striker-fired action. They list it as 'double-action'. It's a long pull but very smooth.
Very nice as micro-9. FYI Hickock45 does a good review of it. I almost bought one for summer pocket carry/BUG. Got the Sig 290rs instead also DAO but hammer-fired with tritium night sights; but I might have been just as pleased with the KAHR.

I'm seeing a few striker-fired DA/SA guns now too (I believe Canik's-Century Arms TP9 V2 is among them).  As the striker triggers keep improving and getting lighter I believe we'll see more of this.

[Cyanide]

I've only two different manufacturers' striker-fire handguns in my collection, one being my pair of CZ 100's, which are true DAO with an 8.5# trigger pull. The other is my Gen 4 Glock 23, which has the NY1 Trigger/3.5# Connector mod, giving it a steady 6# revolver-style pull with virtually no take up mush anymore. It's pretty much straight resistance from the time the trigger dingus is depressed, just like my old Ruger SR9C, which I absolutely loved.

Unless I'm mistaken, y'all can thank Walther with the P99 AS for a nice DA/SA trigger on a striker, but minus the dingus.

Sorry, got sidetracked. Back to the original point, I'm personally not a fan of a super light trigger on any handgun, unless it's for the range and competitive shooting. [emoji12]

[Vinny]

Cyanide, I couldn't agree with you more. 
Smart mods on your Glock. I don't have an issue with a 6# trigger on a defensive gun, even 8-9# , if it's smooth with a consistent clean break and reasonably short reset. Practice makes perfect.

With 3.5-4.5# light striker-fired triggers and nothing but the trigger dingus, I worry that we're going to see an increase in ND's.

We'll have to see what CZ plans with their new P-10C Striker. I've heard the trigger is very light. That's great, but......

[cntrydawwwg]

I'm not a fan of strikers by any means. I own a whole whopping 0 of them[emoji6]
   That being said, I personally don't see an issue as long as there is the trigger dingus and/or a grip safety. I see no difference than having an SA with manual safety. Both have a lighter first shot, both can have a discharge once the safety is deactivated.
   IMHO, once the finger goes to the trigger it's not an AD or ND, it's intentional. Just my $.02
   I may add that all my pistols are SA/DA, carried DA first shot. Cause that's my preference and what I'm comfortable with.

[Vinny]

Cntrydawwwg, You make a valid point that once a light-triggered SA gun's safety is de-activated it's a similar issue.

And like you I prefer DA 1st shot on defensive handguns.

IMHO it's the adrenaline factor that makes it different than on a range or sport shooting gun.
Under pressure, drawing from a holster or nightstand with hands shaking, holding a 3.5-4.5# trigger. Dingus or no dingus. Not for me. 

However, I respect the choices made by those who consistently train for pressure situations with their defensive choices. It's the others I worry about.

[Cyanide]

IMHO, once the finger goes to the trigger it's not an AD or ND, it's intentional. Just my $.02

I may add that all my pistols are SA/DA, carried DA first shot. Cause that's my preference and what I'm comfortable with.

Well put, CD!

DA/SA was my first carry mode for several years before I went primarily DAO. And I know it's probably blasphemous to many, but after owning stuff from pretty much every major manufacturer (w/exception of SAO Browning HP and Colt 1911A1 models), I've settled on offerings by CZ, Glock, and Beretta as my favorites, regardless of how the firing mechanism is activated or, trigger type. I will be the first to gripe about Glock (have quite the love/hate relationship with 'em), but there is a reason it is the only striker fire I currently own besides the CZ 100.

[Joe L]

Joe L,
If you're referring to the Kahr PM40 like PM9/CM9 it's a very unique striker-fired action. They list it as 'double-action'. It's a long pull but very smooth.
Very nice as micro-9. FYI Hickock45 does a good review of it. I almost bought one for summer pocket carry/BUG. Got the Sig 290rs instead also DAO but hammer-fired with tritium night sights; but I might have been just as pleased with the KAHR.

I've done a few videos of me shooting the PM-40.  Here is a video I made when I was out shooting my "defensive" guns.  I have since replaced the mag release and corrected a magazine problem (that I created) on the PM-40, so there is no more problem with that.  I've actually shot the PM-40 out to 50 yards and got some rounds on a B-8 target before!
https://youtu.be/GftW6gRUyBE
Joe

[mustangman]

Mine are headed out the door.
I just.sold my Glock G22, and purchased a CZ P-07.
Today I took it out for the first time and it is on the way to replacing my G27 as my EDC.
I'm not into hanging onto guns I won't shoot, so the 27 hits the market, or I trade my BIL back for my Sig SP2022.
Either way, no more strikers for me.
I don't know why, but hammer guns seem more appealing all of a sudden.

[SSGN_Doc]

The pendulum tends to swing over time.  Most of the more current striker fired pistols that feature fully staged strikers, like the PPQ and VP9 may be a bit more prone to accidental tripping.

Walther recently discontinued their P99 AS which featured a SA/DA striker fired action along with a decocker.  Canik produces a knock-off of this pistol as the TP9V2 and is releasing an updated version called the TP9DA. 

I see many people on forums shifting back toward DA/SA hammer fired pistols for carry.  The P01, PCR, and P07 among them.  Berretta released a Px4 Storm Compact carry package this year.  As traditional DA pistols make a resurgence, I would not be surprised to see more DA/SA, Decocker equiped striker fired guns marketed for carry, while the fully staged striker pistols may end up marketed more for competition.

[ernie_h]

Started out with striker-fired Walthers (still have them and shoot them) before I started with CZs for the same reason a lot of other folks have; most of the latter are decockers. That said, my P99 AS and P99C AS are still favorites?.not only because of the decocker, but the trigger pulls, and especially the resets, are really very good out-of-the-box IMHO. Every once in a while I do see posts over on the Walther forum from folks asking how to make the trigger pull on the PPQs heavier (due to concerns about carrying a PPQ). While mine are not what I consider too light, it is a concern vs a SA/DA with a decocker?.which is why I added the P99's.

[The Conservative]

Kind of curious where this will go myself.  How light to is light for a defensive striker pistol?  I would worry about the first time gun owner that gets a carry gun (striker) with no manual safety and a sub 5 lbs trigger.  Interestingly, HK is adding an optional manual safety to the VP9 which in my opinion would negate the big advantage of a striker gun of not having to worry about taking a safety off in a high stress situation.

[Vinny]

I think SSGN_Doc's prognosis of direction, is likely.
The pendulum may be starting to swing back toward the newer/lighter hammer-fired compact DA/SA decocker models like CZ's P-07, CZ-75 D Compact PCR, P-01 and sub-compact RAMI BD which have narrowed the gap from the heavy old-school full-size DA/SA's from Beretta, S&W, SIG, etc..

Really, the weight gap has narrowed to no real carry dis-advantage especially comparing similar high capacity offerings. IMO the newer compact DA/SA's are as simple to draw and shoot as any striker-fired, as easy to field strip & clean, but with better safety of DA 1st round and better trigger overall. Add in good sights and option of a rail for lights, and what's there not to like?

Of course I wish CZ would make a micro-9 DA/SA or sub-compact single-stack which could be the ultimate carry gun. That is where a big DA/SA void still exists. And there's boatloads of those striker single-stacks being sold. 

But Really, I'm perfectly happy with my DA/SA decocker CZ's as they are.