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AR15.COM
12/1/2005 1:25:01 PM EDT
I have read that manually lowering the hammer to de-cock the 1911 is going to cause undue wear on my sear.  I have only been shooting 1911's for about 3 years now and this is the first I've heard of it.

Here's my dilema.....

I have an Ultra Carry II that goes anywhere the state lets me take it and is always loaded (no kids and is kept in the safe when I'm in the house).  To save time I always just let the hammer down easy to uncock it before I put it in the safe.  Is it going to cause more wear on the sear to do this or more wear on the spring to keep it cocked all the time?  Any advise is appriciated.  Thanks and Happy Shooting!
12/1/2005 1:54:00 PM EDT
[#1]
The wear will be on your nerves.   Lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber is NOT a very healthy habit  to develop.  One slip and you got yourself an accident.  Why even do what you are doing if its going in the safe?  
12/1/2005 2:17:28 PM EDT
[#2]
So I dont wear on the mainspring by keeping it compressed all the time.  I thought I would pose the question to see what advice I get.
12/1/2005 2:24:20 PM EDT
[#3]
Mainsprings are cheap.  An accident could cost you dearly.  Keep the gun cocked and locked like it was designed to be kept.  It actually is the safest condition your 1911 can ever be in.  
12/1/2005 2:47:18 PM EDT
[#4]

Quoted:
The wear will be on your nerves.   Lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber is NOT a very healthy habit  to develop.  One slip and you got yourself an accident.  Why even do what you are doing if its going in the safe?  



Totaly agree.  Stop doing this.  This is a very dangerous practice.  Leave it cock and locked!

It is highly unlikly that your mainspring will take a set and not work.  If anything, you are putting more wear on your spring by cycling it.  Compression cycles are what kill springs, not constant compression.  If your that worried about it, by a spring from ISMI and be done with it.
12/3/2005 1:34:31 PM EDT
[#5]
I have 1911's that have been cocked 99% of the time for the past 15 years.  You will not wear the mainspring out - don't worry about it.  Modern spring technology is a great thing, and you will probably never shoot that pistol enough to wear the mainspring out.  Recoil springs and firing pin springs are another matter.

DO NOT decock a loaded 1911.  You'll slip and put a hole in something that shouldn't have a hole in it.

Remove the mag, rack the slide a few times to be sure, lock slide to rear and manually and physically inspect the chamber and magazine well.  

THEN, if you want to lower the hammer, point in safe direction (something that would stop a bullet and not be harmed), and press the trigger or thumb the hammer down.

SF

12/3/2005 2:48:24 PM EDT
[#6]
The pistol is designed to be left cocked.
12/3/2005 2:57:59 PM EDT
[#7]
Never decock a 1911.

DW
12/3/2005 4:10:27 PM EDT
[#8]

Quoted:
Never decock a 1911.

DW




AS IN N-E-V-E-R
12/3/2005 4:59:36 PM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:
...and is always loaded (no kids and is kept in the safe when I'm in the house).  To save time I always just let the hammer down easy to uncock it before I put it in the safe..."



What everyone else said. Please unload the gun and triple check the chamber to make sure it is empty before decocking the hammer.