Maybe I'm missing the point of lowering the hammer. I thought the point was so all DA capable guns, including DA/SA ones, start from a full DA trigger pull, right?
Well, not quite. Guns like a USP, a P2000, etc. or a Sig P series "normally" start from the safety intercept notch / "barely cocked" state. As does a CZ BD series pistol with a decocker. This isn't a huge difference, but it's a big difference from something like a Beretta 92 where the hammer is definitely all the way down.. Or an S&W 3rd gen, let's say.
Now, that being said, in practical terms, there really isn't much of a difference. I am thinking USPSA rules mandate that "hammer fuly down" thing because of consistency, although I would argue the advantage of starting partially cocked is
basically negligible. And I sure as hell wouldn't complain if they changed the rules
to allow you to start there, because its somewhat safer (and much easier) to get the gun to that partially cocked state.
On my P226, the final resting point of the hammer is *EXACTLY THE SAME*, regardless of if I lower the hammer with my thumb and the trigger pulled all the way, or I use the decocking lever.
Yeah, that's because the rebound spring (I think that's what it's called) literally forces it back into the safety intercept notch. The fact remains though that it's not 100% down. The hammer is only ever 100% down on a USP or a Pxxx if you fired the gun. (interesting note though, USP doesn't have a rebound spring, so the hammer will stay all the way down if the gun was unloaded. )
*While* using the decocking lever, the hammer can't hit the firing pin (which is a good feature), but as soon as I release the lever, it's impossible to tell the difference between lowering the hammer manually, or using the lever.
The difference is if the trigger is being pulled the safety intercept notch cam or whatever that thing is called, is out of action, and if you let the hammer go with the trigger pulled, that gun is going to fire, lol. (because the act of holding the trigger has now defeated both the FP safety and the intercept function). Now of course if you let go of the trigger early enough in the process, and then lost control of the hammer "later" the gun wouldn't discharge because either the intercept cam comes back and the FP safety is definitely re-enabled because the trigger bar isn't pushing up against the plunger. (ETA: pls excuse my mechanical ignorance, it might not be
a "cam"- I just forget exactly what it looks like, it's been about 6 years since I detail
stripped a P series trigger group).
One confusing thing on some P series pistols is when you decock them, some decock violently, like a P220, others, are much "softer" but the mechanicals are pretty much the same in principle. Even on a P220 if you ride the lever with enough force, it lowers the hammer slower.
Again, USP is similar, except nearly all of those are violent... but effect is the same, it only does it into the notch, the hammer will not travel any further, unless the cam/lever/whatever is sheared off or something.
I'd be really surprised if I had some weirdo mutant P226 that was different from all six you've owned.
Here's mine: (sorry for the rubbish video, low light and older GoPro)
You can see that the hammer spring doesn't actually push the hammer onto the firing pin, inertia takes it that last bit. And that the final hammer location is the same, regardless of how I drop the hammer.
Yes, because it works very similar to the USP system, it's just unloading the spring so all the energy gets dumped into the hammer. and after it travels like 90%, that last 10% or whatever it is, it's just "freewheeling". .
I think we're just getting twisted with semantics at this point. Admittedly I'm being pedantic (you said it drops all the way, it clearly doesn't, but into the notch) but I guess what I'm getting at, is a P series hammer never "rests" all the way down, well, except for that one moment you're firing the gun. Or maybe it would (possibly) get "stuck" there if that rebound spring was broken.
-Mike