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They were quite serious about this issue of push off, must have mentioned it half a dozen times at least.

Double action only precludes push off unless they could get the pistol to fire with the hammer fully forward--quite a feat. What they were looking for was single action trigger jobs (or worn triggers) that were so light they would slip off the sear with thumb pressure. They found one in my class as well. Never thought it was a common problem--must be, given their emphasis on the issue.

Eric Lamberson wrote:Double action only precludes push off unless they could get the pistol to fire with the hammer fully forward--quite a feat. What they were looking for was single action trigger jobs (or worn triggers) that were so light they would slip off the sear with thumb pressure. They found one in my class as well. Never thought it was a common problem--must be, given their emphasis on the issue.

I thought you may have had a hammer fully bobbed, or something like that. I've seen people with little nubs of a hammer still pull the trigger just a wee bit in double action so that they could get their finger around the hammer and then cock the revolver. I have never seen a revolver like yours which has been modded to not have a catch to cock the hammer if pulled back.

I never thought push off was a common issue either but seeing as how you and I both had someone in our classes with a revolver with this issue, it must indeed be more common than we thought.

Surfer

I did a short stint as a police officer in VA in the early 1980's and we still carried revolvers. The dept had an incident where an officer cocked his revolver and held it to the head of a suspect as he was taking him (unhand-cuffed) to his patrol car after a rather lively fight with the suspect (the officer was alone and pretty beat up). Likely had his finger on the trigger (my speculation--to my knowledge not substantiated at the time), slipped on some ice, and discharged his revolver into the suspect's head.

To prevent such occurrences, several major police departments including LAPD, NYPD, and Miami PD ordered revolvers from the factory that were double action only. Every now and then one of these police pistols will come up for auction on GB. My gunsmith is a very accomplished S&W smith and I have had him do several DA-only mods for me. I leave the hammer spur in place--particularly on the newer gen pistols without the firing pin on the hammer. The extra weight of the hammer spur means more inertia and lessens the incidence of misfires with a lighter hammer mainspring.

This modification permanently removes the full cock, single action notch on the hammer so to return it to its original condition you must replace the hammer with one not modified. I typically buy an extra hammer for the DA-only modification and I keep the original hammer as is.

Eric Lamberson wrote:I did a short stint as a police officer in VA in the early 1980's and we still carried revolvers. The dept had an incident where an officer cocked his revolver and held it to the head of a suspect as he was taking him (unhand-cuffed) to his patrol car after a rather lively fight with the suspect (the officer was alone and pretty beat up). Likely had his finger on the trigger (my speculation--to my knowledge not substantiated at the time), slipped on some ice, and discharged his revolver into the suspect's head.

To prevent such occurrences, several major police departments including LAPD, NYPD, and Miami PD ordered revolvers from the factory that were double action only. Every now and then one of these police pistols will come up for auction on GB. My gunsmith is a very accomplished S&W smith and I have had him do several DA-only mods for me. I leave the hammer spur in place--particularly on the newer gen pistols without the firing pin on the hammer. The extra weight of the hammer spur means more inertia and lessens the incidence of misfires with a lighter hammer mainspring.

This modification permanently removes the full cock, single action notch on the hammer so to return it to its original condition you must replace the hammer with one not modified. I typically buy an extra hammer for the DA-only modification and I keep the original hammer as is.

Yikes, I've got an airweight which in single action could probably be set off by a breeze, it is the lightest I've ever seen. Definitely not good for a stressful encounter. At the range, I have been known to fan a hammer now and then. I wish I were a better shot with double action revolvers. I did shoot my father's Colt quite well in double action during my qualification. I've found the colts DA a bit more linear than my smiths.

Sounds like an interesting piece you've got there.
Surfer

Ruger GP-100, 357mag (shooting Rem UMC 38spl), 6" barrel. Bought specifically for this qualifier as I normally never shoot revolver.

I had people coming and taking pictures of this target. Funny thing is that they guy next to me was shooting his new 44mag 4". Didn't really notice except on a few strings when I finished first and then I'd get this big shockwave where I could see the air in front of me compressed. I blame the one flyer to the right on the timing of his muzzle blast.

oh, and I shot the whole thing single action. had time to cock the hammer each time and still finished each string with ample time to spare.

Nice shooting!

surferdaddy wrote:

Eric Lamberson wrote:Double action only precludes push off unless they could get the pistol to fire with the hammer fully forward--quite a feat. What they were looking for was single action trigger jobs (or worn triggers) that were so light they would slip off the sear with thumb pressure. They found one in my class as well. Never thought it was a common problem--must be, given their emphasis on the issue.

I thought you may have had a hammer fully bobbed, or something like that. I've seen people with little nubs of a hammer still pull the trigger just a wee bit in double action so that they could get their finger around the hammer and then cock the revolver. I have never seen a revolver like yours which has been modded to not have a catch to cock the hammer if pulled back.

I never thought push off was a common issue either but seeing as how you and I both had someone in our classes with a revolver with this issue, it must indeed be more common than we thought.

Surfer

We had one guy whose revolver was DQed for push off. He had just bought it two nights earlier (thought he said at Academy) and took it to a local range. Shot 120 rounds through it for practice. I'm sure he soiled his pants when the RO called the Range Master over and showed him. There wasn't any question it was ineligible. I've never seen that before, but it was clear. I, along with a few others, offered to let him borrow our revolvers. I guess they hooked him up because he still got to shoot.

BTW, and slightly off topic, I bought a bunch of ammo I don't normally shoot because I was being super anal about their specs. In the sheet we get it says it has to be SAAMI spec, and then they had a list. I made a point to buy American Eagle (Federal) for my 9mm and Rem UMC for my 38 (357). I normally either shoot my own reloads (although I'm a FFL 06, so technically it's factory remans or factory new depending on the brass) or Freedom Munitions (which is just a bigger version of what I do). I even brought my Sig 1911 (with the suppressor that was still on it from my previous range day) and plenty of 45 ACP just in case Murphy showed up to jack with my Glock.

Turns out, they let basically anything on. I saw several people shooting boxes of ammo that weren't on that short, specific list...including Freedom. I could have saved about $5/box by not rushing out to buy "listed" ammo and shot something I carry in my store.

Someone even asked or implied that someone could have their custom reloads and put them in a "Federal/Rem box" and they'd never know. They said they wouldn't know but they're just trying to keep the line safe Not sure how they'd be with some Wolf/WPA or TulAmmo since that's on their list. I have to believe it's SAAMI still, though.

Feed&Guns wrote:BTW, and slightly off topic, I bought a bunch of ammo I don't normally shoot because I was being super anal about their specs. In the sheet we get it says it has to be SAAMI spec, and then they had a list. I made a point to buy American Eagle (Federal) for my 9mm and Rem UMC for my 38 (357). I normally either shoot my own reloads (although I'm a FFL 06, so technically it's factory remans or factory new depending on the brass) or Freedom Munitions (which is just a bigger version of what I do). I even brought my Sig 1911 (with the suppressor that was still on it from my previous range day) and plenty of 45 ACP just in case Murphy showed up to jack with my Glock.

Turns out, they let basically anything on. I saw several people shooting boxes of ammo that weren't on that short, specific list...including Freedom. I could have saved about $5/box by not rushing out to buy "listed" ammo and shot something I carry in my store.

Someone even asked or implied that someone could have their custom reloads and put them in a "Federal/Rem box" and they'd never know. They said they wouldn't know but they're just trying to keep the line safe Not sure how they'd be with some Wolf/WPA or TulAmmo since that's on their list. I have to believe it's SAAMI still, though.

Even if it is not on their list, as long as the student can show it is SAAMI approved, then they will allow it. They will NOT allow non-SAAMI ammo on the range.

I've used a 686 most years however, the last time at Florence, we were encouraged to shoot something that we might really carry concealed. The last two renewals I've shot an Airweight J Frame Smith Mod 38. (Shot a 250 and a 245 and my hand hurt).

Colt Special Agent .38

tex

eastofaustin wrote:I've used a 686 most years however, the last time at Florence, we were encouraged to shoot something that we might really carry concealed. The last two renewals I've shot an Airweight J Frame Smith Mod 38. (Shot a 250 and a 245 and my hand hurt).

I have never told that. It was always understood that we shot the revolver and semi that we shoot best with, even if it was a range gun.