Infidel-6 said:
I've seen a lot of stupid people manually decock hammer FULLY forward (and thus no safety) with a round in the chamber -- they thought this was somewhat safer.
I've also seen CF members lower it manually to halfcock - and leave the gun there - off safe - thinking they could thumb it back quicker.
Eric_911 - the CF pistols do not have a firing pin safety so you are correct this measure is extraordinarily dangerous. I would recommend charging those who perform either of the two above method with negligent performance of duties.
George, I agree that the safety on the No.2 Mk1* Inglis pistols is not ideal -- however with some time on the pistol and some work oiling it and working it on and off - you can get it so you are very easily able to drawn, punch out while coming off safe and firing in one smooth motion.
Since most of the CF mags are in a bad way - there is no way I would be topping of the mag after cambering one.
BigRed is 100% correct - your dominant hand is the one to do the drills with, I'm not a lefty but a few of my firends are and they have been doing drills with BHP and Sig's with their left hands -- you then need to ensure you have a left handed holster too.
For cutting the hood - it will depend upon which version of the BHP you have -- I needed to cut mine to lock the hoodstrap when I got mine in order to retain my BHP - as it could not be carried C&L with the hood latched.
I agree with I-6 in regards to the half cock and de-cocking manually issues, both are ridiculous and dangerous for the BHP. And Big Red is right as well in regards to left handed functions and drills, it would be nice to have ambidextrous controls, but the lefties can get used to getting the slide lock and mag release with their left index fingers, it takes time and practice. I can do it quite well, as do many of my students and I'm right handed. Hopefully a change to a more updated system is in the future....probably distant future.
However, the issue of carrying the pistol cocked and locked is not as cut and dried as presented, and being somewhat involved in the debate with the CF as I have been over the last three years, I feel somewhat qualified to comment. In regards to those individuals who get appropriate levels of training, and opportunities to practice sufficiently, there is no issue with carrying the pistol fully readied, round in the chamber, manual safety engaged.
However, we all know that many of those issued the BHP, have little or no training, have little or no opportunity to practice, and/or little or no desire to.( don't flame yet ) The comparison in the state of readiness between the primary weapon and the secondary is probably unfair, of-course the primary is readied, it is after all, primary. The failure of the primary weapon will result in the first IA, hopefully to produce the effect of repairing whatever stoppage and re-engaging the threat, if that fails then the second IA will likely produce the desired result. If not? then transition to the secondary weapon. Many have done away with the IA's alltogether and initiated the transition immediately upon stoppage of the primary, and given the training and imminent threat, this may very well be the appropriate action. And if the BHP is carried hammer down on an empty chamber it MAY/MAY NOT take a fraction of a second longer to cock it on the draw than to dis-engage the safety, given the operator has had sufficient time to practice and that the operator has use of both hands/arms. All kinds of variables come into play here.
My school of thought is that the thumbs don't seem to work very well under stress, and hitting that little tiny safety when the moment of truth comes, may prove to be more difficult then ripping the slide back with the base of the palm and all four fingers while driving the pistol out towards the threat. I have had two groups, trained in one method each, on the range simultainiously, and the folks cocking on the draw were quite a bit faster in fact, than those trying to hit that safety. ( and this only under the stress of trying to look competant ) Practice can overcome this, and in the case of I-6 and Big Red it's probably not an issue.
My point is this, for the majority of CF members issued the pistol, I believe the threat of a ND due to the weapon being cocked and locked: Is greater when handled by someone trained to a level less than what is required, or carried in such a manner that the safety may become dis-engaged, such as in ill fitting holsters (Bianchi etc) or stuffed in mag pouches (ouch!). And may present a greater danger than the likelyhood of having the primary weapon malfunction, with an immediate threat that requires the use of the secondary weapon, in such a circumstance, that having to cock on the draw, would make the difference in that particular incident. ( Clear as mud, see?)
Of-course it would be ideal if everybody carried the pistol ready, but until the training issues are remedied, I believe it is impractical and even dangerous in many cases. Doesn't mean we give up on the training, just means we try harder to get everyone up to speed.
Stay Safe
