OK, I looked some stuff up on line. I guess only a semi auto-gun with a hammer would have a decocker. I assume that if the gun is in the ready to shoot mode, and you need to get out of that mode for any reason you would push the decocker and move the hammer forward without worrying about discharging. What is decock vs. decock only though. I am now looking at the Ruger P95 and they have deock and decock only. Still a little foggy.

On the Ruger, the safety also acts as a decocker. When you put it into safe, the gun will decock. With a DC model (decock only) the switch that looks like a safety will only decock the gun, it will not act as a manual safety.

You are correct. A decocker will bring the hammer back up without discharging the weapon. It isn't only on semi-autos with hammers anymore, either. The Walther P99 has a decocker, too.

Is a decocker good for a new shooter? Yes. I like a decocker because it lowers the chances of slipping while trying to bring the hammer home when you don't want to fire.

I have a HK45 USp V1, which has a decocker. I originally bought it because I liked the extra "safety" of having the hammer decocked. Although, now I realize it's pretty much just as safe “cocked and locked”. When you decock the HK the hammer falls to a "half cock" notch keeping it from hitting the firing pin.

The berretta M9/92 also have a decocker built into the safety which is nice. The military requirement for cops is that the weapon is loaded and decocked at all times.

Also, when a weapon is decocked it is in double action mode. After you fire the shot in DA mode the gun will then function in single action mode.

Originally Posted by gr8johnson

OK. What is a decocker?

OK. When a male chicken and a female chicken don't get along, and the male chicken tries to -- oh never mind....

PhilR.