DA/SA question for LEOs

[scruff]

Here's a question for all you LEO's who have ever qualified with a DA/SA. When shooting a qualifier, did your department make you decock when coming to low ready in the middle of a string of fire? I'm training this weekend with my P226, and today, one of the instructors came over while we were standing at low ready and told me I had to decock every time the gun came off target. Of course I always decock before holstering, but I've never decocked at low ready.

I've never heard of this in class or in qualifying, or in private classes, or in NRA instructor training. Is this a widespread thing, or just an anal instructor or anal department thing? Shooters aren't activating safeties at low ready, and I don't see the difference between decocking and activating a safety. I'm making my DA shots anyway, so this won't affect my score much if any, but I don't like to do anything stupid unless I have to. Am I wrong here?

[unclejumbo]

Here's a question for all you LEO's who have ever qualified with a DA/SA. When shooting a qualifier, did your department make you decock when coming to low ready in the middle of a string of fire? I'm training this weekend with my P226, and today, one of the instructors came over while we were standing at low ready and told me I had to decock every time the gun came off target. Of course I always decock before holstering, but I've never decocked at low ready.

I've never heard of this in class or in qualifying, or in private classes, or in NRA instructor training. Is this a widespread thing, or just an anal instructor or anal department thing? Shooters aren't activating safeties at low ready, and I don't see the difference between decocking and activating a safety. I'm making my DA shots anyway, so this won't affect my score much if any, but I don't like to do anything stupid unless I have to. Am I wrong here?

I've never heard of it and it's a stupid idea. You'll fight as you train. Decocking with threats still a possibility is retarded. Decock when holstering only.

[Pittsburgh Pete]

Here's a question for all you LEO's who have ever qualified with a DA/SA. When shooting a qualifier, did your department make you decock when coming to low ready in the middle of a string of fire? I'm training this weekend with my P226, and today, one of the instructors came over while we were standing at low ready and told me I had to decock every time the gun came off target. Of course I always decock before holstering, but I've never decocked at low ready.

I've never heard of this in class or in qualifying, or in private classes, or in NRA instructor training. Is this a widespread thing, or just an anal instructor or anal department thing? Shooters aren't activating safeties at low ready, and I don't see the difference between decocking and activating a safety. I'm making my DA shots anyway, so this won't affect my score much if any, but I don't like to do anything stupid unless I have to. Am I wrong here?

I was never an LEO or an instructor, but as prior military that sounds idiotic.

The only reason I could see would be to become familiar with shooting a pistol at DA and understanding the difference and what it takes vs. SA. But this doesn't sound like the case.

[Pittsburgh Pete]

If they want SA, next time you qualify, I will lend you my Dragoon.

[scruff]

I've never heard of it and it's a stupid idea. You'll fight as you train. Decocking with threats still a possibility is retarded. Decock when holstering only.

Thanks. The PSP is a pretty big data point.

I was never an LEO or an instructor, but as prior military that sounds idiotic.

The only reason I could see would be to become familiar with shooting a pistol at DA and understanding the difference and what it takes vs. SA. But this doesn't sound like the case.

No, you're right, it's not to familiarize. This is an advanced state constable class, not basic.

I forgot about the military, but that's a big data point too, if they don't teach to decock an M9 at low ready.

I believe this instructor is well-meaning, and he may have worked for an organization that had this decocking rule. If so, it was probably some busybody commander or bureaucrat who pushed this on them, just like the 12-lb NYC police trigger.

[scruff]

Out of 11 constables, I saw a bunch of Glocks, an XD, and my P226. I'm an oppressed minority! I'm a gonna self-identify as a striker-fired and file a complaint.

[markshere2]

Not LEO. Never issued .MIL handgun, so no .MIL training on that subject.

Stupid fucking rule. Stupid as a football bat.

[Carson]

Last time I fired SA during qualification was with a S & W Model 10 from the fifty yard line in the early 1990's, so I am of no help.

But my personal opinion would agree with not having to put the safety on/not decocking.

[MedicCop]

The whole point of the Low Ready position is safe muzzle control when an immediate threat is not visible or available. The underlying principle is that there is no time penalty in disengaging the manual safety of a SA (e.g. 1911) going from Low Ready to "Sights On Target" which is why it does not impede ones chances of survival. Same goes for striker fired weapons with passive safety systems.

In the case of a DA / SA autoloader, the entire "safety" premise of the DA / SA system is the heavy first trigger press. Thus it is a matter of achieving the requisite skill level with the DA trigger press (which does indeed require a steeper learning curve to master).

I hope this helps explain "why".

There's a huge difference between low ready BEFORE you've fired a shot, and low ready AFTER you've fired shots. If I've fired at an adversary, there is NO WAY I would de-cock my firearm unless I was reholstering it.

Obviously I am not talking about movement or other variables, but if I am static and covering a threat at the low ready that I have already fired shots at, it goes against logic to decock my firearm.

Furthermore, decocking some DA/SA pistols (such as SIG's) does not make the pistol 'safe'.

I reiterate my point that it creates a HUGE training scar to ingrain in shooters' subconscious to decock immediately after firing.

[TonyF]

There's a huge difference between low ready BEFORE you've fired a shot, and low ready AFTER you've fired shots. If I've fired at an adversary, there is NO WAY I would de-cock my firearm unless I was reholstering it.

Obviously I am not talking about movement or other variables, but if I am static and covering a threat at the low ready that I have already fired shots at, it goes against logic to decock my firearm.

Furthermore, decocking some DA/SA pistols (such as SIG's) does not make the pistol 'safe'.

I reiterate my point that it creates a HUGE training scar to ingrain in shooters' subconscious to decock immediately after firing.

I would not argue that decocking a DA/SA auto "makes it safe". It does however place the firearm in a different "mode" and that is the essence of this discussion. A striker fired weapon has a passive system "engaged" while covering a threat with the trigger finger indexed along the frame. No time penalty to disengage an engaged SA thumb safety while covering a threat if follow up shots are necessary. No such "barrier" exists with the DA / SA auto with the hammer cocked in SA mode.

In all fairness I could make the same "training scar" claim about your method.

I am not trying to change anyone's mind. Just trying to provide the underlying details to the OP for the sake of this discussion.