I agree, I've always felt it's a good habit to have/develop. Wether or not it's grounded in anything measurable, I don't know. It's just how I do it.
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Cocked hammers causing hammer spring wear is bunk. As noted by whiterabbit work wears springs, not compression. If you've got a GTG spring, you're fine.
Storing the gun in the safe position offers benefits:
1. It eliminates a manipulation of the trigger during the unloading/storage or carry-preparation (cruiser-ready) process. Reducing unnecessary trigger manipulations reduces the potential for NDs.
2. Storing or racking the rifle with the safety on eliminates the need for an extra control manipulation after the rifle is charged to keep the gun in the safe condition.
3. Storing or racking the gun with the safety on offers immediate visual recognition that the rifle is in a "safe" condition. Incidental or negligent handling or trigger contact will not discharge the rifle if it is loaded. A rifle stored or racked with the safety off offers no clue as to the loaded condition, and despite dictates to treat all guns as always loaded, compels the handler to exercise even greater deliberation in doing so.
I'm not aware of any true benefit in leaving the hammer down and the safety in the off position.
+1000
Keep fighting the good fight. Modern springs can be held under compression indefinitely. Army has taught more wrong bullshit than any other single source of weapons lore.
I think the good unasked question here is.....
Is this you home defense weapon?
My is first my nightstand M&P pistol, then if time I move to my
HD set-up mossberg 590a1 shotgun with 00 then #4 then slug then start that order again.
My AR is more for plinkin so it gets unloaded but a couple loaded mags
that sit top safe shelf above it.
And 300-500 rounds loaded on stripper clips. (just in case)
I also keep a loaded bandoleer with a mix of labeled 12g, 00, 000, #4, HP rifled slugs,and birdshot ready to sling over a shoulder if needed.
My wife has her SP101 .357 mag, loaded and a few 5 shot "speed loaders" 1 .357 hollow points, 1 38 low recoil Glaser Blue safety slugs.
The rest stay loaded in the safe.
Minus the hunting/skeet long guns and 22lr's
right now, its on safe with magazine off.
iam just asking what is the best for the gun. (no stress on the parts)
so, with hammer down on lover on "fire" leaves no tension on any parts?
As far as the parts are concerned it will not make any difference.
I store mine military style. I see both sides of the debate, but storing my ARs hammer down is practically hard coded in me at this point.
+1 for hammer forward and selector on FIRE
I store my safety on.