SDI Striker-Fired Pistols (FTH 212) Practice Test

The main idea is how the firing mechanism is prepared and released. Striker-fired pistols use a striker that is pre-cocked inside the slide and there is no external hammer. When you pull the trigger, the sear releases the striker, which travels forward to strike the primer and fire the cartridge. This setup gives a consistent trigger feel and a straightforward firing sequence, often with a built-in firing-pin safety. Traditional hammer-fired pistols rely on a hammer that must be cocked before firing—either manually or as the slide cycles. Pulling the trigger releases the hammer from the sear, allowing it to fall and strike the firing pin (or primer). This can create a difference in trigger feel between actions (for example, a heavier double-action pull when the hammer isn’t already cocked versus a lighter single-action pull once cocked). So the key distinction is that striker-fired designs use a pre-cocked striker with no external hammer, and the trigger simply releases the striker to ignite the cartridge.