Walter/Smith's "Anit-Stress" action..I'm confused

[DreQo]

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So the new Walther/S&W 99 pistols have what they call the "Anti-Stress" action. This is essentially a standard DA/SA action, however whenever you load a new magazine, the trigger doesn't automatically move back to the SA position. The shooter instead has to manually move the trigger back to the SA position, at which point it clicks and sets into place. The reason for this, supposedly, is to prevent a person from accidently firing off the first round due to sudden movement caused by a loud noise or whatever.

Here's where I get confused. If you're carrying your weapon, it should be in condition one and "decocked", or in DA. When you draw the weapon to fire, the first shot is DA, and the following shots are SA (when the weapon cycles, the trigger stays in the SA position). Only when you have fired all your rounds, and switched magazines, does the "anti-stress" trigger come into play. At this point, you've already fired 13-16 rounds!

Can someone shed a little light on this for me? Oh, and as a side note, I own a SW99 AS (or DA/SA) and I love it. The AS doesn't bother me because, like I just described above, I carry her decocked (in DA), so this isn't a P99/SW99 bashing post.

 

[Citizen]

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Who knows. I sometimes wonder if a patented design forces some sort of operating characteristic that Marketing then has to dream up an explanation for.

 

[DreQo]

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Well, in that case I'd simply call it an excuse to have a DA/SA with no external safety. Instead calling it the "point and shoot" action, they made the trigger funny so they could call it "safer" lol.

 

[VAopencarry]

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I am not sure where you got the idea it was a standard DA/SA. It 'can' be used in that fashion but that is not the intent of the design. I think this is why you are confused a little.

It is ALWAYS in SA unless you decock. You do not need to decock to carry, it's just like any other internal striker handgun. I would call the decocking an added safety feature but not needed per se. This where the Anti Stress comes into play with the extra take up in the trigger. Anti Stress IS a/the SA pull it's just the reset after the first shot will not go back to the AS position. If it went to the ,what you call, SA mode after inserting the magazine, that would defeat the purpose of the AS. If it was a standard DA/SA there would be no need/useful purpose for the AS trigger pull.

If I had a SIG, yes, it needs to be decocked to safely carry, the P99 isn't the same design.

It is functioning as designed, sounds like maybe you were expecting something different. It is not a standard DA/SA but can be made to function like one,more or less.

 

[DreQo]

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Ok, but here's the deal. In the manual for the weapon, it specifically states that one should never carry the handgun without first decocking the striker...itgoes on todescribe the proper way to carry the weapon with a full load: Lock slide to rear, insert magazine, release slide, decock striker, remove magazine and insert additional round, replace magazine, then holster. With the weapon decocked, the trigger is in double-action, and so your first shot is DA. Subsequent shots from that magazine are SA. Then, when you fire your last round, the slide locks back, you replace the magazine and release the slide forward, and ONLY THEN does the anti-stress trigger position happen.

Yes, I could carry the gun cocked with the trigger forward, but that sounds about as safe as carrying my PPK/s with the hammer back and safety off, minus the extra.237 inchesof effortless trigger pull thanks to the anti-stress. The SA trigger pull is only 4.4 lbs, vs. the 8.8 lbs DA pull. Do you honestly think it would be safe and logical to carry the weapon cocked with nothing but a 4.4 lbs pull and a .551" vs. .314" trigger travel?

If that were the implied method of carry, then what would be the point of the weapon being able to fire in DA anyway?

Prior to 2004, there was no such thing as a Walther P99 AS. They simply had the P99, P99DAO (double action only) and the P99QA (quick-action, or glock type action). The plain P99 was the standard DA/SA, with NO anti-stress. After they redesigned slightly in 2004, they added the Anti-Stress...I'm trying to figure out why. It's described as an added safety feature, however if the gun is used how the manual describes, then this safety feature only engages after the operator reloads his weapon.

 

[VAopencarry]

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Well if you go according to the owner's manual, it makes no sense to have the AS trigger system. I don't know what they are thinking. I own a p99 AS, it is not one of my carry guns but if it were, I would carry it without decocking, but that's me.

I guess if your questions is WTF? this trigger system makes no sense, I think I would agree. I never considered the DA mode so it has never been an issue for me. Also the earlier p99 did have the AS system, it just wasn't called that. I know a P99 guru, I will ask him his thoughts on this tomorrow.

 

[DreQo]

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You're right, the original P99 DID have the anti-stress style trigger...I forgot about that! Either way, now I'm wondering if it would really be safe to carry it essentially cocked and unlocked...

 

[SIGarmed229]

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I think its just a gimick as sales of the P99 have dropped.

 

[CrashVector]

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I carry a Walther P99, and have done so for years. I've never had an issue with the trigger, even though I started carrying a Ruger P95 before I bought the Walther.

The P99 is a striker-fired pistol, and the trigger pull reflects this. It's not a sales "gimmick" per ce. Most revolvers do not have external safeties...and instead rely upon having a long/hard trigger pull as a kind of "passive safety".

Same with the P99.