cocking

Cocking is the act of preparing a mechanical device to discharge or operate by applying tension to an energy-storage component, such as a spring, or by aligning parts within a mechanism. In firearms, cocking typically means drawing back a hammer or striker to a fully engaged position so that the weapon is ready to fire. It stores potential energy that will be released when the trigger is actuated. In single-action firearms, cocking is done manually, whereas in double-action designs the trigger pull both cocks and releases the hammer or striker. Some modern handguns use a striker-fired system, where cocking occurs as part of the trigger press and does not involve external hammer, with the striker subsequently released.

In archery-adjacent contexts, cocking can refer to drawing the bowstring to prepare to shoot. In crossbows, cocking devices—manual, crank, or lever—draw the string to a ready position; the term remains tied to increasing draw weight and setting the mechanism for release.

Historically, firearm mechanisms such as flintlocks and percussion caps required cocking the hammer to bring the priming mechanism into position for ignition.

Safety and handling: a cocked weapon represents readiness to fire and should be treated with caution. Always follow legal and safety guidelines, keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction, and maintain appropriate safeties. The term also appears in non-weapon contexts as a general verb for preparing mechanisms where energy is stored in a spring or similar feature.