Best trigger for CC?

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Bone2bWild

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Ok another noob question.

I read the sticky on trigger action, but I'm left wondering what y'all carry in terms of trigger for CC and why?

The response I got from my fist post on 9mn were varied, thought provoking and helped a ton. Thanks to all. Ok So, let's hear it!
 
All of my handguns now, carry or range toys, are SAO with the exception of my DAO S&W 442. I got rid of my striker fired and DA/SA guns, though I probably will add more in the future.

Why? I love 1911s, my next couple of handguns will probably be even more 1911s... The fact that they're SAO isn't really the reason why I choose 1911s, I could even be cool with a DAO 1911.

If I can't get my hands on an SAO gun, I'm happy with either DAO or striker fired (Glock, XD, etc.), just as long as it has one consistent trigger pull. I do not like DA/SA, making that transistion from DA to SA isn't something I've been able to get good at.
 
Im a BIG fan of the SAO trigger.

DA/SA triggers can be ok, like on a Sig, but i dont like the transition between them.

Ive always felt DAO triggers are too heavy and while i dont have any experience with a DAO trigger like the DAK set up from Sig, my ability to shoot accurately has always been poor with a DA trigger.

Ill always stick to 1911.
 
I would say single action until you are very familiar with CC. In teaching a friend how to shoot my sp101, she kept wanting to pull the hammer back because it was a shorter, easier pull. The problem came when I wanted her to get used to the longer trigger pull (you can't walk around w a cocked six gun!). I tried to get her to go for something in an auto loader after, and she wanted nothing to do with them because they were more complicated.

Bottom line, weather SA or DA, when the point in time comes that you need that weapon in a real life self defense situation, if your "training and combat skills" are up to par, you I don't think you will ever remember that long trigger pull, only that you were on target and it went bang.
 
I'd say a 5.5-7 pound striker-fired with trigger safety is my favorite.
 
My primary carry gun is a DAO. I sometimes pocket carry, and with any other trigger the chance of shooting yourself is much higher. Most of the self inflicted shootings I have heard about have been with either striker fired or single action guns.
 
Ok, any specific preferences with IWB vs pocket carry in terms of trigger? Safety is my concern here. Im 42 and have yet to have the need for a weapon but as I get older and with the economy in the toilet people are getting desperate and I think crime will rise. I want something I can carry with one in the chamber and feel safe about.

Thanks
 
I carry a Kel Tec P11, long 10 lb DAO, mostly. I've practiced a lot the 15 years I've been carrying it and am quite good with it vs any other handgun I might carry. I also have revolvers and some DA/SA guns. All fire without a safety and with a long, heavy pull, at least on the first round. Makes for more consistent practice keeping the trigger SOP similar. I don't like "Safe Action" for pocket carry, too short and light a trigger for my tastes. I don't wanna have to worry about my boys near the muzzle in a pocket. Any "safe action" should be carried in a hard holster that covers the trigger belt carry IMHO.

If safety concerns you a bunch, the revolver is your friend. I'm perfectly happy carrying a 5 shot snubby in a pocket or/and a 6 shot K frame .357 magnum on my belt.
 
you'll see all kinds of answers on this question. A lot of people are carrying 1911's now-a-days. That has become a common trend since its a 45. That's not to say that a lot didn't carry it before but currently, it seems like everyone wants to carry one.

As for me, I currently switch between my HK USP 9 Compact and my FNP-9 with a little Bodyguard 380 as my back-up. I enjoy the DA/SA platform. I find it safe considering in actual situations you tend to react/jerk things. I carried Glocks/M&P's/1911's in the past. I feel comfortable with my HK and FN. Sig also has a DA/SA platform which is very popular.

If you can learn to keep you finger straight and off the trigger until your ready to fire than you'll be fine with a SA. If you find yourself with the finger always on the trigger, you might want to look at a DA/SA or DAO pistol.
 
newbuckeye said:
I would say single action until you are very familiar with CC.
Click to expand...
My recommendation is just the opposite. I think you shouldn't carry a SAO gun with a thumb safety...I have the 1911 platform in mind...until you are comfortable with concealed carry.

The are a number of ways to incorrectly draw a SAO gun which could result in an unintended dangerous situation...a lot of folks want to take the thumb safety off too soon. It is much easier to teach someone to present a DA/SA or DAO gun safely from a holster than a SAO
 
I only like DA/SA guns for self defense at this point in my life... Any other type of trigger (Glock/XD/PPQ, etc) is for range use only for me... The whole "the real safety is between your ears" mentality is real easy to say... until the adrenaline kicks in during a real situation.

I've previously carried 1911s and Glocks for years. However, I am somewhat at a different point now... After all these years of carrying and owning different guns (I have owned a LOT of different platforms).... I don't like Glocks type guns for self defense anymore...

I had a near robbery in the parking lot of my local gunstore a little over 2 years ago. I saw the situation happening, and I managed to avoid the guy and cut through some cars and jumped down a level in the parking lot. The guy cut off pursuit of me after a few moments.

All I had was a Keltec 32 in my front pocket, as I was taking my Beretta 92 into the store to try it for laser grips... (it wasn't yet my carry gun anyway) So, I was walking with that particular gun inside of a gun case.

I kept my wits, but the situation showed me what it was like when the adrenaline kicks in. Your thought process changes. It's not the same as all the practice you put in at the range - or how you THINK you should or will react in a situation.

I also had an old friend from when I was a teen (hadn't seen him in many years) - I recently found out a story about him that happened a few years ago... He apparently was getting car jacked (back in Louisiana), and he grabbed his gun from the center console as he started to comply to get out the car. Guess what he did... As he swept himself with the muzzle to bring his Glock in an aiming position, he shot himself in the knee/leg. Boom... Now, he walks with a limp all the time and can't get around well...

Dumb? Yes. Can I see how it could easily happen in a super high stress situation? Yes, I can. Especially after seeing how your thoughts change during the adrenaline dump... Plus, look at all the accidental discharges that are stupidly done by law enforcement officers who carry Glocks. And, people ARE people. We all screw up and make mistakes throughout our lives, even with stuff we practice. So, it's easy to say "the real safety is in your head" - but people mess up sometimes in normal situations each and every day doing stupid stuff (we are human)... What could happen in an adrenaline dump?

After my personal experience event, I re-evaluated some issues with my carry gun. For a while, I temporarily switched to a 45... I'm back to a 9mm now. But, I no longer carry a gun that needs to be cocked and locked (1911, USP compact that I sometimes kept cocked and locked at the time). I use/have used so many different platforms over the years that I don't want to stupidly forget to deactivate a thumb safety (I'd need to get back to 1911s exclusively for a while to get back into the habit of it).

And, I also got rid of the Keltec 32... I REALLY, REALLY felt bad in the situation thinking that all I had to defend myself with was a 32 FMJ round. (32 JHP isn't really as effective in that caliber as FMJ)

I also will no longer carry a gun that has a trigger like a Glock, M&P, XD. That short, light trigger too easily could replicate what happened to my friend shooting himself. Also, I get my untucked shirt caught in my IWB holster somewhat frequently when holstering/reholstering at home...

Do this with a Glock - boom.

Do it with even an XD (with the grip safety) - boom (one would probably have their hand in place over the grip safety while holstering).

Do this with a 1911 - and forget to reactivate the thumb safety even ONE time - boom.

The DA/SA trigger of my 92... I do try to be careful, but I know there won't be an A/D when I do this or when I try to clear the shirt from the holster...

Am I over worrying about this situation? Maybe. I admit that I carried a Glock 26 for 8 years previously (OWB or in my pocket, though - not IWB). I also once carried a 1911 (OWB - not IWB). But I’ve owned tons of different guns since then, and my preferences and ideas on the issues have changed.

That experience "I" had showed me I wanted a gun that I could pull and shoot - without deactivation of anything... But, I also didn't want TOO light/short of a trigger. So, the DA/SA trigger is my preference now. And, with a "D" spring, the DA pull of my Beretta 92s are down from 11.5+lbs to 8.2-8.5lbs. Still heavy enough (and long enough of a trigger pull) to keep me honest. But, not too heavy.

I also never hardly EVER practiced my first shot in double action on DA/SA guns I've owned over the years. Nor, did I practice 1 handed shooting. Since that near robbery experience, I have done both. I do it a LOT.

My issues that I personally have stated above sorta keeps me from buying another Glock, or another XD or an M&P or a Walther PPQ as well - as without a DA/SA trigger, it would always be delegated to just a range toy... Not for carry usage...

Besides the PPQ, I REALLY like the look of the 9mm XDm with the stainless slide as well. I may or may not buy one eventually. But, I'd never carry it for the lack of DA/SA.

Anyway - I'm not telling ya what to do. Carry what and how you like. Disagree with my personal decision... That's fine... Just throwing something out there for some people who may not have considered some of these issues...
 
For carry, 5.5lb striker fired Glock. I have one with a NY12 in it, a G17. All have the polish job, all pretty much stock save recoil rods. I like the consistency of the Glock trigger, it may not be all that fine, but it is always the same, not DA then SA, not long like DAO, and unlike SAO (which would be okay I guess) I don't have to play with safeties. So that trigger does a good deal for me I suppose, why I like Glocks as tools for carry so much.
 
Shipwreck said:
And, I also got rid of the Keltec 32... I REALLY, REALLY felt bad in the situation thinking that all I had to defend myself with was a 32 FMJ round. (32 JHP isn't really as effective in that caliber as FMJ)
.
Click to expand...

I bet seconds prior to this you, like many who post here, felt "comfortable" with your mouse caliber choice.

Luckily, you didn't have to use it.
 
After much angst and numerous thoughtful comments I think I'm in the market for a DA/SA 9mm single stack.

Thanks to all who contributed!
 
Shipwreck you've convinced me, thanks

After much angst and numerous thoughtful comments I think I'm in the market for a DA/SA 9mm single stack.

Thanks to all who contributed!
Click to expand...

Well, just remember - if you do get a DA/SA gun for self defense purposes... Make sure to practice with it in DA mode.

For years in the 1990s, I always cocked the hammer and only shot it in SA.

The past few years, I run at least 3 mags thru the gun ALL in DA (I decock it after every shot) EVERY time i go to the range with one of my Beretta 92s. I've gotten pretty good with that first DA shot, and I know my accuracy doesn't suffer with that 1st shot.

Anyway - let us know what you end up getting :)
 
I bet seconds prior to this you, like many who post here, felt "comfortable" with your mouse caliber choice.

Luckily, you didn't have to use it.
Click to expand...

Well, I was never really thrilled with the .32 caliber - but I always thought that it would be "good enough," and I tried to tell myself all the supposed stats I had read about the round. I also figured I'd never likely need to ever have to use it.

But yes - once the situation started, I was pissed at myself for having chosen it - hahaha. And yea, thankfully I didn't have to use it. But, I never carried it again after that and quickly sold it.
 
Shipwreck said:
But yes - once the situation started, I was pissed at myself for having chosen it (a .32acp loaded with FMJ)-
Click to expand...

Many people choose a low power, low capacity gun then sagely reflect that they are "comfortable" with their choice, or that they never "felt" undergunned.

I wonder how many felt "comfortable" with their choice while actively defending their life with it. Of those, I wonder how many kept carrying a low power, low capacity gun afterwards.
 
Whatever. It's just a tool. You learn how to use it and then you use it.

DAO, SA/DA, SAO, just go with what you like, shoot it thousands of times until it's second nature, dry fire it a few thousand times a month and you're good to go.
 
you'll see all kinds of answers on this question. A lot of people are carrying 1911's now-a-days. That has become a common trend since its a 45. That's not to say that a lot didn't carry it before but currently, it seems like everyone wants to carry one.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess I'm bucking the trend. Had a couple of 1911s 20 years ago. Thankfully, they're gone now. My .45 is a Ruger KP90DC.
 
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